How do you plan for the potential of a bad weather cancelled flight?

[notatallmagic]

We are scheduled to be flying back from MCO into/right after a significant winter storm. I just checked our tickets, and we DID purchase flight insurance, but would you/should I pre-emptively buy a cheap flight back a day or two later just to be covered? We are OK if we're delayed a bit, but one kid has to return to school out of state 3 days later.

I'd love to hear any suggestions or past experiences. Thanks!

 

[OKW Lover]

I'd take my chances rather than book a second flight.

 

[sponica]

Watch the travel alerts like a hawk. Granted we usually experience it the other way, the storm comes on the outgoing leg of a trip. If the storm arrives on our return trip, I would just watch the travel alerts and rebook to the next available flight ASAP and book somewhere cheap to stay.

 

[sam_gordon]

The only way I'd pre-emptively purchase a ticket is if it can be fully refundable.

 

[EACarlson]

Lots of questions that have to be answered before making a recommendation. What airline, how often do they fly into your home airport, can you get there using another routing, was your ticket purchased one way or roundtrip, do you have enough FF or CC points to pay for the new flight, would you use a credit if you bought a second flight and didn't need it, how much money are you willing to risk for a better chance to be home in a reasonable amount of time? If you're on a low cost carrier that doesn't offer flights everyday or only one a day. I would consider buying a fully refundable flight on another airline.

 

[_19disnA]

^^ I agree a number of factors would have to be considered (which airline, how many daily flights, how full are those flights, etc.). If you are referring to that current snow storm in the midwest, airlines will typically let you change flights with no extra charge for major weather events and are very flexible in helping you making other arrangements. They tend to be more pro-active then in the past so thousands aren't stranded at some hub airport and then it takes several days to get things back to normal. Buying a second ticket (even if refundable) would be my last choice.

 

[Akck]

We were scheduled to fly in around the time hurricane Ian hit. A few days before, Southwest offered free changes to flights flying to/from MCO. A day or two later, the parks closed and resorts weren’t accepting check-ins. We basically canceled our cruise pre-stay and flew in that Saturday morning. I’m certain that all the major airlines offered free changes too.

I would just keep track of the situation and see what your airline offers. The only thing I might do is make a hotel reservation that can be canceled on short notice. Oh, we got the last 2 seats on our flight, so be ready to commit to your plan B sooner rather than later, once you’re fairly certain things are shutting down.

 

[Miffy]

I was supposed to fly back this past Friday (Dec 16). A couple of days in advance there were warnings of significant snow in Syracuse, where I was flying into.

I hemmed and hawed about it then decided to extend my stay a day and fly the next day. Changing flights was easy. So, interestingly, was getting a room. I was a POFQ and was able to get a room in the same category at the AP discount and they fixed things so I wouldn't have to change rooms.

As it turned out, I didn't have to do this as the storm was not as severe as predicted. I did get an extra day at WDW--hard to complain about that!--and I got the peace of mind that I wouldn't be stuck at the airport without a place to stay.

OP, as for your situation, I can't advise you except to say that one other thing I considered was to fly home 2 days early, ahead of the storm. That's something else for you to consider.

 

[betterbutter]

We are scheduled to be flying back from MCO into/right after a significant winter storm. I just checked our tickets, and we DID purchase flight insurance, but would you/should I pre-emptively buy a cheap flight back a day or two later just to be covered? We are OK if we're delayed a bit, but one kid has to return to school out of state 3 days later.

I'd love to hear any suggestions or past experiences. Thanks!

This time of the year, "cheap flight" doesn't enter the picture.
You could either buy fully refundable tickets, or you could buy new tickets with a carrier that will allow you to cancel and bank your travel credit for a year.

We could probably offer better advice if we knew where you were headed to.