Winter storm expected to disrupt travel across eastern U.S.

A powerful winter storm is expected to bring snow, ice and sleet across the eastern United States beginning Friday and through the weekend, threatening to snarl air travel and create treacherous road conditions.

Forecasters say the system could sweep from Texas to the Northeast and affect more than half of the U.S. population. Dozens of airports, including Ronald Reagan National near Washington, are among those that could experience delays.

Travelers who no longer want to fly this weekend can most likely rebook without incurring extra costs. On the day of travel, monitor your airline’s app for the first updates and use services such as FlightAware to check delays and cancellations at major airports.

In the United States, airlines will rebook you or try to rebook you if your flight is canceled, significantly delayed or changed; if you decide not to fly, the airline owes you an automatic refund in your original form of payment within 20 days. Don’t expect airlines to cover food or accommodation for weather-related disruptions; travel insurance, including coverage through a credit card, may be helpful.

Key Topics

World, Winter Storm, Eastern United States, Ronald Reagan, Hartsfield-jackson, Flightaware