Canceled or Delayed Due to Snow – Now What?

Winter weather doesn’t just inconvenience travelers; it can completely derail carefully planned trips, leaving thousands stranded in airports across the country. With the ripple effect, the chaos can go of for days. 

Behind every cancelled flight number are smart, experienced travelers who did everything right, booked in advance, arrived early, and still ended up stranded because winter weather doesn’t care about your travel plans.

Just see this quick list of some of last year’s winter chaos:

On January 6, 2025, Winter Storm Blair cancelled nearly 2,000 flights and delayed 2,400 more. Southwest alone grounded 360 flights. American and Republic: 176 each.

Three days in January 2024 saw over 11,000 flight delays. Buffalo cancelled 80% of its flights. Chicago delayed one in five.

February 2025 brought 4,400 disruptions in a single day—roughly 10% of all U.S. flights.

This is why understanding your rights and how to track the weather when you travel matters more than ever. 

Save this newsletter for your next winter trip.

What Airlines Actually Owe You When Winter Weather Strikes (And What They Don’t)

When a winter storm cancels your flight, the gate agent will tell you it’s “weather-related” as if that explains everything. What they’re really saying is: We don’t owe you much.

Here’s the truth airlines don’t advertise: weather cancellations fall under “uncontrollable delays,” which means federal regulations require far less from airlines than when they cancel your flight for reasons within their control, like mechanical issues, crew shortages, or overbooking.
 

The Critical Distinction: Controllable vs. Uncontrollable

Controllable delays (airline’s fault): Mechanical problems, staffing issues, IT system failures. For these, airlines must provide meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and sometimes compensation.

Uncontrollable delays (not airline’s fault): Weather, air traffic control issues, security threats. For these, airlines are only required to rebook you on their next available flight—and that’s it. No hotel. No meals. No compensation.

Winter weather always falls into the “uncontrollable” category, even when it feels like the airline should have seen the storm coming.
 

The Proactive Exception: Travel Waivers for Predicted Weather

There’s one significant advantage you have with winter storms that are predicted days in advance. When a major winter storm or hurricane is forecast, airlines typically issue travel waivers that allow you to change your flight at no cost, sometimes up to a week before or after your original travel date.

How to use this: 

• Check your airline’s website or app 3-5 days before departure if severe weather is predicted.
• Look for “travel advisories” or “weather waivers” for your departure or arrival city.
• If your airport is listed, you can often rebook yourself online to fly out a day earlier or later, at no additional cost. 

This is your best chance to avoid the chaos entirely.

What Airlines ARE Required to Do:

• Rebook you at no extra cost on their next available flight, even if it’s days away
• Provide a full refund if you choose not to be rebooked (this applies even to nonrefundable tickets when the airline cancels on you)
• Refund you if your flight is delayed more than 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally—this is a newer DOT rule that took effect in October 2024

What Airlines Are NOT Required to Do When Weather Strikes:

• Provide hotel accommodations
• Give you meal vouchers
• Rebook you on another airline
• Offer any financial compensation

Your Best Move: Know your rights, ask for help, and have a backup plan. If the airline can’t get you out for two days, that refund option starts looking pretty good, especially if you can book yourself on another carrier or drive instead.

For more strategies on handling these situations, check out this guide on how to handle travel disruptions.

How to Get Rebooked Fast When Winter Weather Hits

When winter weather cancels your flight, speed matters. While other passengers are standing in shock staring at the departure board, you need to be taking action. Here’s how to get rebooked faster than everyone else.
 

Call While You Wait in Line

The moment you see “CANCELLED” flash on the board, don’t just join the rebooking queue. Pull out your phone and call the airline’s customer service number immediately, even as you’re standing in the rebooking line. Whichever connects first—phone or gate agent—gets you rebooked faster. Phone agents often have access to more flight options than gate agents do.

Pro tip: The customer service number is always in the airline’s app, but often the chat works faster!
 

Use the Airline App At the Same Time

Many airlines now let you rebook yourself directly in their mobile app when flights are cancelled. This is often faster than waiting for a human. Check the app first before doing anything else. You might have a new flight booked while others are still waiting to talk to someone.
 

Ask About Same-Day Standby

If the airline rebooks you on a flight tomorrow, don’t accept that as your only option. Ask to be put on standby for any earlier flights today. Many airlines will do this at no charge for weather-related cancellations. You might get lucky if other passengers don’t show up or if the airline adds extra flights.

The Bottom Line: Passengers who get rebooked first are those who take immediate action and utilize multiple channels simultaneously. Don’t wait for your turn; create your own opportunities.

What Travel Insurance Actually Covers for Weather (And What It Doesn’t)

Travel insurance can be a lifesaver during winter weather disruptions, but only if you understand what’s actually covered. Many travelers buy policies thinking they’re protected, then discover too late that their situation doesn’t qualify.
 

