Imagine being stuck in an airport during the holidays, surrounded by strangers, with no clear idea of when you’ll get home. That’s exactly what happened to hundreds of travelers at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Friday night, as a fierce winter storm unleashed chaos on New York City and the tri-state area. But here’s where it gets even more frustrating: many of these travelers were left in the dark, with little to no communication from airlines, turning what should’ve been a joyous post-Christmas journey into a nightmare of uncertainty.
The storm, which dumped nearly a foot of snow on the region, sent JFK into a tailspin, canceling 158 flights and delaying 204 more—the highest totals of any U.S. airport that day, according to FlightAware. Families huddled on the floor, luggage piled high, as they anxiously awaited updates on rebooked flights. Among them was Danniel Sermone, a 31-year-old who had planned a solo ‘Home Alone’-style Christmas in New York. ‘I came to enjoy the city, shopped, visited Times Square, but now I’ve been at JFK for eight hours, with another 30 to go,’ he told The Post, his next flight scheduled for 6 a.m. on the 28th.
And this is the part most people miss: the human toll of these disruptions. Mara Pimenta, who traveled from Sao Paulo with her husband and two young children, was left in tears after discovering her Latam Airlines flight had been canceled without notice. ‘I’ve been on hold for an hour, and all I have is a lot of luggage and two kids,’ she said, her frustration palpable. To add insult to injury, their hotel was fully booked, leaving them stranded at the airport with no backup plan.
The lack of customer care during the crisis sparked outrage. Chaithanya Sing, a 32-year-old mother holding her 9-month-old baby, questioned, ‘How can airlines abandon their customers during a weather emergency?’ Her Air France flight to India was canceled and transferred to Etihad, but her baby’s ticket hadn’t been updated, and no one from either airline was available to help. ‘It’s like a ghost counter,’ she said, her husband adding, ‘This is devastating—our daughter was supposed to meet her grandparents for the first time.’
JFK wasn’t the only airport affected. Newark International Airport reported 107 cancellations, while LaGuardia International Airport scrapped 90 flights, with both hubs delaying a combined 335 flights. The storm, expected to intensify overnight with snowfall rates of over two inches per hour, prompted Mayor Eric Adams to urge New Yorkers to avoid driving and allow extra time for public transit. ‘Stay alert and sign up for Notify NYC for real-time updates,’ he advised.
But here’s the controversial question: Are airlines doing enough to support travelers during extreme weather events, or are they prioritizing profits over people? The stories from JFK suggest a system ill-equipped to handle such crises, leaving travelers feeling abandoned and helpless. What do you think? Should airlines be held more accountable for their response during emergencies? Let’s discuss in the comments.
