Over 23,000 US flights were affected Monday by severe winter storms – January 15, 2024

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Subfreezing temperatures, bursts of heavy snow and strong wind gusts battered the U.S. over the holiday weekend, causing thousands of flight disruptions. Over 2,400 U.S. flights were canceled and more than 21,000 delayed Monday as of 3:15 p.m, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.

Southwest Airlines was hit the hardest with 717 cancellations or 18% of its schedule, followed by United Airlines with 339 cancellations or 13% of its schedule.

If your flights are impacted by the weather, it’s important to know your rights. You may be entitled to compensation from the airline or even a full refund, depending on the situation.

The Department of Transportation has an airline customer service dashboard to help travelers understand the basics, and the commitments outlined there are legally binding on the airlines. The general rule of thumb is you’re entitled to a refund if your flight is canceled for any reason and you choose not to travel on the alternative flights you’re offered. For delays, airlines are required to compensate you in the event of delays they cause, like those that result from crew scheduling or mechanical issues. But “uncontrollable delays” like those that result from weather or air traffic control requirements are not usually eligible for compensation.

Airlines also usually offer increased flexibility to rebook in advance of severe weather if you think your plans may be affected.

Airline weather waivers

The following airlines are offering change waivers to allow you to adjust your travel plans in the coming days. Click each airline to see the policy details.

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