2,400 flight cancellations (and counting) as latest winter storm hits East Coast

For the second straight week, millions of Americans are in the midst of a major winter storm — and mass travel woes at airports.Airlines slashed thousands of flights for Saturday as snow accumulated along a stretch of the East Coast, especially in the Carolinas.By 5:30 p.m. EST Saturday, more than 2,400 flights planned for Saturday had been canceled, according to data from FlightAware.And the conditions threatened Sunday travel, too, with 417 cancellations and counting by early evening.American Airlines led the way Saturday with 570 cancellations across its mainline operation — nearly a fifth of all flights the carrier had scheduled for the day.Hundreds of additional regional flights operated by American Eagle regional jets had been scrapped, too.Behind that disruption to American: significant wintry conditions at Charlotte Dougals International Airport (CLT), its second-busiest hub, where 86% of all departures for Saturday had been shuttered, FlightAware showed.For American, this latest winter blast was poorly timed: the carrier had just gotten operations back on track after last weekend’s significant storm caused major disruptions at more than half of its hubs and led to days of operational trouble, well after other airlines had recovered.But American was far from the only carrier affected Saturday.Delta Air Lines canceled more than 500 flights, due in large part to significant disruptions at its Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) mega-hub. Delta had preemptively canceled many of those flights on Friday, ahead of the storm.Behind CLT and ATL, Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) was the third most affected airport by Winter Storm “Gianna,” as dubbed by The Weather Channel. Half of all departures from the North Carolina airport were scrapped Saturday.Flight canceled or delayed? Here’s what to do nextGetting a refund for a canceled or delayed flight: What to know in 2026TPG’s favorites: 10 best credit cards with travel insuranceJACEK BOCZARSKI/ANDALOU VIA GETTY IMAGESAirlines had issued travel advisories ahead of this weekend’s storm. These waivers should allow passengers to easily make ticket changes, even when booked on a restrictive basic economy ticket.American AirlinesDelta Air LinesUnited AirlinesSouthwest AirlinesFrontier AirlinesSpirit AirlinesTravelers with trips planned for the next couple of days should keep a close eye on the forecast at their departure, connecting and destination airports — and consider making itinerary changes.Keep in mind that with a winter storm as significant as this, it’s likely that flight disruptions could affect a large swath of the country since disruptions from airports in the storm’s path can ripple out to other airports experiencing calm weather.What you can do if you’re traveling this weekendIf you’re flying this weekend, here’s what you should know:Consider changing your flight using a travel waiverIf your travel includes a flight to, from or through (via connection) the affected regions, consider changing your trip using one of the airline travel waivers, listed above.American Airlines aircraft at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYWhen carriers issue these advisories, it’s generally easier to re-book yourself without a fare difference, change fee or cancellation penalty. That goes even for flyers booked on restrictive tickets that usually don’t allow changes.Acting early can prevent hours of frustration at the airport.New connecting city?If I were flying Delta or American this weekend with a connection in Atlanta or Charlotte — two of the nation’s biggest hubs for connections — I would certainly be checking with the airline to see if I could be sent through a different connecting hub; those airports are set to see outsized impact compared to the rest of the country.Make use of your airline’s app to avoid waiting on holdExpect the phone queues and customer service lines at airports to be very long this weekend, as droves of travelers look to change their flights.Keep in mind, in many cases, you can re-book yourself using your airline’s app — often with just a few clicks. This can be a much faster and stress-free way to get on a new flight!DOT refund rules: What to knowIf your flight is canceled or significantly delayed and you choose not to travel, you’re entitled to a refund for the unused portion of your ticket, under U.S. Department of Transportation policy.This would apply to cancellations and delays of at least three hours for a domestic flight, or six hours for international flights.On the flip side: If you agree to take a later flight (even if it’s a lot later), you generally would not be owed a refund.How you can get reimbursed if you get strandedIf you do get stuck, keep your receipts.Some travel credit cards have built-in trip insurance protections, and may help you get reimbursed for hotel, meal and other costs if you get stuck somewhere.The most common caveat: You often can only get paid if you booked your trip with that card.Just keep in mind, exact terms and protections differ from one card and policy to another, so review your card’s explanation of benefits to see if you might be able to make a claim.TPG’s favorites: 10 best credit cards with travel insuranceWhat about meal and hotel vouchers?Airlines have promised certain things — like hotel nights, meals and ground transportation — for when travelers get stuck because of flight trouble. But in most cases, those guarantees are for flight woes that are the airline’s fault (like maintenance).Typically, though, weather disruptions aren’t eligible for these types of vouchers and reimbursements.Related reading:The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfareBest airline credit cardsWhat exactly are airline miles, anyway?6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayedMaximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flightsThe best credit cards to reach elite statusEditorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.