Airlines Offer Travel Waivers As Bomb Cyclone Approaches Maryland

MARYLAND — The nation’s top airlines are issuing travel waivers ahead of a potential bomb cyclone weather system with the potential to strong winds and rain that could switch to freezing rain Friday in Maryland.

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport has not posted any weather related changes as of Tuesday.

With the holiday travel rush under way this week, airport authorities remind travelers to arrive two hours before their scheduled domestic departure and three hours prior to international departure. This allows plenty of time for parking, ticketing and check-in, and clearing security checkpoints before boarding your plane.

Airport shuttle delays are possible due to driver shortages, BWI's website said.

In most cases, a waiver means tickets can be changed for another date without an extra fee. Airlines are continuing to update information on their websites as forecasts become more precise. Be sure to check the specific language on the airlines’ website about travel waivers and what travel dates are available for rebooking.

About 7.2 million people are expected to fly to their holiday destinations over the next several days.

AAA Mid-Atlantic estimates nearly 121,700 Maryland residents will fly over the Christmas holiday, an increase of more than 10 percent year over year.

Check the status of all arrivals and departures at BWI.

If you aren't sure what you can, and cannot, pack in your carry-on bags and checked luggage, look on www.TSA.gov. The Transportation Security Administration has a “What Can I Bring” guide to help determine if your item is allowed in carry-on or checked luggage, or not allowed in either.

As of midday Tuesday, here’s the latest information on airline waivers:

United Airlines, headquartered in Chicago, is offering winter waivers in the Midwest, Texas, the East Coast, and for the Central and Northwest U.S.

The United Midwest waivers affect about 30 airports, and are good on tickets purchased by Saturday. Dec. 17, for travel from Dec. 21-25.

About 50 airports are affected on the East Coast, and the waivers apply for tickets purchased by Sunday, Dec. 18, for travel between Dec. 22-25.

Related:

• Massive Holiday Storm Could Bring Bomb Cyclone, Blizzards To U.S.
• MD Weather: Rain, Flash Freeze From Arctic Temps Before Christmas

American Airlines, which is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is offering waivers for about 30 airports in the Midwest and another 30 in the Northeast.

More information is found on the airline’s website.

Southwest Airlines, headquartered in Dallas, has issued winter weather waivers in the Rocky Mountains, Midwest, East and Northeast regions.

JetBlue, the Queens, New York-based discount carrier, has offered waivers to people changing flights in or out of airports in Chicago, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Spirit Airlines, another discount carrier based in Miramar, Florida, said it would issue winter weather waivers on travel to and from about 18 airports in the Midwest and Northeast.

Delta, based in Atlanta, is offering waivers for travel in and out of about a dozen airports in the Northwest and Mountain Region.

Alaska Airlines, based in the Seattle metro area, had issued waivers on flights to and from Seattle.