Tips for Flying During Winter Weather

Winter is forecastable

Unlike thunderstorms, snow events are forecastable days in advance. Use that window:

• Reschedule onto an earlier flight before the storm hits.
• Reroute around weather-prone hubs (ORD, EWR, DEN, BOS).
• Buy refundable fares for winter holiday travel.

At the airport

• Boarding may proceed normally even with a long deicing queue.
• Once boarded, expect 30–90 minutes for deice — sometimes more at peak.
• Cabin can get cold while taxiing; bring layers.

On the aircraft

• Deicing fluid is harmless but smells like maple syrup.
• Two-step deicing: hot fluid first, then a thicker anti-icing fluid before takeoff.
• Pilots have holdover times (HOT) — windows in which the anti-icing remains effective. If you exceed it, the aircraft must be deiced again.

When the airport closes

Major snowstorms can shut runways. Expect:

• Cancellations in waves.
• Long rebooking queues.
• Hotel rooms in the area selling out within hours.

Strategy: rebook online or by phone before walking to the counter. Book a hotel before you need it.

Stay informed

A predictive tracker like FlightyFlow shows the status of the inbound aircraft and the ground delay program (if any) — usually a clearer picture than the airline app.