33,000 storm-related flights canceled this month

It's been a rough start of the year for fliers.

A series of winter storms has led airlines to cancel more than 33,000 flights during the first three weeks of this year. That's more cancellations than in January 2013 and January 2012 combined, according to masFlight, a data and software company specializing in airline operations.

"It's been miserable," said John DiScala, who runs the travel advice site JohnnyJet.com and flies around 150,000 miles each year. "There's so few vacant seats, so when they cancel one flight, trying to get onto another flight is next to impossible."

Many stranded passengers have had to wait days -- and in a few extreme case up to a week -- to get a seat on a flight out.

"I think travel agents are starting to look good to many people," DiScala added. "At times like this, who wants to be on the phone, literally for hours, trying to get rebooked?"

One expert suggests passengers may want to take an extra precaution.

"If there's one good time to buy travel insurance, it's during winter," said George Hobica, founder of travel deal site AirfareWatchdog.com.

"This winter has been a one-two-three punch so far, and there are eight weeks to go," Hobica said. "It seems like airlines are canceling flights more than ever and sooner than ever at the approach of a storm."

The hardest hit cities so far this winter: New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia. -- AP