This may not be the best day to head to the airport, especially if you’re heading northeast.
A powerful nor’easter slammed much of the Northeast U.S. with heavy snow, grounding flights, shuttering schools and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. More than 5,300 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. on Monday have been canceled, according to live tracking site FlightAware. The bulk of the disruptions hit airports in and around New York, Boston and Philadelphia.
Florida airports aren’t getting hit as hard as other areas of the country, but as of Monday morning there have been more than 100 delays and more than 1,000 cancelations at Florida airports, especially Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Tampa. Sunshine State travelers heading to states in the storm’s path may run into issues over the next few days if their destinations get snowed in.
That’s on top of potential delays from a partial government shutdown that could affect staffing at TSA security checkpoints. During the shutdown, roughly 61,000 TSA workers at more than 430 commercial airports are required to keep working without pay, according to Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill.
On Saturday evening, the Department of Homeland Security announced that TSA PreCheck lanes would be temporarily suspended but walked it back Sunday morning.
Here’s what to know.
How many airline delays, cancellations reported into and out of US Monday, Feb. 23?
According to FlightAware.com, which provides real-time flight information, as of 8:15 a.m., the following delays and cancellations of flights have been reported within, into or out of the United States today, Feb. 23:
How many delays, cancellations reported at Florida airports?
Here’s the breakdown by airport as of around 8:15 a.m. Feb. 23. Click the airport names for detailed flight info and updated numbers.
Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) cancellations, delays
Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) cancellations, delays
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) cancellations, delays
Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) cancellations, delays
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) cancellations, delays
Key West International Airport (EYW) cancellations, delays
Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) cancellations, delays
Miami International Airport (MIA) cancellations, delays
Northwest Florida Beaches International (ECP) cancellations, delays
Orlando International Airport (MCO) cancellations, delays
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) cancellations, delays
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) cancellations, delays
Pensacola International Airport (PNS) cancellations, delays
Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) cancellations, delays
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) cancellations, delays
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) cancellations, delays
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) cancellations, delays
Tallahassee International Airport (TLH) cancellations, delays
Tampa International Airport (TPA) cancellations, delays
How do I check if my flight is canceled?
Don’t wait until you’re already at the airport to check your flight. Monitor your flight early and often, starting now, as cancellations will increase as the weather conditions worsen.
Download your airline’s mobile app and turn on push and text notifications for alerts about your flight. Some apps have a “Where’s My Plane?” feature that lets you see whether the aircraft scheduled to operate your flight has arrived, is delayed en route, or hasn’t departed yet from its previous airport. That can be an early signal of trouble.
What should you do if your flight is delayed or canceled? Latest on rebooking, refunds
If your flight is canceled, use the airline’s mobile app to rebook as soon as possible, according to Scott Keyes, founder of Going. If you need to talk to someone, Keyes suggests calling one of the carrier’s international lines.
“The best thing travelers can do is to be as proactive as possible switching to a new flight,” Keyes told USA TODAY. “When a flight gets canceled, all of a sudden hundreds of passengers need new itineraries. There may only be a handful of seats left on the best flights, and it’s a first-come, first-(served) endeavor.”
If your flight is canceled for any reason, you’re entitled to a full refund if you choose not to fly on alternative itineraries offered by your airline. The same goes for “significant” delays or changes.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: More than 1,000 Florida flights canceled today. Where, why
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
