A powerful winter storm disrupted air travel across much of the United States on Sunday, triggering thousands of flight cancellations at major airports, the Associated Press reported.
The storm brought snow ice and freezing rain across a wide swath of the country, putting nearly 180 million people under weather alerts. Forecasters said the system would move into the Northeast after hitting the South, with heavy snowfall expected from Washington to Boston.
Since Saturday, more than 14,000 U.S. flights have been canceled, according to FlightAware. Over 10,000 of those cancellations were scheduled for Sunday alone.
Airports in Washington, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Fort Worth, Charlotte and Philadelphia reported severe disruptions. At Reagan National Airport near Washington nearly all scheduled departures were canceled.
Major airlines cut large portions of their schedules. American Airlines (AAL) canceled about 45% of its Sunday flights. Delta (DAL) and Southwest (LUV) each scrubbed more than 1,200 flights. United (UAL) and JetBlue (JBLU) also reported widespread cancellations.
Passengers with canceled flights are encouraged to contact their airline as soon as possible. Travelers already at the airport should speak with customer service staff while those at home may have better luck using airline apps or websites. Looking up alternate flights in advance can help speed up rebooking.
Most airlines will rebook passengers on later flights at no extra cost if seats are available. Booking on another airline is possible in some cases but is not guaranteed.
Passengers who choose not to travel are entitled to a full refund for a canceled flight regardless of ticket type. That includes refunds for baggage fees seat upgrades and other unused extras even if the airline offers a travel credit instead.