Bad weather and flight delays

[Stacy_C]

We're flying out of Nashville on Tuesday night. The forecast is as follows:

Tuesday Night: Very windy with heavy rain and a thunderstorm. Winds from the SE at 19 mph.

Do you think this will cause our flight to be delayed?

Thanks!

 

[Disneyjosh229]

It really depends on what the captain thinks. The airline usually has no role what so ever upon deciding if a flight can be flown. Often times, if there is a break in the weather, you will depart.

 

[mom2jamie]

Please keep in mind that Hurricane Katrina is on its way. I do know that the airports in the Atlanta and New Orleans area are not offering flights after 1 pm today. It is now a Cat 5 according to the weather channel. I would expect that there would be some effect on the Nashville area as it comes through.

 

[CarolA]

It really depends on what the captain thinks. The airline usually has no role what so ever upon deciding if a flight can be flown. Often times, if there is a break in the weather, you will depart.

Well, that is partially true. However, if there is a thunderstorm the airport can and may be closed. Safety rules don't allow ground crews to work on planes when they could be hit by ligtening..

Are you on a direct or do you connect in Atlanta? If you are flying direct you will be fine even if there is a delay.

 

[Stacy_C]

Are you on a direct or do you connect in Atlanta? If you are flying direct you will be fine even if there is a delay.

Direct flight with SWA.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Stacy_C]

I would expect that there would be some effect on the Nashville area as it comes through.

That's what I'm afraid of!

 

[DebbieB]

Please keep in mind that Hurricane Katrina is on its way. I do know that the airports in the Atlanta and New Orleans area are not offering flights after 1 pm today. It is now a Cat 5 according to the weather channel. I would expect that there would be some effect on the Nashville area as it comes through.

Atlanta closed at 1:00pm today? The storm is nowhere near Atlanta yet.

Edit - I checked delta.com and airtran.com, flights are still going in and out of Atlanta. Their sites don't mention Atlanta as one of the airports closed.

 

[kilee]

I would continue to monitor the storm as well as your airline carriers website. Also, you may want to watch the airports websites. We got delayed by almost a whole day in 2004 due to terrible snowstorms in Buffalo and NYC (we were connecting in NYC) as well as awful thunderstorms in Orlando (which started us with a decent delay). I've never had a flight cancelled, so I don't know what happens then. I know when we finally got to NYC and were waiting to go to Buffalo we wound up being delayed almost 15 hours before our flight left- but they never cancelled it.

 

[CarolA]

As of 4:30 today Atlanta is open and running. There has not even been discussion about closing since it does not look like we will get the worst of the storm this time. However, there are weather delays right now (unrelated at all to Katrina) However, flights to affected areas may be cancelled even before the airports are closed. The airlines don't want to get stuck. (The FAA shows New Orleans as still open)

Having lived in Nashville for years I really doubt it will close the airport and SW will burn jet fuel to get you back on schedule LOL!

 

[ducklite]

Very simply put, Katrina is going to cause haoc with all the carriers schedules all over the US. It's going to happen, nothing to do about it but pray for those in her path.

Keep an eye on your carriers web site. At this point it's a crapshoot what will happen. Your flight could be on time, late, or cancelled altogether. It's quite possible that if you can fly out a day early your carrier will accomodate you at no additional charge to change plans.

Anne

 

[manning]

It really depends on what the captain thinks. The airline usually has no role what so ever upon deciding if a flight can be flown. Often times, if there is a break in the weather, you will depart.

The captain has the final say on a no go. However the airline can cancel flights and airport management can close down the airport.

No one can force the captain to fly!!

 

[safetymom]

You may also be delayed because the plane can't fly into your airport because of the weather. It may be fine at your airport but if the plane has to go through bad weather to get to you the flight may be delayed.