December 11 Weathering winter travel during the holidays (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Let's fly away

Fly nonstop when you can and avoid the problem of getting stuck at a jammed hub airport.

"Avoid cold-weather hubs," University of Richmond transportation economist George E. Hoffer counsels airline passengers.

If weather blocks the flow of airliners to and from a hub, the disruption ripples through the airline's system.

Large hub airports offer more opportunity to rebook, and flights booked on larger aircraft are less likely to be canceled when weather limits the number of flights an airport can handle, he said.

"Don't be tempted by that great flight to Chicago that has a 45-minute layover," said travel agent Karen Kilyk with Covington International Travel. Such a short layover time invites missing your connecting flight, she says.

Hoffer said, "If the weather's bad, stick close to your cellphone. The airlines anticipate bad weather and will give you opportunity to leave early."