Thanksgiving travel is about to get messy for millions
Travel conditions appear risky for some of the 81.8 million people expected to travel this Thanksgiving weekend.
A storm system heading toward the Midwest is expected to hit Saturday and bring record snowfall for November.
Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois are expected to be hit by significant snowstorms, with Chicago receiving about 8 inches, an all-time high in November.
Marc Chenard, meteorologist at the US Weather Prediction Center, told Bloomberg that busy corridors of Interstates 80 and 90 could see up to an inch of snow per hour Saturday, creating dangerous conditions on the road. The forecast comes as AAA predicts that at least 73 million people in the United States will travel by car this Thanksgiving weekend, many of whom will be in and around the Midwest.
For the more than 6 million people traveling by air, those departing from or transiting through Chicago on Saturday should also expect delays and cancellations due to snow and rain.
Additionally, across the Midwest to upstate New York it will be very windy this weekend, AccuWeather said. Wind will also affect flights.
“Wind gusts above 40 mph could cause airline delays in cities like Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham.
The entire country will feel the cold over the next few days, even the south, where residents will experience temperatures in the 20s and 30s.
A software issue affecting Airbus A320s could further disrupt travel plans, with the European aircraft maker on Friday urging operators to update their fleets to “ensure” they can “fly safely”.
What you are entitled to if your flight is canceled
If you are unlucky enough to have your flight canceled, remember what you are entitled to.
If canceled due to weather conditions, airlines must rebook you on a new flight they operate at no charge, or they may rebook with a partner airline.
You’re also often entitled to a meal or cash voucher when a canceled flight leaves you waiting more than three hours at the airport. However, refunds in the event of delays are another story.
If you choose not to travel after your flight is canceled, you are entitled to a full refund.
Harriet Weber contributed to this article.
