blizzard

What to do if you’re stuck at the airport

Pittsburgh Airport clearing snow

After canceling thousands of flights over the weekend due to a giant blizzard, airlines will attempt to get passengers back in the air and to their destinations on Monday.

But more than 1,300 flights are canceled across the country today and a lot of people will likely find themselves without canceled flights, but still stuck at the airport.

Here are two things to do if you’re left at the gate with time on your hands.

1. Explore.

SFO MUSEUM FOOTBALL HELMET

Lots of airports have art exhibits displaying the work of national or local artists. Some have full-blown aviation museums (SFO & MKE), and many have an exhibit case or two filled with tidbits of local history. San Francisco International Airport has both an aviation museum and an exhibit program that mounts 20 exhibits around the airport at any one time.

Right now the SFO Museum has exhibits about football, vintage purses and Toy Story.

Aliens - Courtesy of Pixar Animation Studios

Aliens – Courtesy of Pixar Animation Studios

2. Eat

Wow Bao - a new Asian cuisine option in Terminal 5 at ORD_photo Harriet Baskas

While you weren’t paying attention, airports across the country have upped their game when it comes to food. Take a walk, inspect all the menus and take yourself out for a nice meal.

And if you’re lucky enough to be stuck in Chicago at O’Hare or Midway Airports, keep in mind that both airports are celebrating Airport Restaurant Week through February 2.

Blizzard brings #AirportSnowdown

Airlines have canceled thousands of flights in response to the blizzard roaring up the east coast, leaving some airports pretty empty, with nothing to do but clear the snow from the runways and engage in an on-line throwdown tagged, appropriately enough as an #AirportSnowdown

Flights canceled as blizzard heads for the Northeast

Snowstorm

Airlines have already canceled thousands of flights to, through and from the northeast and other parts of the country today in advance of a giant storm expected to break snowfall records.

Change fee waivers for flights scheduled through Wednesday have are also being offered by many airlines.

Here’s a list of links to many airline travel alerts.

Air Canada

Alaska Airlines


American Airlines

Delta Air Lines


Frontier Airlines

Jet Blue

Porter Airlines


Southwest


United Airlines


US Airways


Virgin America

WestJet

Many international flights scheduled to arrive in the United States on the east coast are going to be canceled or diverted as well, so be sure to check with your airline before heading out.

Travel Tidbits: blizzard, extra points and free Wi-Fi

Snowstorm

Thanks to Storm Nemo, on Thursday evening I was one of the hundreds of thousands of travelers who had to cancel important weekend plans that involved flying to the east coast.

Then I had to sit on the phone for hours trying to work out a new and, it turns out, quite expensive new plan.

For those of you still trying to figure out your options, here’s a link to a list of many of the change-fee waiver policies airlines have posted.

In other news…. Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport announced that it is the latest airport to join the Thanks Again program, which offers travelers frequent flyer miles or points for qualifying purchases made at the airport for things such as parking, food and retail items. Travelers at DFW will also be able to get points or miles for stays at the airport hotels, such as the Grand Hyatt, and at Paradise 4 Paws, the airport’s pet hotel.

170 other airports already participate in the Thanks Again program – which requires a simple sign-up and registration of a credit-card.

And during the month of February passengers at John F. Kennedy (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark Liberty International (EWR) airports – as well as passengers at some New York City subway stations – will be able to get complimentary Boingo Wi-Fi sessions courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line, which is celebrating a new ship, the Norwegian Breakaway.

That should come in handy if you end up stuck at one of those airports – or in the city – this weekend due to Storm Nemo.

Storm Nemo on the way; airlines waive change fees

Snowglobe

Updated: February 7, 2013

Another winter storm – named Nemo – is on the way and airlines are getting ready for it by issuing weather-related fee waivers and encouraging travelers to change their flight dates, postpone travel or re-route their trips to and from a long list of cities in the northeast.

Here’s are links to most of the airline waiver policies:

Air Tran

Air Canada

American Airlines

Delta Air Lines

Hawaiian Airlines

JetBlue

Porter Airlines


Southwest Airlines

United Airlines

US Airways


WestJet