Thanksgiving travelers face plane chaos as heavy snow falls across the Midwest

AccuWeather reported that widespread snow will spread from the Rockies and Highlands to much of the Midwest this weekend, causing significant travel delays for drivers and airline passengers. AccuWeather said moderate to heavy snow will expand as the system moves into the Midwest, “causing travel difficulties along Interstates 70, 80, 90, and 94, and potential road closures due to accidents.”

As of around 12:40 p.m. ET on Nov. 29, more than 1,100 U.S. flights had been canceled and more than 3,400 had been delayed, according to aviation tracking site FlightAware. Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport have been the hardest hit, with 30% and 15% of departing flights canceled so far.

Here’s what you need to know if your flight is affected.

Amount payable if flight is canceled or delayed

According to the Department of Transportation, if an airline cancels a flight for any reason and refuses to travel or does not receive other compensation, travelers are obligated to receive a refund. The same applies in the case of significant changes or delays.

This includes domestic flights that arrive at least 3 hours later than scheduled and international flights that arrive at least 6 hours later than scheduled. The DOT has a list of eligible scenarios on its website, as well as a dashboard outlining what airlines do for customers in the event of controllable cancellations or delays. Consider checking these before heading to the airport.