Airlines Are Dropping Common Fee Ahead of Major Winter Storm

Incase you haven't heard, there's a major winter storm set to impact millions of people across the United States later this week. And while the exact track of the storm remains subject to some meteorological debate as models fine-tune its trajectory, it's clear that wide swaths of the Eastern U.S. are in for a drubbing. Air travel is sure to be impacted, and airlines are already beginning to drop a common fee days before the storm's impact.

Major Airlines Drop Flight Change Fees

American Airlines issued a travel alert on Tuesday, Jan. 20, announcing that passengers with travel booked between Jan. 23 and 25 will be able to reschedule their flights free of charge for travel between Jan. 21 and 28. The policy applies to any fare class, including typically non-refundable Basic Economy, as long as the travel was booked by Jan. 19. It covers flights departing from and arriving to 34 airports across over a dozen states. You can see the full list here.

Meanwhile, a travel alert issued Wednesday, Jan. 21 by Delta Air Lines outlines a similar policy. The airline will waive rebooking fees for travelers who change their flights on or before Jan. 28, with 41 airports currently eligible. Travelers can see the full list here.

United Airlines is waiving change fees and fare differences for flights rebooked between Jan. 21 and Jan. 29, so long as the flights are in the same cabin and maintain the same origin and destination. Tickets must have been booked by Jan. 20. Thus far it has 26 airports included. Travelers can see the full list here.

Southwest Airlines will allow travelers with travel dates between Jan. 23 and 26 to rebook travel within 14 days with no fee. Thus far, 26 airports are included in its announcement. Travelers can check out the full list here.

Spirit Airlines will waive rebooking fees through Jan. 28 for 13 airports. Customers can see the full list here.

Not All Airlines Have Waived Fees

As of publication, JetBlue and Frontier Airlines have not issued a travel alert related to the storm.

Winter Storm Set to Dump Feet of Snow, Inches of Ice

While meteorologists have not yet agreed on the final track of the storm, there is broad consensus that a portion of the mid-Atlantic region could receive upwards of a foot of snow. South of the storm, large amounts of sleet and freezing rain could fall, potentially damaging trees and electric infrastructure. Areas near the Great Lakes could also see large amounts of lake effect snow, with the potential for two feet of snow or more. The impacts are expected to begin Friday, Jan. 23 and last through Monday, Jan. 26.

What to Do if Your Flight Is Canceled

The U.S. Department of Transportation website offers advice on what to do in the face of flight cancellation:

"If your flight is canceled, most airlines will rebook you on their first flight to your destination on which space is available, at no additional charge," the agency advises. "If this involves a significant delay, find out if another carrier has space and ask the first airline if they will endorse your ticket to the other carrier."

Airlines are not legally required to compensate you for delayed or canceled domestic flights; customers are only entitled to compensation when they are "bumped" from an overbooked flight. Check the cancellation policy of the airline you are flying in case of involuntary changes to your itinerary.