What’s Typically Covered:

• Trip cancellation before you leave home: If a winter storm hits your destination before you depart and makes travel impossible (such as a state of emergency or airport closure), most comprehensive travel insurance policies will reimburse your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.
• Trip interruption after your trip starts: If you’re already on your trip and severe weather forces you to cut it short or extends your stay (like being stranded due to airport closures), trip interruption coverage can reimburse additional accommodation and meal expenses.
• Trip delay coverage while you’re traveling: If your flight is delayed 6-12 hours (the threshold varies by policy), you can get reimbursed for reasonable expenses like meals and hotel stays while you wait.

What’s Typically NOT Covered:

“I don’t want to travel in bad weather”: If there’s a winter storm warning but the airport is still open and flights are operating, standard travel insurance won’t cover you if you simply decide not to go. The airport has to actually close or your flight has to be cancelled.

Storms you knew about before buying insurance: If you purchase travel insurance after a named storm (like a hurricane) has already been forecast, that storm is considered a “known event” and won’t be covered. Buy insurance within 14-21 days of your initial trip deposit to avoid this exclusion.
 

The CFAR Advantage for Winter Travel

“Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) coverage costs 40-50% more than standard travel insurance, but it lets you cancel your trip for literally any reason—including “the forecast looks terrible and I don’t want to deal with it”—and recover 50-75% of your nonrefundable costs.

For winter travel, especially if you’re booking expensive trips months in advance, CFAR coverage provides peace of mind that standard policies don’t. It’s particularly valuable for travelers over 50 who may have health concerns that could be aggravated by travel stress or cold weather.

Why Weather-related Travel Insurance Claims Get Denied

Insurance companies will deny weather-related claims when:

• You didn’t buy insurance soon enough (after the storm was already forecast)
• The airport was still operating, even if conditions were bad
• You can’t provide documentation (flight cancellation notices, weather reports, receipts)

Pro tip: Always save emails from airlines about cancellations, take screenshots of weather alerts, and keep receipts for any expenses you incur during delays. Documentation is everything when filing a claim.

For more details on what weather events are covered, check out Does Travel Insurance Cover Bad Weather and this comprehensive guide on Weather & Natural Disaster Coverage.

The Bottom Line: Travel insurance works best when you buy it early, understand exactly what’s covered, and keep meticulous records. It’s not a magic solution, but it can save you thousands when winter weather derails your plans.

Proactive Strategies to Avoid Getting Stranded by Winter Weather

The best way to handle winter weather disruptions is to avoid them in the first place. While you can’t control the weather, you can make strategic choices that dramatically reduce your chances of getting stuck in an airport. Here’s how experienced travelers stack the odds in their favor.
 

Start Monitoring the Weather 5-7 Days Before Departure

Don’t wait until you’re at the airport to discover a storm is coming. Check the forecast for both your departure and arrival cities starting a week before your trip. If severe weather is predicted, look for airline travel waivers and rebook yourself proactively—before the chaos hits.

Use reliable weather sources like the National Weather Service, Weather.com, or your airline’s travel advisory page. Pay attention to winter storm watches and warnings, not just the daily forecast. This detailed guide on checking the weather before you travel walks you through exactly how to monitor conditions and make smart decisions before you leave home.
 

Book Morning Flights (Before 10 AM)

Early morning flights have significantly lower cancellation rates than afternoon or evening flights. Why? They’re the first flights of the day, so they haven’t been delayed by earlier disruptions. Plus, if your morning flight does get cancelled, you have the entire day to get rebooked on another flight. Evening flight cancellations often mean spending the night at the airport or in a hotel.

Yes, waking up at 5 AM is painful. But it’s a lot less painful than being stranded.
 

Choose Nonstop Flights Over Connections

Every connection is another opportunity for something to go wrong. During winter, book nonstop flights whenever possible—even if they cost a bit more. A nonstop flight only needs two airports to be operational (departure and arrival). A connecting flight needs three airports and two planes to cooperate. The math isn’t in your favor.
 

Build in Buffer Days for Critical Events

Never fly in the day of a wedding, cruise departure, or important business meeting during winter months. Build in at least one buffer day—ideally two—before events that can’t be missed. If you’re flying to a wedding on Saturday, arrive Thursday. If your cruise leaves Sunday, get there Friday.

This is especially important for travelers over 50 who may be attending milestone family events or have less flexibility to reschedule important commitments.
 

Avoid High-Risk Airports and Routes

Some airports are more vulnerable to winter weather than others. Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, and Boston regularly see weather-related delays and cancellations. If you’re connecting through these cities during winter, consider routing through southern hubs like Atlanta, Dallas, or Charlotte instead.

Also avoid small regional airports during winter if you have a choice. Larger airports have more de-icing equipment, more backup planes, and more flight options if things go wrong.

May your weather forecasts be accurate, your flight changes be free, and your winter travels be memorable for all the right reasons.