Strategies for flying during winter (or any iffy weather season)
If you have to take connecting flights, connect through warmer weather, less snow-storm affected hubs like Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, Phoenix, Charlotte, Houston vs. Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver, Newark.
Consider travel insurance. If there are any seasons that make sense to buy it, its during snow storm and hurricane season.
If your flight is canceled and youre on the outbound portion of your trip, you can request a full refund of the fare paid, even on a non-refundable ticket. Theres no requirement to take a futile trip (i.e., you missed the wedding). Google the airlines contract of carriage for the rules.
Ask to be put on another airlines flight if it will get you there quicker. Some airlines such as Alaska have provisions for this in their contracts of carriage. Even those that do not often put delayed passengers on their competitions flights.
If taking a cruise, always plan to get to the port a day ahead of sailing. In winter, I recommend TWO days ahead.
If your flight is canceled, try to get as close to where youre head as possible if you cant get all the way there. If your JFK to LA flight is canceled, see if the airline will fly you to Las Vegas, for example. From there you can hop on Southwest or rent a car to LA.
Hartsfield Atlanta, stormy windsock, Alaska Airlines, flight status board, docked cruise, Las Vegas images via Shutterstock
