As the northeastern United States slowly dug out from this week’s powerful winter storm, which dumped up to three feet of snow and canceled thousands of flights, many travelers found themselves stuck with no clear idea when they’d get to their destinations.
Olivia Roux, 47, from Le Mans, France, sat with her husband and two children on an air vent in a corner of Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. Heavy snow and wind had canceled their Monday flight to Paris.
After spending the night at a nearby hotel, they returned to the airport to discover that they would not able to fly until 6 a.m. Wednesday and would have an 11-hour layover in Boston, which got up to 18 inches of snow.
“We spent a week in New York for vacation. It was so wonderful. But now we are so stressed and tired. It’s time to go home,” Ms. Roux, an intensive care unit nurse, said.
Airlines canceled more than 2,100 flights on Tuesday, the vast majority at New York’s major airports and at Boston Logan International, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website. More than 5,700 were canceled on Monday. Carriers like United Airlines and Delta Air Lines added flights to help clear up the backlog.
Those delays and cancellations could go on for days. Here’s what you need to know if you’re traveling or are planning to travel this week.
Which airports are worst affected?
The storm dropped between 19.8 and 27 inches at New York’s three major airports, 14.4 inches at Boston Logan and nearly 38 inches at T.F. Green International Airport, which serves Providence, R.I.
On Tuesday, nearly half of departures and a third of arrivals at Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports had been canceled, according to FlightAware. The situation looked far better for Wednesday, with dozens, instead of hundreds, of projected cancellations at major hubs in the Northeast.
But because so many flights pass through the Northeast, the ripple effects extended across the country. In Jackson, Wyo., a steady stream of passengers headed to airline customer service counters at Jackson Hole Airport to fly standby. A United agent warned that immediate departures were full, with the next open flight two days away.
Cindy Moore and her husband, fresh off a weeklong ski trip, were waiting to see if they’d make their connection in Atlanta before heading on to Florida. “We are delayed about three hours and praying that it doesn’t get canceled,” Ms. Moore said. “I really don’t want to spend the night in Atlanta.”
What can I do if I’m stranded?
Travel disruptions will most likely take several days to resolve. And because airlines generally offer compensation only when disruptions lie within the carrier’s control, travelers shouldn’t expect the airline to cover the cost of meals or accommodations.
If your itinerary is affected, here are some helpful tips to help get you back on track:
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Download your airline’s app, which may provide the most timely updates for delays and cancellations. It can help you rebook without having to stand in long lines at customer service counters or to spend an extended time on hold.
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Check FlightAware to get a sense of delays and cancellations across major airports.
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Make note of which airlines your carrier has partnerships with, in case you need to rebook on another airline.
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Consult the Transportation Department’s Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard, which offers side-by-side comparisons of the major carriers’ policies on flight cancellations and significant delays.
Who pays for rebooking and other expenses?
All of the major U.S. airlines, including American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United, have issued travel waivers to allow passengers to change their flights without a fee. Each airline has listed cities where service may be disrupted.
If an airline cancels or significantly delays a flight, travelers may be eligible for refunds or credits, but weather delays, which are not considered within an airline’s control, generally do not entitle travelers to food vouchers or overnight accommodations.
Are trains affected?
Yes. Amtrak has still not resumed full service in the Northeast Corridor, with numerous cancellations between Washington and Boston on Tuesday, though most service on Wednesday appeared to be scheduled. The railroad said that customers on affected trains “will be notified directly of any cancellations or adjustments.”
What about buses?
Cancellations by Greyhound and FlixBus — which are both owned by Flix SE — as well as by Megabus extended into Tuesday, especially in New York and Boston, but scheduled service appeared to resume on Wednesday. The bus lines said they would notify affected passengers via text messages or emails.
Mark Bonamo reported from Newark Liberty International Airport, and Christine Chung from Jackson, Wyo. Stephen Hiltner and Ceylan Yeğinsu contributed reporting.
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Danial Adkison is an editor for the Travel section at The Times.
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