East Coast Winter Weather Wreaks Havoc: Over 10,000 Flight Delays and Cancellations on Monday
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Heads Up: East Coast Winter Storm Hits Travel Hard
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It's a rugged start to the work week! A powerful winter storm blanketed the East Coast Monday, causing chaos for travelers across air, rail, and road transportation.
By 8 p.m. EST Monday, more than 2,200 flights had been called off nationwide, according to data from FlightAware. Over 7,800 flights were delayed, totaling an astounding 21,000 flights delayed or canceled since the storm hit Sunday. Moreover, nearly 200 flights scheduled for Tuesday were already nixed.
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The storm's heaviest impact was in the Washington, D.C. region, where snow totals grew steadily throughout the day. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) announced late Monday that it would close its runways to allow crews to clear snow and prevent overnight refreeze, hopefully minimizing additional disruptions on Tuesday.
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DCA saw the most aircraft groundings of any U.S. airport Monday, with over 85% of scheduled departures getting scrapped by evening hours. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Dulles International Airport (IAD) also struggled, coping with daunting conditions.
Meanwhile, Amtrak canceled scores of trains along the busy Northeast Corridor as the mid-Atlantic endured heavy snowfall Monday.
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All in all, the unpredictable weather made for a challenging start to the first full work week of 2025, following a somewhat uneven holiday travel season.
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Meteorologists had dropped numerous travel disruption warnings for days as the storm formed last week. Prior to the storm's arrival on the East Coast, the National Weather Service cautioned "major impacts" to travel were likely throughout the day on Monday.
Sunday was tough sledding at Midwest airports – especially at Missouri's Kansas City International Airport (MCI), which witnessed close to 95% of its Sunday departures scrapped, a day after the airport shut its runways due to rapid ice buildup. The ice caused a postponement of the Kansas City Chiefs' flight to Denver.
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Amtrak Scraps Trains
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This winter storm hassle isn't only for air travelers. On Monday, Amtrak canceled numerous trains on its Northeast Corridor route between D.C. and Boston. Additionally, the rail operator eliminated several planned Acela service along the East Coast.
Pop over to Amtrak’s website for a comprehensive rundown of train cancellations.
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Airlines Steer Towards Flexibility
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The majority of major U.S. airlines have put out travel alerts that allow passengers extra leeway to revise their itineraries amidst the bad weather. This includes waiving change fees, even for tickets with strict rules.
Southwest Airlines has led all U.S. airlines in cancellations since the storm started, with over 500 scrapped flights Monday – almost 14% of its schedule. This follows 399 flight cancellations Sunday. Southwest has significant presence in both Kansas City and St. Louis, in addition to BWI and DCA.
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American Airlines nixed at least 240 flights so far on Monday, with hardships at its DCA hub Monday and at its Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) home base Sunday due to high winds. The Fort Worth-based carrier faced a series of hurdles during the holiday season, too, including a Christmas Eve tech glitch and severe thunderstorms in Texas.
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As for this latest series of winter weather, here's what you need to know if you're traveling over the next couple of days.
Watch Out for a Travel Advisory
Hit your preferred airline's website. Your flight might be covered by one of several travel advisories issued by major U.S. carriers, enabling you to easily adjust itineraries right from the airline app – even if you're flying on a restrictive ticket like basic economy.
American Airlines, for example, has an advisory affecting close to three dozen airports across a significant portion of the country, including its PHL and DCA hubs.
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United Airlines has similar cover for over a dozen airports, including its IAD hub. Southwest's travel alert applies to numerous cities where it boasts major clientele, like Kansas City, St. Louis, Nashville, and Baltimore.
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Travel Advisory Links for Major U.S. Carriers:
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- United Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
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It's worth noting that many carriers have issued travel advisories this past week in response to the January 1 terrorist attack in New Orleans.
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If a Good Rebooking Option Appears, Grab It Quick!
If you're dealing with flight delays and see a decent rebooking option pop up in your airline's app, seize it without hesitation! Thousands of flights have been tossed out of schedule by bad weather, resulting in a landslide of passengers scrambling for remaining seats on flights that are still on-time. These seats can fill up rapidly.
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More: Flight canceled or delayed? Here’s what to do next
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If Your Flight is Canceled or Significantly Delayed, You May Be Able to Get a Refund
If your flight ends up canceled or significantly delayed and you decide to stay home instead of flying, you should be eligible for a refund under Department of Transportation regulations. You'll receive a refund for the unflown portion of your ticket when your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, but only if you opt not to travel and accept rebooking.
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Easy Cancellation and Miles Return on Award Bookings
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Looking to stay home and reconsider that award booking you made for Mother Nature's disruptions? If you're flying with U.S. airlines, often they'll let you cancel your award booking and receive all of your miles back with no fee, and usually you'll get a refund for related taxes and fees as well.
Stay on top of things with the airline lounge customer service if you're stuck at the airport. While credit card lounges are out, you can usually find airline-branded lounges that provide helpful agents.
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Read more: 5 ways to guarantee lounge access before your next flight
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Flight Cancellation and Delay Compensation
Airlines have made various promises to the DOT for meals, lodging, and other perks in situations of flight cancellations and major delays. However, these generally apply to controllable disruptions (such as maintenance or staffing issues) and do not usually apply when adverse weather impacts travel.
This is when a credit card offering travel insurance coverage can prove handy, helping you recoup unexpected expenses when weather-related travel woes leave you stranded. There's one catch: Generally, you'll need to book your travel with that card to make a successful claim.
Further Reading:
- TPG's 2025 Travel Trends Report
- Essential Travel Tips for First-Timers and Veteran Travelers Alike
- Top Travel Credit Cards
- 29 Places to Visit in 2025: The Best Destinations Across the Globe
- 6 Real-Life Strategies to Navigate When Your Flight is Canceled or Delayed
- 8 Travel Credit Cards Worth Pursuing for Everyday Purchases
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- Travelers faced a challenging start to the work week with over 2,200 flights canceled and 7,800 delayed due to a winter storm on the East Coast, according to FlightAware data.
- The Washington, D.C. region was heavily impacted, with Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) closing its runways to allow crews to clear snow and prevent overnight refreeze.
- Amtrak also canceled numerous trains along the Northeast Corridor, and major U.S. airlines have put out travel alerts to allow passengers additional flexibility to revise their itineraries.
- Airlines like American Airlines and Southwest Airlines have seen a significant number of cancellations as a result of the storm, with over 500 Southwest flights scrapped on Monday alone.
- If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, you may be eligible for a refund under Department of Transportation regulations.
- It's worth noting that a credit card offering travel insurance coverage can help recoup unexpected expenses in weather-related travel disruptions, as long as you book your travel with that card.
- For travel tips, reviews, guides, and the latest news on destinations across the globe, check out TPG's daily newsletter, essential travel tips for first-timers and veteran travelers alike, top travel credit cards, 29 places to visit in 2025, real-life strategies for navigating flight cancellations and delays, and the 8 travel credit cards worth pursuing for everyday purchases. Additionally, learn more about exciting offers from the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, American Express® Gold Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express, Capital One Venture X Business, and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
