Travelers preparing for weekend getaways are facing a new hurdle as Winter Storm Fern threatens to disrupt air travel across a massive swath of the United States. With forecasts predicting heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain stretching from Texas to the East Coast, major carriers have preemptively issued winter storm travel waivers 2026 to help passengers avoid getting stranded. As of Thursday morning, airlines including Delta, American, and United have activated flexible rebooking policies for travel scheduled between Friday, January 23, and Sunday, January 25.

Airlines Activate Flexible Rebooking Policies

In response to the looming severe weather, carriers have moved quickly to offer airline rebooking policy winter storm exceptions. These waivers generally allow passengers to change their travel dates without paying the standard change fees or fare differences, provided they stay in the same cabin class and origin/destination cities.

Delta Air Lines has issued a widespread advisory for passengers flying through its primary hubs, particularly affecting travel in the Southeast. Customers ticketed for travel from January 23–25 can rebook their flights for travel through Wednesday, January 28, without penalty. This move is designed to decongest airports before the worst of the precipitation hits.

Similarly, American Airlines has activated a travel alert covering 34 airports across the Southern and Mid-Atlantic regions. The carrier is waiving change fees for customers scheduled to fly this weekend, allowing them to rebook travel between January 21 and January 28. United Airlines and Southwest Airlines have also joined with their own waivers, with Southwest offering a flexible rebooking window of up to 14 days for affected cities.

Atlanta and Southern Hubs Brace for Impact

The storm's trajectory places some of the nation's busiest aviation hubs directly in the crosshairs. Meteorologists are particularly concerned about Atlanta airport flight cancellations, as Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) serves as a critical connecting point for Delta. Unlike northern hubs equipped for heavy snow, southern airports are highly vulnerable to ice storms, which can ground fleets and freeze runway operations for extended periods.

"We are closely monitoring the forecast for freezing rain and sleet across the Southeast," a Delta spokesperson stated on Wednesday. "We encourage all customers to check their Delta flight status today and utilize the waiver options to adjust their travel plans before arriving at the airport."

Forecasters warn that the mixture of ice and snow could cause significant US winter storm flight delays starting as early as Friday afternoon in Texas before moving eastward into Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia by Saturday.

How to Handle Your Weekend Travel Plans

If you are scheduled to fly this weekend, experts advise acting immediately. Waiting until your flight is officially canceled often leads to fewer rebooking options and longer wait times for customer service. Instead, use the airline's mobile app to switch your flight to a later date or an earlier departure if seats are available.

Steps to Protect Your Trip:

  • Check Your Status: Monitor major airline travel alerts frequently. Flight status can change in minutes during active weather systems.
  • Rebook Online: Avoid calling reservations lines if possible. Most winter weather travel advisory waivers can be processed directly through the airline's website or app.
  • Consider Refunds: If your flight is significantly delayed or canceled, you are entitled to a full refund to your original form of payment under federal Department of Transportation rules, even if you booked a non-refundable ticket.

As Winter Storm Fern intensifies, staying proactive is the best defense against travel chaos. With waivers in place, shifting your trip by just 24 to 48 hours could save you from spending the weekend sleeping on a terminal floor.