Winter Storm 2016 Travel Update: Flights, Transit Closings, Cancellations, More

Updated 8:09 A.M. EST

The east coast is getting hit hard by the first big storm of 2016, a blizzard named Jonas, leaving many travelers stranded.

Jonas is expected to continue into Sunday morning, with the NYC area, as well as NJ and parts of Pennsylvania, getting up to 2 feet of snow in some part; the DC area is expecting up to 2 1/2 feet according to the National Weather Center.

10 states have declared a state of emergency:  Georgia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia; Washington has declared a “snow emergency.”

Most events along the East Coast, including sporting events, will be cancelled, but call and check beforehand.

Here are the latest travel updates for roads, the MTA/LIRR/Path Trains, PA and DC mas transit, airport groundings, flight cancellations and more.

NYC Roads: all non-emergency vehicles must be off the roads by 2:30 P.M.EST until further notice.

All Port Authority bridges and tunnels are closed until further notice.

MTA/LIRR/Path: MTA bus service has resumed on a limited basis

MTAnd Path train: all lines that are above ground will begin running again at 9 A.M. EST.

LIRR: service is still suspended and officials do not know when it will resume due to the large amounts of snow on the tracks.

Metro North: limited service will resume at 9 A.M. EST with full service expected to be back by 3 P.M. EST.

Go to mta.info for real time travel updates.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA): All service is shut down until Sunday or later.

Mass Transit in Washington/Baltimore: all mass transit has been suspended for Saturday and Sunday.

JFK/Newark/Laguardia Airports: all flights are grounded until further notice coming into and leaving these airports.  Check with your airline carrier for specific questions about your flight and check back with us to see when service resumes.

Philadelphia International Airport: All flights have been cancelled for Saturday, January 23.

Regan National Airport (Washington)/Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport: as of 8 A.M. EST this morning all flights are cancelled.

Airline Carriers:

Jet Blue: they will waive, change or cancel fees and differences in airfare for customers traveling on Saturday, January 23, 2016 and Sunday, January 24, 2016 to/from the following airports: Boston, MA (BOS), Hartford Springfield, CT (BDL), New York, NY (JFK), New York, NY (LGA), Newark, NJ (EWR), Newburgh, NY (SWF), Philadelphia, PA (PHL), Providence, RI (PVD), Westchester County, NY (HPN), Worcester, MA (ORH).

Flights may be re-booked by Friday January 29., 2016 and those with a cancelled flight may get a refund.

American Airlines: all flights are grounded in the NY/NJ/DC/PA areas and are expected to resume with limited service Sunday night.

They will waive their 1-time ticketing fee if:

– Are traveling on American Airlines or American Eagle
– Bought or purchased your original flight before January 20, 2016
– Expected or scheduled to travel January 21 – 24, 2016 to/through/from the affected airport
– Flexible to travel January 20 – 27, 2016
– Do not make changes to your origin or destination city
– Book in the same class of service

Delta: all flights have been grounded as of Saturday, January 23.

Travelers with flights scheduled between Sunday, January 24-Tuesday, January 26, can get a one-time change to their ticket, without a fee, if travel is rebooked to begin by Jan. 27, 2016.

Cities/airports included: are Allentown, Pa. (ABE), BWI, BOS, Charleston, W.Va. (CRW), Charlottesville,Va. (CHO), Harrisburg, Pa. (MDT), JFK, LGA, Newark (EWR), Newburgh, N.Y. (SFW), PHL, Providence, R.I. (PVD), Richmond, Va. (RIC), Roanoke, Va. (ROA), Scranton, Pa. (AVP), Washington’s Dulles and Reagan National airports, and White Plains, N.Y. (HPN).

United Airlines: all flights are grounded.

According to their website: “The change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for new flights departing on or before Jan. 20-27, 2016, as long as travel is rescheduled in the same cabin (any fare class) and between the same cities as originally ticketed.”

Southwest Airlines: all flights are grounded.

They said, via their website that customers holding reservations for travel to, from or through Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Boston, Long Island Islip (ISP), Newark, New York LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Providence (PVD), Washington Dulles and Washington Reagan National (DCA) Jan. 22-23 are eligible to reschedule their flights in accordance with their accommodation procedures.

Check back with us later today for updates and be sure to follow all my latest consumer news reports on Twitter!


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Author Profile: Consumer Expert Tracy Ortiz

I am a mom to 2 little boys: a 10 year- old and an 8 year-old and they are the only things I love more than writing. I am an avid reader, a big sports fan and love a good deal. Most of all, I love keeping up on the latest consumer news and sharing my findings with all of you. When I'm not writing I'm painting- check out my latest in my shop: etsy.com/shop/paintmeapicstudios

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