Winter Weather Socks South, Aims at Northeast

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "It's not revolutionary, but a small Moleskine notebook is my one travel must-have. It's great for noting things you want to remember and it takes up hardly any space in your bag."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Japan. I'd love to take a month off and visit the cities, temples, and countryside. I'm fascinated by the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and modern ambitions."

Travel Motto: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

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Wintry weather is churning through the Midwest and South, wreaking havoc on areas not accustomed to dealing with large snowstorms. Atlanta, the busiest airport in the country, is taking a direct hit of snow and wintry mix.

Predictably, air travel has been severely impacted, with widespread cancellations and many airlines offering change fee waivers for travel throughout the Southeast. The storm is forecast to slam the Northeast Tuesday night into Wednesday, so expect delays—and waivers—from the D.C. area through Boston during that period. Most airlines have not offered waivers for that region as of press time.

Here is a list of airlines offering change fee waivers:

As always, if you’re stuck at the airport with a canceled flight, your best bet is to get in line with customer service and get on the phone. Many airlines are advising passengers to check prior to leaving home to be sure their flights aren’t canceled. The last thing you want, after all, is to arrive only to find your flight isn’t departing.

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