In a thunderous symphony of turbulent weather, a mighty storm system has made its mighty presence known across the East Coast. Bearing down upon the Northeast with gusto, it has unveiled a dizzying dance of heavy rain, brutish winds, and capricious flash flooding. Not one to discriminate, the storm threatens to upend the meticulously planned holiday travel itineraries of countless Americans, cutting a shadowy figure across weather radars.
Early whispers from the storm's feisty concertos were clearly audible from LaGuardia Airport. A weather recital commenced, led by wind gusts conducting at a speed of about 54 miles per hour. Consequently, some 160 flights had to bow out of their scheduled performances, an estimated 15 percent of the flights operating from Terminal A. This terminal typically welcomes travelers flying with Spirit Airlines and Frontier.
An ensemble of delayed flights had to face the music, albeit miraculously without having to cancel their shows. Passengers who already took to the skies echoed tales of their airborne experiences. One such passenger recalls her adrenaline-fueled descent into LaGuardia from Orlando, describing her journey through the storm as the pinnacle of her worst in-flight experiences.
Boston Logan Airport also found itself embroiled in the throes of stormy disruptions. Around 200 flights were struck off the roster amidst conditions that were far from neighborly. The aptly titled flight aware misery map designates Boston as the most afflicted airport currently. The tempest was gracious enough to lift a ground stop earlier today, though not without ushering an average ground delay of two hours.
In a tangential but noteworthy development from the Southwest Airlines camp, the holiday travel season sees them tackling a record $140 million penalty from the Department of Transportation. This formidable fine materializes in the wake of the airliner's alleged transgressions last year, casting a shadow over the holiday spirits of over two million passengers through flight cancellations.
It was not all dark clouds and thunder, however. Those looking to travel with Southwest can look forward to receiving up to a $75 credit over the next three years due to major airline-controllable delays or cancellations.
As we soar into the belly of this year's holiday season, the TSA brims with anticipation for an air traveler onslaught. With an estimated 7.5 million passengers projected to traverse the skies between December 23 and January 1, travelers are soundly advised to arm themselves with patience and arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights. After all, equanimity might be the best baggage for your journey this holiday season!
