What to do if the winter storm cancels your Southwest or American flight in Phoenix

Winter storms affecting the Midwest and Rocky Mountains have canceled thousands of flights nationwide Friday, including in Phoenix.

These storms are expected to bring snowy and windy weather, including "blizzard conditions" to the Midwest and a chance of "dangerously cold wind chills" to the Rockies and Plains, the National Weather Service stated Friday in a forecast.

As of early Friday afternoon, 1,997 flights had been canceled nationwide, according to FlightAware.

Southwest Airlines and American Airlines, the two largest carriers at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, had canceled 35 flights in Phoenix as of early Friday afternoon.

Both Southwest and American confirmed to The Arizona Republic that their flights were canceled because of the severe winter weather.

"Our operational teams are monitoring current and forecasted conditions and are making adjustments to our schedule as necessary," Southwest spokesperson Ashley Bain said in an email.

Airlines across the U.S., including Southwest and American, are offering flexible travel options to air travelers whose itineraries are disrupted because of the weather.

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How many flights were canceled in Phoenix?

As of 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, flight tracking website FlightAware recorded 56 canceled arrivals and departures at Sky Harbor. Southwest Airlines had the majority of the cancellations with 25, while American Airlines, the airport's largest carrier, canceled 10 flights.

Alaska Airlines canceled 10 flights and United Airlines canceled seven flights, though those cancellations are most likely because both airlines' Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets are grounded after a midair door plug blowout on a Jan. 5 Alaska flight.

The remaining four cancellations were with SkyWest Airlines, a regional airline that partners with major carriers for flights, and Canadian carrier WestJet. Each had two cancellations.

Sky Harbor's website showed 49 flights scheduled to take off between Jan. 11-13 that were canceled, including Southwest flights to Chicago; Omaha, Nebraska; and Kansas City, Missouri, as well as American Airlines flights to Aspen, Colorado; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Des Moines, Iowa.

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What happens when your Southwest flight is canceled?

Southwest is offering flexibility for travelers flying to and from 11 airports affected by the storm, including Chicago O'Hare and Chicago Midway; Des Moines, Iowa; Milwaukee; Minneapolis; and Detroit.

Flyers with reservations to those cities on Friday, Jan. 12, or Saturday, Jan. 13, can rebook a flight within 14 days of their original travel date between the original city pairs without paying a fare difference, according to Southwest. Or, customers whose flights were canceled can request a refund.

What does American do when they cancel your flight?

American is waiving change fees for flyers at 33 airports in the Midwest and Canada affected by the winter storm.

Flyers can change their trip with no change fee as long as they booked before Jan. 9, are scheduled to travel Jan. 12 or 13, and can travel before Jan. 19.

Changes must be booked by Jan. 13.

Reach the reporter at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Airlines cancel flights during huge winter storm. Here's what to do