Two Curious Passports

Another blast of winter weather is wreaking havoc on air travel. Two busy hubs in Texas have already been hit with disruptions, and cancellations are now piling up across parts of the Midwest, South and mid-Atlantic on Friday.

As of 9:30 a.m. EST, airlines have already canceled more than 2,100 flights Friday, according to data from FlightAware. Another 1,300 have been delayed.

The world's busiest airport has been hit the hardest, with at least 300 flights shuttered by early Friday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Following closely is Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), with more than 280 departures scrapped.

Several major U.S. carriers have issued travel advisories for dozens of airports ranging from Texas to Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Such waivers allow travelers more flexibility to make free ticket changes to avoid travel during a major weather event. (Airlines have also issued similar waivers for parts of Southern California affected by the ongoing wildfires.)

If you're concerned about upcoming travel plans on Friday or this weekend, here's how you can prepare.

📝 Review your options: Now is a good time to check and see if your trip is covered by an airline travel advisory.

🤳 Keep an eye on your airline's app. Make sure you download your airline's app, and keep your reservation pulled up. Look out for notifications about your flight and for any signs of potential trouble with your itinerary.

👀 See a good rebooking option? Don't delay, lock it in.

🤝 Review your refund rights.

🧳 Think twice about checking luggage. Keeping all of your luggage in hand can mean fewer wrinkles if you need to be re-booked.

📸: Getty Images

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