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Tips and strategies to reach your destination despite bad weather

2022-12-23T11:54:13.589Z


Thousands of flights Thursday and Friday were canceled as travelers in the United States try to reach their destinations. How to cope? Here are some tips.


How to stay safe from cold temperatures 1:39

(CNN) --

Thousands of flights Thursday and Friday were canceled as travelers in the United States try to reach their destinations.

Chicago O'Hare and Denver International airports had the most cancellations on Thursday, according to data from flight-tracking site FlightAware, while many of Friday's cancellations will affect Detroit Metropolitan Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York. .

USA: shocking images of winter storm 1:00

US air travelers were on a roll over the 4th of July, Labor Day and Thanksgiving holidays with largely favorable weather conditions.

But a different story awaits us for Christmas.

  • Flights, buses and trains: all services affected by the storm in the US

Scott Keyes, founder of discount travel site Scott's Cheap Flights, told CNN this week that "our luck may have finally run out."

Yes, it certainly does for many travelers.

An arctic blast and "bomb cyclone"—what the National Weather Service calls a "once-in-a-generation event"—is causing deadly cold, possible blizzard conditions, and a proverbial lump of coal in our travel socks.

And it's all coinciding with a travel season that is returning to crowded, almost pre-pandemic levels.

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AAA, the auto and travel membership club, expects nearly 113 million people to travel over the holiday period.

Air Travel Strategies

Workers defrost an Alaska Airlines plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Tuesday, December 20.

Much of the rest of the United States will experience severe weather in the coming days.

The number of travelers expected to fly (7.2 million) is just down from 7.3 million in 2019.

  • What happens if my flight is affected by the cyclone bomb?

    Travel Flexibility Announced by US Airlines

But mother nature has the last word.

“There is no minimum safety protocol or preparation that airlines can take to make it safe to land or take off in the middle of a snow storm,” Keyes said.

How to cope?

Here are some strategies:

• Take advantage of the airlines' travel flexibility to leave earlier or change the route of the itineraries.

Here are links to major airline easings that allow you to rebook without penalty for a short period:

-Alaska Airlines

-Allegiant

-American Airlines

-Delta

-Frontier Airlines

-Hawaiian Airlines

-JetBlue

-Southwest Airlines

-Spirit Airlines

-United Airlines

If your flight is cancelled, consider flying on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, said Kathleen Bangs, a former airline pilot and spokeswoman for FlightAware.

While there are fewer flights, there are also fewer passengers.

"Scheduling the first flight of the day is a great way to avoid flight delays," Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com, told CNN Travel in a recent email.

"Studies show that the first flights of the day are more likely to leave on time and arrive on time."

• Put your travel tools in order.

The FlightAware app and airline apps will send alerts directly to your phone.

• Be prepared to multitask if your flight is delayed or cancelled.

Position yourself near the counter, Keyes previously suggested to CNN Travel readers.

And call while you're in line to increase your chances of getting a resolution faster.

Keyes recommends calling an airline's international offices rather than competing with the throngs of other passengers using their domestic lines.

It also encourages travelers to learn about inter-airline deals.

Your airline may be able to get you to your destination by placing you on another airline.

• Know your rights and be prepared to negotiate.

Bangs encourages travelers to check the US Department of Transportation's airline customer service panel.

While he highlights the commitments of 10 US carriers to passengers for "controllable" disruptions -- which many of this week's cancellations and delays will not be -- he also highlights passengers' right to a refund.

"If an airline cancels a passenger's flight or makes a significant change to the flight, regardless of the reason, airlines must provide an immediate refund to a ticketed passenger, including those with non-refundable tickets, should the passenger choose to not accept the offered alternative, such as rebooking on another flight. Learn more about your right to a refund," the department's website says.

Chaos at US airports due to winter storm 1:05

With so many overbooked flights, airlines will be looking for volunteers to give up their seats and catch a later flight, Keyes said.

If you have flexibility in your plans, you can negotiate better compensation.

