Flights canceled at O'Hare, Midway airports ahead of Northeast blizzard

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The blizzard expected to dump up to two feet of snow on the Northeast from New Jersey to Maine is impacting flights out of O'Hare and Midway airports.

Some 220 flights were canceled today at O'Hare and Midway combined. Hundreds more were delayed, and it could be days before stranded passengers make it out.

Most of the canceled flights at O'Hare and Midway were bound for airports from New York to Boston. Between 18 and 24 inches of snow are expected to fall on the East Coast between Monday and Wednesday.

"I'm panicking, but I'm trying to remain calm," said Faris Lyle, whose flight to New York was canceled. "But I'm just like, I'm really, really edgy right now."

Lyle's next available flight home is on Thursday. Countless flights have been canceled at East Coast airports, causing a major trickle-down effect in Chicago, where folks are desperate to get home.

The Renner family planned ahead, changing their connection from Philadelphia to a different city.

"We could tell that we were going to get stuck somewhere, and we thought we'd rather get stuck in Chicago than to be in Philadelphia with snow," said Carole Renner.

The impact of the East Coast weather wasn't just felt at airports. At the downtown Greyhound station, all trips east of Cleveland Monday were canceled.

"Hectic. Tiresome," said Shauna-Kaye Williams, who was trying to get home to Connecticut. "It's just a whole bunch of stuff. I'm tired."

UNITED, AMERICAN CANCEL FLIGHTS TUESDAY IN NYC, BOSTON, PHILADELPHIA

United Airlines said it will cancel all flights at Newark Liberty International, La Guardia, John F. Kennedy, Boston and Philadelphia airports on Tuesday. Certain Monday evening flights at New-York area airports will be delayed or canceled, United said.

United officials said the airline will waive the change fee for ticketed passengers traveling in the region from Monday evening through Tuesday who wish to change their flights.

Officials also said making the change online will be faster than calling the reservation desk at each airport. They recommend visiting United.com or use the airline's mobile app for faster service.

Starting late Monday afternoon, American Airlines said it plans to suspend operations at Philadelphia, Newark, La Guardia, John F. Kennedy and Boston airports for American, US Airways and all regional partners. Due to the storm, American has instituted a travel policy covering 24 airports.

Thousands of airlines canceled flights in the Northeast on Monday due to the impending snow storm, which could be the worst winter storm the area has seen in years.