Thanksgiving travel is about to get seriously messy for millions
Winter storms hitting the Midwest, plus strong winds through the entire Great Lakes Region, could create major headaches for holiday travelers
Anadolu / Contributor / Getty Images
Travel conditions are looking dicey for some of the record 81.8 million people projected to be traveling this Thanksgiving weekend.
Suggested Reading
A storm system heading toward the Midwest is set to hit by Saturday and bring the potential of record snowfall for November.
Related Content
Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois are expected to be impacted by major snowstorms, with Chicago receiving around 8 inches, a November all-time high.
Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the U.S. Weather Prediction Center, told Bloomberg that the busy Interstates 80 and 90 corridors could see as much as an inch of snow an hour on Saturday, creating dangerous conditions on the road. The forecast comes as AAA predicts at least 73 million people in the U.S. will travel by car this Thanksgiving weekend, a good portion of whom will be in and around the Midwest.
For the 6 million-plus traveling by air, those flying out or through Chicago on Saturday should also expect delays and cancellations due to snow and rain.
In addition, everywhere from the Midwest to Upstate New York will see very windy conditions over the weekend, AccuWeather said. The wind will affect flights, too.
"Wind gusts over 40 mph could cause airline delays in cities including Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.
The whole country will feel the cold over the next few days — even the South, where residents will be facing temperatures in the 20s and 30s.
A software issue affecting Airbus A320 jets may further disrupt travel plans, as the European planemaker urged operators Friday to update their fleets to "ensure" they're "safe to fly."
What you’re entitled to if your flight is canceled
If you’re unlucky enough to see your flight cancelled, don’t forget what you’re entitled to.
In the event of a weather cancellation, airlines must rebook you on a new flight they operate for no cost, or they may rebook on a partner airline.
You are also often entitled to a meal or cash voucher when a canceled flight leaves you waiting in the airport for more than three hours. Refunds for delays, however, are another story.
If you choose not to fly after your flight is canceled, you are entitled to a full refund.
Harriet Weber contributed to this article.