Hurricane Sandy Affecting Alaskans’ Travel

More than 12,000 flights canceled around U.S.

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By Megan Edge

Story Created: Oct 30, 2012 at 7:45 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Oct 30, 2012 at 8:17 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - Hurricane Sandy is taking a toll across the Eastern Seaboard, with power outages, flooding, snowing at high elevations and powerful wind.

We may not be feeling the wind and rain, but it has been making the trip across the country difficult for Alaskans who are traveling.

Thousands of miles away from the eye of the storm, Alaskans are still feeling the impact of Sandy.

“You would be wise if you’re planning on flying today, tomorrow, or the next day, and you are going to that area, see if you can't change your flights,” said CBS 11’s Travel Guru Scott McMurren.

So far more than 12,000 flights have been cancelled around the country.

That's why McMurren says to keep in mind that just because you can get out of Alaska doesn't mean you'll be able to make your final destination.

“Say your going to Boise or L.A, you don't think you're affected – you’re wrong, because many of these network carriers, Delta, United, US Air and Alaska Airlines, many of them have their assets, the metal, the airplanes themselves, as well as the crews themselves... they're scattered in that Eastern Seaboard as well."

One person was able to make it out of the Last Frontier and to the East Coast: Katie Bender with the Red Cross of Alaska.

“There may be more folks in the coming weeks, but right now travel has been completely suspended so we wouldn't be able to get folks out here until the end of the week anyway,” Bender said.

Bender has been in West Virginia since Saturday.

Monday night she said the weather was nothing compared to New York and New Jersey, but that could change. Forecasters predicted the storm was heading her way.

In the meantime, the rest of the eastern seaboard is hunkered down, waiting for the storm to pass.

Airline officials said most flights should be back to normal by the weekend.

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TedtheBear said on Tuesday, Oct 30 at 9:22 AM

That is common knowledge. Anyone with experience would have adjusted their plans with full knowledge that a monster storm will affect all air travel. I don't think Honolulu-Anchorage would be affected though. They used the same plane back and forth.

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