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(Trends Wide) — Major US airlines issued travel easings ahead of what is forecast to be a brutal winter weather bomb cyclone in the Midwest and other regions of the country later this week.
Chicago, a major airport hub, is forecast to be one of the hardest-hit cities, with the National Weather Service warning of the possibility of a blizzard.
By Monday night, Chicago-based United Airlines was already offering three separate winter weather easings: one in the Midwest, one for Texas and one for the East Coast.
Change fees and fare differences will be waived for reservations changed within the original ticket and between the same cities within short rebooking windows this month.
United easing in the Midwest: For passengers who purchased a ticket with United before Saturday, December 17, for travel between December 21 and December 25.
Nearly 30 airports are under this measure, including Chicago O’Hare, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and St. Louis. Find more details about each region on the United website.
United easing in Texas: for people who bought a ticket before December 18.
It is for trips that were booked for December 22-25. More than a dozen airports are subject to the measure, including Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso and Houston.
United easing on the East Coast: For passengers who purchased a ticket with United before Sunday, December 18, for travel between December 22 and 25.
About 50 airports are subject to this measure, including Boston, Charlotte, Cleveland, Nashville, all major airports in New York City, Philadelphia, Toronto (Canada), and Washington City.
other airlines
Here’s what the other major US carriers announced Monday night (updated as of 8 p.m. ET Monday):
• American Airlines, based in Fort Worth, Texas, also issued an easing for travel into, out of or through nearly 30 airports in the Midwest. More details on the American website.
• Southwest Airlinesbased in Dallas, issued an easing for “winter weather in the Rocky Mountains and the Midwest.”
It covers a dozen cities, including Chicago O’Hare, Denver and Minneapolis-St. Pablo. The affected travel dates are December 21-23. Click here for more information on Southwest’s measure.
• JetBlue, the Queens, New York-based low-cost airline, issued a “Midwest winter weather fare relaxation” for people changing flights to or from four airports: Chicago (ORD), Kansas City (MCI) , Milwaukee (MKE) and Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP). Click here for more information on JetBlue’s move.
• Until Monday night, Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, issued a travel advisory and easing information for two airports in the Northwest: Portland (PDX) and Seattle (SEA). Tickets must have been purchased on or before December 18 for travel December 20-22. Click here to access Delta’s travel advisories page.
• Until Monday night, Alaska Airlines, based in the Seattle metropolitan area, had issued a winter-only weather easing for flights to and from Seattle due to heavy snowfall. Tickets must have been purchased on or before December 18 for travel on December 20. Click here for more information on Alaska Airlines.
• Spirit Airlinesthe Miramar, Florida-based low-cost carrier had not issued any weather-related travel advisories as of 8:00 p.m. Monday.
