Staff Reports
Imagine, if you will, that you’re one of the brave souls ensconced in the sprawling confines of Hartsfield Jackson Airport in Atlanta, caught in a bustling modern tale of winter chaos. As the season’s fiercest winter storm, an impressive mix of snow and ice, prepares to blanket vast swathes of America, flight delays are their own storm brewing above. Almost 3,000 flight delays have already mucked up travel plans, with predictions through the weekend suggesting things will go from bad to, “Who could have possibly thought this could get worse?”
Airlines are acting with a sense of preemptive panic and precision. Delta Airlines and American Airlines are canceling flights in states stretching across Texas to Tennessee, and no, they’re not doing so out of an abundance of caution for safety, but rather because they want to avoid turning their terminals into winter apocalypse-themed escape rooms. With airlines listing more cancellations and disruptions, passengers are left to not-so-kindly smile and refresh airline apps that burst with notifications of flight changes.
Of course, many travelers interviewed have mustered a rather astute outlook, aptly summarized as “hoping for the best and maybe getting stuck in Miami just isn’t on the bucket list this year,” which, while optimistic, suggests a fair approach amid the growing chaos. Airline crews and planes seem to be in all the wrong places, as if participating in the most confusing game of musical chairs. Look at them, trying to herd giant aluminum birds to their rightful airports.
Outside the airport dramas, a slew of states like Georgia and Texas have smartly declared states of emergency. It seems they’ve taken a glance at the National Weather Service’s warnings and decided that staying home sounds quite palatable compared to attempting roadside figure skating on highways. The National Weather Service gently advises that venturing out onto icy roads this weekend might call for more than just an insurance card but perhaps divine intervention, too.
All in all, it’s a weekend poised to serve a grand reminder: whether by plane or by road, Mother Nature occasionally insists that we all just sit down in our armchairs with a hot cocoa and watch the snow fly past our windows. Despite the inconvenience storming through Delta and American Airlines, perhaps there’s wisdom in listening to this subtle encouragement to take things a bit slower today.
