Check Your Flight: Four Major Airlines Are Offering Storm Waivers Right Now
If you have a flight today — especially through the South, Gulf Coast, or Midwest — it's worth checking your airline's travel alerts before you head to the airport. Two separate storm systems are threatening to disrupt air travel across a wide swath of the country, and four major carriers have already issued fee-free travel waivers to help affected passengers rebook.
Two Storms, Two Regions
The first storm is the more significant of the two. As of Wednesday, June 17, forecasters are tracking what the National Weather Service is calling "Potential Tropical Cyclone One" — a system moving across the Gulf Coast states that AccuWeather expects to strengthen into Tropical Storm Arthur. If it does, Arthur would be the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. Parts of Texas and Louisiana, already drenched with rain since Sunday, face the potential for major flooding in the coming days.
Simultaneously, a separate severe weather outbreak is expected Wednesday across "portions of the Mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valleys, particularly across parts of central Illinois and northwestern Indiana," according to the National Weather Service.
Together, the two systems are putting pressure on some of the country's busiest air travel corridors at the height of summer travel season.
What the Airlines Are Offering
Four major carriers have activated weather waivers. The specifics vary by airline and are subject to change as conditions evolve — passengers should check directly with their carrier for the most current information.
American Airlines is waiving rebooking fees for customers with flights scheduled June 17 to, from, or through a list of Midwest airports including Chicago O'Hare, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit, Madison, South Bend, and several others. Passengers may rebook for travel through June 19 within the same cabin class.
Delta Air Lines is covering a broader geographic footprint, with waivers for flights June 17 and June 18 to, from, or through more than 20 airports across the Gulf South — including New Orleans, Houston, Baton Rouge, Mobile, Pensacola, and Tallahassee, among others. Affected travelers may rebook for travel through June 21.
Southwest Airlines is offering a waiver for customers with flights to, from, or through Chicago Midway on June 17. Those travelers may rebook or fly standby on the same route within the next 14 days.
United Airlines is waiving change fees for customers with flights June 17 through several affected airports including St. Louis. Rebooking must be completed within the same cabin class, with travel through June 20.
One Thing to Keep in Mind
Weather-related disruptions are considered outside the airline's control, which means that if your flight is merely delayed — not canceled — airlines are not legally required to compensate you or waive any fees. The waivers being offered now are voluntary, and they're only available while they're active.
If your flight is canceled outright, you are entitled to a full refund if you choose not to travel. But for delays, the waiver window is your best opportunity to rebook without penalty. Passengers who wait until after a weather event has passed may find the waiver is no longer in effect.
Travelers with upcoming summer plans are also encouraged to check airline apps and turn on push notifications, as conditions and waiver terms can shift quickly when active storm systems are involved.
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