Need Advice on Air Travel

[jbdisneymom13]

We are leaving this week for WDW on a flight that departs at 6:30 p.m. Now, our area is forecast to get 3 - 6 inches of snow the day of our flight. Looking for past experiences / advice here just in case! How often does this amount of weather cause flight cancelations? I was excited at first about not having to get up early and having plenty of time to get to the airport - now I'm wondering if a late flight like this was wise. There are 11 of us and 7 of the family we are taking with us (several kids ages 8 - 16) have never been to WDW before and this is their Christmas present. We are flying Southwest. What do we do if our flight is cancelled? Looking at SW website there are almost no flights with any availability for the 3 days following our flight. Don't want our whole trip ruined!! Any advice on what to do or similar situations to ease my mind would really be appreciated!!

 

[Missytara]

You need to post where you are leaving from.

I have seen three to four inches of snow shut down airports in NC, diverting flights to other airports because they do not have the amount of plows to clear the runways.

Airports by me, in MD and PA, and all airports north have sufficient amount of equipment to clear up three to four inches in no time.

In any airport with delays due to any kind of weather, their website will have up-to-date info, as well as the airline websites. You can also call the airline regarding delays. If you are worried about traveling in the snow, you can stay at the airport the night before.

 

[DebbieB]

We are leaving this week for WDW on a flight that departs at 6:30 p.m. Now, our area is forecast to get 3 - 6 inches of snow the day of our flight. Looking for past experiences / advice here just in case! How often does this amount of weather cause flight cancelations? I was excited at first about not having to get up early and having plenty of time to get to the airport - now I'm wondering if a late flight like this was wise. There are 11 of us and 7 of the family we are taking with us (several kids ages 8 - 16) have never been to WDW before and this is their Christmas present. We are flying Southwest. What do we do if our flight is cancelled? Looking at SW website there are almost no flights with any availability for the 3 days following our flight. Don't want our whole trip ruined!! Any advice on what to do or similar situations to ease my mind would really be appreciated!!

It's unlikely for a flight to be cancelled for 3 to 6 inches in Ohio. You might end up delayed depending on the plane's route during the day.

 

[jbdisneymom13]

You need to post where you are leaving from.

I have seen three to four inches of snow shut down airports in NC, diverting flights to other airports because they do not have the amount of plows to clear the runways.

Airports by me, in MD and PA, and all airports north have sufficient amount of equipment to clear up three to four inches in no time.

In any airport with delays due to any kind of weather, their website will have up-to-date info, as well as the airline websites. You can also call the airline regarding delays. If you are worried about traveling in the snow, you can stay at the airport the night before.

We are leaving from Ohio. I know we can check with the airline for status. And I'm not concerned about us getting to the airport. We will make sure that happens and as I said we have the whole day to get there and we only live 1 1/2 hrs away. If we are just delayed, we can handle that too. My only fear is that we're scheduled to leave in the evening to begin with so what if they just cancel that flight for the day? Maybe I'm worrying about nothing. We have never had this type of potential situation before in all the times we've flown. Since it is a holiday week, I guess I just don't know what happens if the flight is cancelled. Will the airline try to get us on another flight or is that up to us? Thanks for the help!

 

[Missytara]

Check out the website airtravel.about.com and do a search on weather delays. It will give you all the information regarding passenger rights during times if airlines have to cancel your flight.

 

[taitai]

The answer is, "It depends." 3-6 inches of snow would not cancel anything here at MSP. That is nothing. I am guessing it is the same in Ohio. 3-6 inches could cancel everything at airports that are not used to snow, though. So, it is important to understand where your flight is originating and flying during the day. Delays throughout the system can start to add up and then you have crews that time out and flights do get cancelled.

If you are really worried, see if you could fly out early. Maybe something earlier in the day or a day early. Call SW and see what they say.

If your flight gets cancelled, Southwest will work to get you on the next flight that has availability. It could be the next day. It could be in a week. Depends on how crowded all their other flights are and how many people they need to rebook. With such a large group, it would be highly unlikely that all of you would get on the same flight. Be prepared, in such a case, to break up into smaller groups.

Good luck!

 

[sam_gordon]

We are leaving from Ohio. I know we can check with the airline for status. And I'm not concerned about us getting to the airport. We will make sure that happens and as I said we have the whole day to get there and we only live 1 1/2 hrs away. If we are just delayed, we can handle that too. My only fear is that we're scheduled to leave in the evening to begin with so what if they just cancel that flight for the day? Maybe I'm worrying about nothing. We have never had this type of potential situation before in all the times we've flown. Since it is a holiday week, I guess I just don't know what happens if the flight is cancelled. Will the airline try to get us on another flight or is that up to us? Thanks for the help!

Cincinnati's ability to handle 3-6" is different than Cleveland's ability to handle 3-6". Columbus is also different than the other two. Since this is SW... is there any availability on EARLIER flights? Depending on the cost of earlier flights, it may be worth pay a little extra for piece of mind. Even if you get an early morning flight, drive down the night before and stay in a nearby hotel.

Airlines will try to get you out on their next available flight. Can your group of 7 split up? It would be easier to make arrangements for 4 & 3 than for 7. I'm not saying you need to split up, but it's just something you can be mentally prepared for. I don't know if the airline will ask you to, but you might offer it.

My other suggestion is to get to the airport SUPER early, and ask the airline if they can get you out on earlier flights (again, possibly splitting up). The bad part about this is if they can't, you can be stuck at the airport a long time waiting for your scheduled flights.

These are just ideas that I would consider if I was in your shoes.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

We are leaving from Ohio. I know we can check with the airline for status. And I'm not concerned about us getting to the airport. We will make sure that happens and as I said we have the whole day to get there and we only live 1 1/2 hrs away. If we are just delayed, we can handle that too. My only fear is that we're scheduled to leave in the evening to begin with so what if they just cancel that flight for the day? Maybe I'm worrying about nothing. We have never had this type of potential situation before in all the times we've flown. Since it is a holiday week, I guess I just don't know what happens if the flight is cancelled. Will the airline try to get us on another flight or is that up to us? Thanks for the help!

Airlines will take all reasonable steps to avoid canceling a flight. But sometimes it does happen. If it happens to you, the airline will work with you to get you to your destination, but will not displace other passengers booked on flights that have not been cancelled to do so.

It may be very difficult to get 11 seats on a later flight. Plan in advance how the group could be split to make it easier to reschedule.

If you are forced to overnight at the airport du to a weather delay, you are not entitled to be reimbursed for any expesnses. Airlines sometime do help out, however, so it may be worthwhile to ask. If you have travel insurance, you may be entitled to reimbursement for cost relating to a delay.

You can try to get on earlier flights, but it is likely you will have to pay any fare difference between what you paid and the cost of same day travel to do so.

Make sure you don't check anything you might need for the next 24 hours in your checked luggage. This includes charging cords for electronics and phones. Bring a power strip to share a plug as well.

Best of luck. -- Suzanne