With a major winter weather system, dubbed Winter Storm Fern, forecast to sweep across the southern United States from Texas to the Carolinas, major airlines are proactively dropping change fees. Meteorologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) are warning of significant ice, freezing rain, and heavy snow starting Friday, January 23, 2026, through the weekend.
Airline Travel Waivers (As of Jan. 22, 2026)
| Airline | Eligibility Window | Rebooking Deadline | Details |
| American Airlines | Travel scheduled Jan. 23–25 | Rebook by Jan. 28 | Covers 34 airports. No change fee or fare difference in same cabin. |
| Delta Air Lines | Travel through Jan. 25 | Rebook by Jan. 28 | Covers 41 airports. Fare difference waived for same cabin. |
| Southwest Airlines | Varies by city | Check portal | Actively monitoring; typically allows rebooking within 14 days of original travel. |
Important Note: As of Wednesday evening, United Airlines and JetBlue have updated their portals with limited advisories for specific northeastern cities (like Buffalo, NY), but major southern alerts for this specific storm are still pending.
Eligible Airports for Rebooking
Major hubs affected by the waivers include:
- Texas: Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Dallas Love Field (DAL), Austin (AUS), Houston (IAH/HOU).
- Southeast: Atlanta (ATL), Charlotte (CLT), Nashville (BNA), and Raleigh-Durham (RDU).
- Mid-South: Oklahoma City (OKC), Tulsa (TUL), and Little Rock (LIT).
Your Rights: What to Do if Your Flight is Canceled
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has strict rules regarding cancellations, even for weather-related “Acts of God”:
- Refunds are Mandatory: If the airline cancels your flight for any reason and you choose not to be rebooked, the airline must provide a full refund to your original form of payment—even for non-refundable tickets.
- Vouchers vs. Cash: You are not required to accept a travel voucher. If the flight is canceled, you can demand a cash refund.
- Meal and Hotel Costs: Airlines are generally not legally required to pay for hotels or meals for weather delays (non-controllable). However, it never hurts to ask gate agents for “distressed passenger” vouchers.
“If you have a problem obtaining a refund that you believe that you are entitled to receive, you may file a complaint with the DOT,” the department said on its website. “If you are an airline passenger with a disability looking for more information regarding your rights during air travel, please follow this link to our disability webpage.”
