(NewsNation) — Across the country, winter storms threatened to cause chaos Friday for millions of Americans heading home after the holidays.
Regardless of whether they’re hitting the road or taking to the skies, travelers are bracing for severe weather forecasts for the Northeast and Midwest. As a result, some major airlines issued travel waivers for those looking to head out Friday and Saturday.
Several airports experienced longer-than-normal security and airline check-in lines in the days leading up to Christmas. Industry experts say travelers can expect to see the same thing this weekend, with Sunday being the busiest travel day of the season.
“If your flight is severely delayed or cancelled, you are entitled to a refund for the cost of the ticket,” said Clint Henderson, a spokesperson for The Points Guy. “Airlines have agreed to a sort of soft interpretation of what they owe you in the event of delays and cancellations.”
Henderson told NewsNation that airlines will not usually give compensation, but they may sometimes pay for a hotel room or some meals — and that it doesn’t hurt to ask. He said that if travelers must rebook a flight or find a hotel, they should reach out to the airline via the phone, the customer service line at the airport or even social media.