Blizzard Hernando has canceled over 10,000 flights – here’s how to get your money back (and what airlines won’t tell you)

Winter Storm Hernando has caused one of the most disruptive aviation events of the 2026 travel season. According to Business Traveler, carriers scrubbed between Sunday and Tuesday more than 10,000 flightswith Monday alone causing about 5,600 to 5,700 cancellations – nearly 20 percent of scheduled departures nationwide.

If your flight was among them, what happens next depends entirely on what you know about your rights – and most airlines are counting on you not knowing enough.

The line that airlines hope you forget

Here’s the most important fact that stranded passengers need to know: You are entitled to a full cash refund if your flight is canceled – even if it was canceled due to weather conditions, and even if your ticket was non-refundable.

Below U.S. Department of Transportation RulesIf your flight is cancelled, 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 passengers traveling on a non-refundable ticket, and also covers additional costs such as checked baggage and seat selection.

The catch airlines count on it: the moment you accept a rebooking or a travel voucher, you forfeit that refund. Travel expert Scott Keyes put it clearly 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 obliged to refund you if you don’t like what they rebooked you for.”

What airlines should NOT 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 having to pay for a night in a hotel or for meals while you’re stranded, there are no federal rules requiring the airline to reimburse you; this is entirely up to the airline’s customer service team.

That said, several airlines voluntarily offer some accommodation options, so it’s always worth asking at the gate – just don’t count on it.

How to actually get your money back

Cash refunds should be automatic and fast. According to the DOT’s automatic reimbursement rulerefunds must be processed within seven business days for credit card purchases and within 20 business days for other payment methods – and airlines can no longer replace vouchers or travel credits without the passenger’s express consent.

If the airline is slow or resistant, your next best move is your credit card. Keyes specifically recommended: “Submit a claim to your credit card company or travel insurance for any 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 CNBCAmerican, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit and United have all waived fees and fare differences for passengers who want to rebook, with a flexible rebooking policy running through March 4. The waivers apply to major airports in the Northeast, including JFK, LGA, EWR, BOS and PHL for travel originally booked on or before February 19.

If you still want to rebook instead of refunding, skip the airport help desk altogether – 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 route. Keyes also suggested checking with Google Flights to see if seats become available and booking with miles where possible, allowing for a penalty-free refund if something better becomes available.

Expect disruptions to continue throughout the week

Even as Hernando moves abroad, airline recovery remains complex. Aircraft and crews are being moved, maintenance windows are shrinking, and crew duty rules are imposing additional restrictions. Aviation experts warn about this Travelers flying Tuesday through Thursday should allow extra buffer time and closely monitor warningsas it typically takes 72 to 96 hours for the ripple effect of this scale of disruption to completely dissipate from the network.