Airlines offer vouchers as winter storm cancellations mount
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A flight information board shows delayed flights during a snowstorm at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on Nov. 29, 2025. Photo: Jim Vondruska/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A potentially historic winter storm is already disrupting weekend travel for flyers nationwide with airports canceling hundreds of flights and delaying thousands more.
The big picture: Nearly 148 million Americans are facing "Winter Storm Fern" with watches and warnings stretching 2,000 miles from New Mexico to Maine as of Thursday afternoon.
- Experts predict extremely cold temperatures and dangerous amounts of ice and snow that could trigger mass power outages, potentially into early next week.
Are flights being delayed or canceled?
Driving the news: Thousands of flights were delayed by 11am ET on Friday with hundreds of domestic flights canceled altogether, per data from FlightAware.
- Airlines are already sending out emails and alerts to passengers to move, cancel or change their flights to avoid any disruption.
What airlines are offering fees and waivers
Delta issued a travel waiver for anyone who is traveling from Jan. 23-25.
- Changes can be made with no fees.
- Delta said flight changes "are necessary" for travelers flying in and out of North Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee.
Southwest Airlines said that flights could be changed, delayed or canceled in and out of multiple cities, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Detroit, and New York.
- Eligible flyers can change their travel plans without extra costs, the airline said.
American Airlines is allowing travelers to change their flights with waived fees if they meet specific conditions.
- The changes must be booked by Jan. 27, the airline said.
JetBlue said it would cover any change or cancellation fees for eligible costumers traveling from Friday to Monday into potentially impacted cities, naming Boston, New York and Philadelphia.
United is offering to waive change fees and fare differences for flights booked on or before Jan. 20.
- The airline is also waiving fees for departing flights. Dates depend on location.
Spirit Airlines has changes and difference waivers for flights with travel dates between Jan. 23 and Jan. 26. The differences can be waived through Jan. 31.
Frontier similarly has its flexible travel policy in place for flights purchased on or before Jan. 22, with travel dates between Jan. 25 and Jan. 26.
How to check flight status
Many airlines suggest keeping up to date on your airline's app, website and text alerts for the latest updates.
- FlightAware.com offers live updates to flight information, as well as cancellations and delay statistics.
The bottom line: "Our weather and air traffic pros are tracking this weekend's winter storm to keep flights safe," the FAA wrote on X. "Remember, check your flight status with your airline before leaving home."
More from Axios:
Snow survival 101: How to stay safe during a winter storm
Millions brace for massive winter storm packing snow and ice
Inside NWS' effort to forecast this week's potentially historic winter storm
