Canadian airlines activate flexible ticketing ahead of “historic” U.S. storm

A powerful winter storm is forecast to slam the eastern United States this weekend with significant snowfall, ice buildup, and dangerously low temperatures, according to AccuWeather.

The disruptions could lead to widespread flight delays and cancellations nationwide, with reports calling the storm, dubbed Winter Storm Fern, “historic.”  

The five biggest U.S. airlines – Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue – have all released travel alerts, and waivers, ahead of a major winter storm forecast to deliver bitter cold, heavy snow, and strong winds across much of the eastern U.S. this weekend.

In Canada, Air Canada has activated its flexible ticketing policy for flights to Dallas, Nashville, Raleigh Durham, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Cleveland and Washington. The policies apply to select dates, starting from January 23 through to January 26. Click here for details.

WestJet has also posted a $0 one-time fee waiver option for flights to Atlanta and Houston for the January 24-26 period. Click here for details.

Check your flight status

The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) forecast calls for “life-threatening cold air” across much of the eastern United States this weekend, with strong winds that could topple trees and power lines, possibly causing extended outages.

In the Northern Plains, wind chills may drop below -50, while dangerously low wind chills could reach as far southeast as the Mid-Atlantic, Mid-Mississippi Valley, and Southern Plains.

“Thousands of flight cancellations are possible nationwide as snow and ice affect major airports, with delays and cancellations likely to ripple across the country,” Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather, told Forbes.

It’s an event that could impact the aviation network at large. Passengers with flights scheduled from Friday through Sunday could face delays or cancellations, even if their routes don’t go through the storm’s direct path.

Afternoon flights are particularly at risk, since disruptions earlier in the day often create a ripple effect, leading to mounting delays as the day progresses.

Passengers are being advised to verify their flight status before leaving for the airport to ensure it’s on schedule.

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