Friday flight cancellations are increasing as the winter storm hits the Southeast

A winter storm bringing a mix of snow and ice to the Southeast is making air travel difficult Friday.

As of 9 a.m., more than 2,000 U.S. flights had been canceled and over 1,100 others were delayed, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. This includes half of the flights to and from Nashville, about a third of the flights to Charlotte and almost 30% of the flights to Atlanta. And even though the storm has left Dallas, about 20% of flights to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field remain canceled Friday.

Travelers planning connecting flights via these cities are also affected. In addition to being home to Delta, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world, and both DFW and Charlotte Douglas International Airport are hubs for American Airlines.

Affected travelers can rebook flights without penalty. Find out what you’re entitled to if your flight is canceled or delayed due to the storm.

Which airlines offer exemptions?

Weather exemptions vary by airline. So be sure to check out the details for your airline below. Note that most exemptions only apply to select airports and specific time slots.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?

If your flight is canceled for any reason, you are entitled to a refund if you decide not to travel.

If a flight is canceled for reasons beyond the airline’s control, travelers who choose to hold out are entitled to compensation or accommodation, such as: B. rebooking to another flight or airline at no additional cost, accommodation or meal vouchers and other benefits. Weather, in particular, is beyond an airline’s control.

The Department of Transportation has created a dashboard that allows travelers to easily access information about services offered by U.S. airlines in the event of controllable cancellations or delays.

Click here to access the DOT cancellations and delays dashboard.

What is a controllable cancellation or delay?

According to the DOT, a controllable cancellation or delay is one that is caused by the airline itself. Controllable reasons include maintenance or crew issues, cabin cleaning, baggage loading and refueling. Things like weather or air traffic control routines do not count towards the airline.

What are my rights if my flight is delayed?

A new DOT rule that went into effect in late October requires airlines to refund passengers if their flight is significantly delayed for reasons beyond the airline’s control. This also makes airlines more responsible for meeting their own customer obligations in these cases.

If your flight is significantly delayed for a reason attributable to the airline, you are entitled to a refund if you do not travel. If you hold out, you may be entitled to compensation or accommodations, including a free rebooking to another flight or airline, meal and lodging vouchers for qualifying delays, and other benefits if the delay was controllable.

Currently, no U.S. airlines offer cash compensation for delays, but the big four (American, Delta, Southwest, and United) all offer hotel and ground transportation vouchers for controllable overnight delays.

Airline-specific details can be found on the DOT dashboard.

What is a significant delay?

The DOT defines a significant delay as a departure or arrival that is at least three hours late for a domestic flight or at least six hours late for an international flight.

What to do if your flight is canceled or delayed?

Research your airline’s policies and be your own advocate. Contact the airline however you can, be it via the app, social media, phone or at the airport help desk if you are already traveling.

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Friday flight cancellations are increasing as the winter storm hits the Southeast

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