Snowmageddon, Part II: Airlines Cancelling Flights, Waiving Fees

The major airlines began cancelling flights and waiving re-booking fees in anticipation of Winter Storm Janus as early as 7 a.m. this morning, hoping to get ahead of the big snowfall.  

A snowstorm expected to barrel up the I-95 corridor and drop up to a foot of snow from Washington D.C. to Boston will be followed by another kiss from the Polar Vortex, with frigid temperatures right behind the storm system.

Airlines began cancellations early; as of 1:30 p.m. this afternoon, 2,849 flights into and out of the United States have been cancelled and 1,478 have been delayed, according to FlightAware.com. More than 700 flights on Wednesday have already been grounded.

As usual, JetBlue has been hit the hardest. With numerous flights into and out of the major northeast airports – LaGuardia, JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, D.C. – JetBlue has had 38 percent of its flights already cancelled today as of 1 p.m., according to FlightAware.

All airlines have differing policies regarding re-booking fees so please check with your carrier, but for the most part the airlines are offering amnesty today and Wednesday. Generally, they will allow one itinerary change without penalty.