Winter Storm Hernando has triggered one of the most disruptive aviation events of the 2026 travel season. According to Business Traveller, between Sunday and Tuesday, carriers scrubbed more than 10,000 flights, with Monday alone producing roughly 5,600 to 5,700 cancellations — close to 20 percent of scheduled departures nationwide.
If your flight was among them, what happens next is entirely up to what you know about your rights — and most airlines are counting on you not knowing enough.
The Rule Airlines Hope You Forget
Here is the single most important fact stranded passengers need to know: you are entitled to a full cash refund if your flight was canceled — even if it was canceled because of weather, and even if your ticket was non-refundable.
Under US Department of Transportation rules, if your flight is canceled, you are entitled to a full cash refund — not just credits or travel vouchers — if you choose not to take an alternative flight.
This applies to all passengers, including those traveling on a non-refundable ticket, and also covers ancillary fees like checked baggage and seat selection.
The catch airlines rely on: the moment you accept a rebooking or a travel voucher, you forfeit that refund. Travel expert Scott Keyes put it plainly in a widely-shared post this week, advising passengers: “If you don’t want to travel — get a full refund and call it a day. Never take a voucher — airlines are legally required to refund you if you don’t like what they rebooked you on.”
What Airlines Are NOT Required to Cover
This is where many travelers get burned. Because Hernando is classified as an “uncontrollable event,” carriers are not legally required to provide meals, hotel stays, or financial compensation for delays or cancellations. If you end up paying for a night at a hotel or meals while stranded, there are no federal regulations requiring the airline to reimburse you — it is completely up to the airline’s customer service team.
That said, several airlines are voluntarily offering some accommodations, so it is always worth asking at the gate — just don’t count on it.
How to Actually Get Your Money Back
Cash refunds must be automatic and prompt. According to the DOT’s Automatic Refund Rule, refunds must be processed within seven business days for credit card purchases and 20 business days for other payment methods — and airlines can no longer substitute vouchers or travel credits without the passenger’s explicit approval.
If the airline is slow or resistant, your next best move is your credit card. Keyes specifically recommended: “File a claim with your credit card company or travel insurance for all additional costs — hotel, new flights, Uber, meals. Many credit cards have free coverage up to $10,000 per person as long as you used that card to pay for the trip.”
The Waiver Window Is Still Open
According to CNBC, American, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, and United have all waived fees and fare differences for passengers who want to rebook, with some flexible rebooking policies extending through March 4. The waivers cover major Northeast airports including JFK, LGA, EWR, BOS, and PHL for travel originally booked on or before February 19.
If you do want to rebook rather than refund, skip the airport help desk entirely — lines are hours long. Rebooking through an airline’s app or website often saves hours, and many carriers automatically protect passengers on the next available itinerary. Keyes also suggested monitoring Google Flights for seats to open up and booking with miles when possible, allowing for a penalty-free refund if something better becomes available.
Expect Disruptions to Continue Through the Week
Even as Hernando moves offshore, airline recovery remains complex. Aircraft and crews are displaced, maintenance windows compress, and crew duty-time regulations impose additional constraints. Aviation experts warn that travelers flying Tuesday through Thursday should build in extra buffer time and monitor alerts closely, as the ripple effect of this scale of disruption typically takes 72–96 hours to fully clear from the network.
