What If A Snowstorm Hits?

[hoff41]

Live in NY and our flight is sat night (boat leaves Sunday) and can't leave Friday. honestly I feel so hopeless right now. We have insurance but that won't help the vacation we have all been looking forward to for years

 

[MunFam]

This week I'm booking flights from the West Coast to Florida for our December cruise. I am avoiding connections in snowy locations for this reason! We plan to fly *over* the snow

Am hoping Atlanta will do the trick . . . does anyone thing there is much chance of that airport being closed down due to a snow storm?

Honestly, if there is weather somewhere it could effect you. If you are flying say Las Angeles to Atlanta to Miami...you could still experience a delay for fog (especially in SoCal) for thunderstorms in Atlanta or thunderstorms in Miami. Also, if one of your planes is coming in from a weathered location, that could also cause delays, even if it is bright and sunny at your departure point and your arrival point. I have been stuck many a time going from San Diego to Seattle or SFO simply because my inbound plane was coming in from Dallas with weather or JFK.

 

[bethy]

Honestly, if there is weather somewhere it could effect you. If you are flying say Las Angeles to Atlanta to Miami...you could still experience a delay for fog (especially in SoCal) for thunderstorms in Atlanta or thunderstorms in Miami. Also, if one of your planes is coming in from a weathered location, that could also cause delays, even if it is bright and sunny at your departure point and your arrival point. I have been stuck many a time going from San Diego to Seattle or SFO simply because my inbound plane was coming in from Dallas with weather or JFK.

Thank you - very good points! I hadn't thought about the incoming plane. We are in Seattle and it's extremely rare that we get weather here that affects flights. But this makes me want to rethink about when to travel. Like a PP, it really wouldn't be about the money for me. Our schedule is tight and we want to go on *this* cruise. And yes we do have trip insurance. But it's not a simple thing at all to just reschedule.

 

[krisinparis]

If possible, I'd try to get out a day earlier. We live in Houston and were on the NYE cruise sailing out of Galveston. The cold front that hit north Texas was very disruptive for several families on our cruise. One family made it in time for the cruise after 2 days of airline travel, but their luggage did not make it. Another family did not make it in time and joined us in Nassau on Day 4 (but apparently the airlines flew them to Nassau and put them up for 2 days until the boat arrived).

 

[AquaDame]

I'll let you know... we are supposed to fly out on a red eye through JFK on Friday night, arriving in San Juan at noon Saturday for a cruise out on Sunday. Technically we took the precautions, but it sounds like it may not be enough if JFK ends up shutting down due to a blizzard.

 

[babynala]

This week I'm booking flights from the West Coast to Florida for our December cruise. I am avoiding connections in snowy locations for this reason! We plan to fly *over* the snow

Am hoping Atlanta will do the trick . . . does anyone thing there is much chance of that airport being closed down due to a snow storm?

Both last winter and the winter before we had major ice storms that caused havoc in Atlanta. Because these types of storms are rare in this area there is not equipment on hand to deal with clearing roads and runways. Hopefully in December you won't have to worry too much but with the way flights and crew members are scheduled you never know if a storm in another part of the country could cause a ripple effect. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[JJsmama]

Both last winter and the winter before we had major ice storms that caused havoc in Atlanta. Because these types of storms are rare in this area there is not equipment on hand to deal with clearing roads and runways. Hopefully in December you won't have to worry too much but with the way flights and crew members are scheduled you never know if a storm in another part of the country could cause a ripple effect. Just something to keep in mind.

Exactly what I was going to say. Atlanta is a MESS in the snow but we/ they don't get it too often. it is definitely a safer bet than some other locales. December is pretty early for major snow in the Southeast, BTW.

 

[missyp]

Live in NY and our flight is sat night (boat leaves Sunday) and can't leave Friday. honestly I feel so hopeless right now. We have insurance but that won't help the vacation we have all been looking forward to for years

Your best bet may be to drive and get on the road as early as you possibly can on Friday night or Saturday morning. . With 2 drivers you can drive straight through. Not pleasant but doubtful you will get a flight out on Saturday.

Good luck! I have been in your shoes and it all worked out. Very stressful

 

[bumbershoot]

how lenient were the airlines to make these changes since they were weather related?