Airlines can start by offering a $250 or $300 travel credit for passengers who want to give up their seats.

"You don't have to accept the first offer. Expect those offers to continue to increase," Keyes said.

In many cases, passengers can get $1,000 or more in credits, he said.

• Check your credit card's travel protections.

Keyes said many credit cards offer reimbursement for expenses such as hotel if you miss a connection or compensation if your bag goes missing.

“But only if you use that credit card to buy your flight,” Keyes said.

• Arrive well in advance.

"The main thing, and I can't stress this enough, is that you need to get to the airport early and well before your flight time," said Gautam Thakkar, chief executive of Unifi Aviation, the largest aviation service provider in the United States.

"If you are traveling with a lot of luggage or packages to check in, for example, arriving two hours early may not be enough."

• Pack light.

"The best way to ensure that all luggage arrives safely at a traveler's destination is to not check a bag. Packing light and carrying luggage is a great way to save money and have peace of mind that your luggage will make it to its destination." with you," Klee said.

MORE TIPS HERE for dealing with flight delays and cancellations.

Road Trip Safety Tips

Most travelers -- nearly 102 million Americans, AAA predicts -- are expected to do so by car.

Avoiding travel is safest when conditions are bad.

The National Weather Service in Chicago tweeted Thursday morning about "life threatening conditions" from Thursday night through Friday night.

Stay on top of the latest forecasts and avoid hitting the roads in dangerous weather conditions.

When you're traveling by car in winter, it's important to be prepared.

Check your vehicle as often as recommended by the manufacturer and do the following, as recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Check the radiator system or check the antifreeze level with an antifreeze tester.

Add antifreeze as needed.

• Replace windshield washer fluid with a suitable winter mixture (which will contain additives to prevent freezing).

The most shocking images of the destruction by the winter storm in the US 1:35

• Make sure the tires have enough tread and air pressure, which you can measure with a tire pressure gauge.

Replace worn tires and fill low tires with air at the recommended pressure for your car.

• Keep the gas tank nearly full to help prevent ice in the tank and fuel lines.

• Keep your car in proper operating condition by checking the heater, defroster, brakes, brake fluid, ignition, hazard flashers, exhaust, oil, and battery.

Pack what you will need in case of an emergency.

Things like:

• High-energy non-perishable foods, such as nuts, granola bars, dried fruit, or jerky

• Bottled water (using an insulated bottle can help prevent frostbite).

• First aid kit including adhesive bandages, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, antiseptic cream, medical wrap, and razor

• Clothes to keep you warm: hats, wool socks, coat, hand and foot warmers, gloves, scarves and blankets

• Battery-powered flashlight, extra batteries and flares

• Jumper cables, booster cables with a fully charged battery, or an external battery charger to jump start your car if the battery dies

• Basic toolkit

• Tires or tow chains

• Glass scraper for cleaning windows

Some Positives for Air Travelers

The next few days look daunting, but there are a few things in store for air travelers this week.

Bangs points out that US airlines have more staff than last year at the moment, even though there is a loss in experience level.

Industry group Airlines for America said at a recent news conference that the industry is adding about 4,600 employees a month.

Airlines have increased bookings, reduced capacity and built reserves and buffers to improve performance, the organization said.

And while the flu, RSV and covid-19 are proving to be a triple respiratory threat, they don't appear to be causing the havoc with employees that the omicron variant of covid-19 caused last year around Christmas, Bangs said.

Finally, the date of Christmas Day and New Year's Day might help.

"This year, travel time will be extended due to Christmas Day and New Year's Day falling on a Sunday," Paula Twidale, AAA's senior vice president of travel, said in a statement.

"With hybrid work schedules, we're seeing more people take long weekends to travel because they can work remotely at their destination and be more flexible with the days they leave and return."

With a longer schedule, passengers will have more options when it comes to finding new flights.

And with the winter weather the United States is experiencing, that flexibility can be especially important this holiday season.

CNN's Kristen Rogers contributed to this report.

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2022-12-23

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