U.S. airlines have proactively rolled out broad travel waivers in response to Winter Storm Fern, which is forecast to deliver heavy snow, sleet, and ice across approximately two dozen states, threatening to greatly affect air travel as the weekend approaches. The National Weather Service has issued warnings about the combination of freezing rain, sleet, and snow, cautioning that these conditions could render travel treacherous and cause power outages as well as damage to trees in parts of the Southeast. Farther north, heavier snowfall is anticipated.
Forecasters, including AccuWeather, note that the coming storm will bring some of the coldest weather temperatures not observed since 2021. The adverse mixture of ice, snow, and intense winds poses risks of slowed airport operations, which could extend delays and flight cancellations while complicating the process of rebooking tickets. This comes during one of the busier periods for winter travel.
Southwest Airlines has indicated it expects travel disruptions primarily across the Southern and Eastern United States. To assist passengers, the carrier is offering the ability to rebook flights or travel standby within a two-week timeframe at no extra charge.
Delta Air Lines anticipates weather impacts throughout the Southern Plains and Southeast, with particular concern for its Atlanta hub. Delta is providing eligible customers with fee-free flight changes under the conditions outlined by the weather waiver.
American Airlines has expanded similar travel flexibility across its network, which includes major hubs such as Dallas-Fort Worth and Charlotte. United Airlines issued a waiver covering much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, as well as parts of the Carolinas and Ohio Valley, including its Newark and Washington-area hubs, permitting customers affected by the storm to move travel dates without change fees or fare differences, provided the itinerary and cabin remain unchanged.
Focusing on the Northeast, JetBlue instituted a waiver for airports in New York and Boston, removing change and cancellation fees for passengers travelling to or from eleven cities. Frontier Airlines, an ultra-low-cost carrier, states that refunds can be requested for domestic flights canceled or delayed over three hours and international flights delayed over six hours.
Spirit Airlines is waiving modification fees and fare differences across thirteen cities for travel scheduled between January 23 and 25. All airlines emphasize the importance of travelers monitoring flight statuses closely and utilizing airline websites and mobile apps to expedite the rebooking process as Winter Storm Fern moves through.