With the holiday season bringing out millions of travelers, inclement
Here are some concerned travel areas for this week with probable weather issues:
- London. Snow and ice, along with extreme cold, were major problems Sunday, December 19 in London. Flights from London Heathrow Airport were cancelled due to de-icing issues with stranded passengers sleeping at the airport. With flights full the week prior to Christmas, and more bad weather predicted in the next few days, some of the million travelers expected in and out of London airports this week, may have major problems reaching their intended destinations for Christmas.
- Germany. Snow and rain is predicted all week prior to Christmas in Frankfurt, Berlin, and Munich.
- Chicago. Snow continues early this week for Christmas travel and is expected for Christmas weekend as well. Airline traffic may experience problems with millions of travelers passing through O’Hare Airport this week.
- New York City. Snow is expected some for the week prior to Christmas, with a probable white Christmas. This could possibly make for some delays or cancellations for the Christmas week.
- Boston. Snow is expected on and off all week prior to Christmas, including Christmas day. Snow is also reported for this week around Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Baltimore. So delays or cancellations may be an issue for the northeast area of the U.S.
- Salt Lake City. Snow is predicted for most of the week around the Salt Lake City area. Travel delays should be prepared for, even though Salt Lake City is well prepared for weather delays in winter.
- Colorado Rockies. While Denver looks pretty good for weather prior to Christmas, the Rocky Mountain are preparing for snow at the beginning of the week. Travelers checking into accommodations a few days prior to Christmas may have some difficulty arriving and the arrangements may be non refundable at this point.
Travel professionals may have a hectic week trying to help accommodate travelers stuck at airports or missing connections. As most travel agents know, inclement weather in a certain area of the country can create a snow ball effect (pun intended) throughout the entire country and international travel as well.
For example, those airlines with a cancelled flight at O’Hare Airport may make a mess of the intended airline flight plan for the day, if that aircraft is stuck at that airport. Other travelers on the west coast or southern areas with good weather may be adversely affected by a flight cancellation in maybe Chicago, New York, or Boston.
Good travel agents are invaluable during these times as holiday travelers need assistance with adverse weather delays and cancellations at airports. Having direct phone numbers and keeping abreast of weather waivers for airlines and tour operators during these times can be beneficial in keeping the days less stressful as a travel agent.
Please read my Travel Weather Issues blog and share some of your clients weather related travel stories.