Check your airline and airport websites. The moment they start changing flights and allowing fee-free changes, they will put that info up. You want to be among the first to call and get things changed. So set alerts and alarms to check regularly.

DH was in Dallas during the ice storm 2, er, 3 Decembers ago. He needed to get back to WA for 24 hours, to see DS's first dance performance as part of Company. It took a LOT of hours on the phone to American, it took diligence in checking flights and his flights and weather, it took an AMAZING cab driver who went slow as a turtle but got DH safely to the airport, it took luck, but we got him home and back to TX in 36 hours. Oh and it also involved a VERY lenient and understanding boss (who was on the work trip still in TX!).

But what it did NOT involve was waiting until the airline started reassigning flights randomly, or the time or two they did, seeing that change immediately and calling to change it again. American Airlines seemed to think that a flight one week later was going to work; no, it wasn't. There were reasons for the 24 hour trip, and a week later would have been useless going either direction.

This week I'm booking flights from the West Coast to Florida for our December cruise. I am avoiding connections in snowy locations for this reason! We plan to fly *over* the snow

Am hoping Atlanta will do the trick . . . does anyone thing there is much chance of that airport being closed down due to a snow storm?

You're booking now for December? Wow. We'll probably book in September for our December flight next year. But anyway, IF Atlanta gets hit, it's trouble. I had to stay in Atlanta for 3 extra loooong days over MLK weekend one year in the 90s when it snowed. Nothing was moving anywhere there. Of course, I was driving, so I don't know about the airport, but I'm not sure how busy the airport could have been, since nothing was moving anywhere on the streets.

And even if your flight doesn't go anywhere snowy, that airplane had to get TO you somehow, and they don't just jump back and forth day after day between the same places. Your airplane might be coming from ND, after all.

Thank you - very good points! I hadn't thought about the incoming plane. We are in Seattle and it's extremely rare that we get weather here that affects flights. But this makes me want to rethink about when to travel. Like a PP, it really wouldn't be about the money for me. Our schedule is tight and we want to go on *this* cruise. And yes we do have trip insurance. But it's not a simple thing at all to just reschedule.

WE rarely get that sort of weather, but we get planes coming from places that do. I walked into seatac one day a few years back, gorgeous bright blue sunny sky, fabulous day, and it was absolute chaos at the United checkin counters. (not sure of the other airlines, I was on United) There was nasty weather on the east coast, and the planes just couldn't get to us! We were going from SEA to SNA, just a straight shot down the west, but it involved 3 flights (using miles, ugh) and two flights had to be changed because the actual planes we would be on just weren't there in SEA or PDX.

 

[wombat_5606]

Delta and United have published the waiver information now. Check with your carrier.

 

[SleepyDeb]

Delta and United have published the waiver information now. Check with your carrier.

JetBlue has now too.

 

[jerseygal]

If I can't go on my December Fantasy trip booked last May, offering me hours of pleasure planning, FE gift making, messaging fellow cruisers, and generally counting the days and minutes, getting a refund is only a tiny band-aid
It's really not about the money for me...

Double whammy..disappointment and loss of money don't make for a good combo..why suffer with a monetary loss!

 

[bumbershoot]

I read on the Transportation forum that SW has info on changes up, too.

Double whammy..disappointment and loss of money don't make for a good combo..why suffer with a monetary loss!

I'm not sure they said they don't have insurance, but that there is more than money involved.

And we might as well be proactive, do what we can do to not have to change the plans entirely. To do what we have to do to *get to that cruise*.

The airlines are allowing changes right now because of this storm, so GO, go now, and make those changes.

 

[shelbell77]

My advice is always watch for the travel waiver and be proactive about contacting the airline. Some will just cancel but otheres will also be moving up flights and capacity is limited. If you can't get out a day or two early via air, and are in driving distance be prepared to get in the car. Had this happen to friends last March. They booked a one way car rental and drove down. Did their normal flights home. They were tired when they arrived but pleased to not miss their trip!!

 

[phinz]

This week I'm booking flights from the West Coast to Florida for our December cruise. I am avoiding connections in snowy locations for this reason! We plan to fly *over* the snow

Am hoping Atlanta will do the trick . . . does anyone thing there is much chance of that airport being closed down due to a snow storm?

Atlanta can be delayed or shut down if a bee passes gas in Beijing. I loathe the Atlanta airport.