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·Airlines cancel hundreds of flights as Hurricane Irene approaches
·Carriers are allowing passengers to change plans without fees
·Airlines reporting long hold times because so many people are trying to change plans
·Transit systems in New York City, Philadelphia and New Jersey will shut down on Saturday
Perhaps Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell put it best: Saturday is going to be a "horrendous day for travel" as Hurricane Irene sets its sights on the U.S. East Coast.
Airports operating by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - including JFK, La Guardia and Newark - will close to arriving flights over the weekend.
However, the airports will remain open for departing flights until further notice.
Airlines have canceled hundreds of flights, cruise lines are scrambling to change itineraries, and many trains won't be running at all in the next few days.
Public transportation is taking a hit: Transit systems in New York City, Philadelphia and New Jersey will shut down on Saturday.
Greyhound has canceled or delayed a number of routes because of the storm.
Roads are expected to be clogged with people heading away from Irene's path and many tourists enjoying the still-beautiful weather on some Northeast beaches have had to cut their trips short.
Baltimore/Washington International is "monitoring terminal and airfield drainage, checking generators and securing any equipment that may become airborne as a result of high winds," said Paul J. Wiedefeld, the airport's executive director.
Albany International Airport in New York is safeguarding the terminal, airfield and aircraft.
Carriers are monitoring the weather conditions carefully and taking action.
American Airlines has tentatively canceled all flights in the Washington area from noon Saturday to noon Sunday, said spokesman Ed Martelle.
The airline has also canceled all flights at Raleigh-Durham International Airport scheduled for Saturday.
Air Tran has canceled more than two dozen Saturday and Sunday flights, according to an airline spokeswoman.
JetBlue has canceled almost 900 flights in the Northeast ahead of the storm. Most of those are Sunday and Monday flights out of the New York metro area and Boston, said spokesman Mateo Lleras.
Delta Air Lines will cancel 1,300 flights from Saturday to Monday, said spokesman Anthony Black. The carrier will not operate at any New York-area airports on Sunday, when the worst weather is expected to hit the region, he said.
US Airways is planning "significant flight schedule reductions" at a number of airports, including Reagan Washington National, John F. Kennedy International and Newark International.
British Airways and other European airlines are also affected by the closure of JFK.
Many airlines have dropped ticket change fees for passengers scheduled to fly to or from many cities along the East Coast this weekend.
Some airlines have extended change-fee waivers into early next week.
Amtrak has canceled most train service operating south of Washington on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in anticipation of Hurricane Irene. Service in the Northeast corridor is not affected at this point, but more cancellations may be necessary in the coming days, Amtrak warned.
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