Travel tips for flight cancellations during the government shutdown : NPR

Trump administration reduction in air traffic at the nation's 40 busiest airports, starting Friday and increasing throughout the next week.

The Federal Aviation Administration reports The move is aimed at reducing pressure on air traffic controllers. As federal employees, they had been working without pay for over a month due to the government shutdown. longest in US history and there is no end in sight.

Delays and failures have already hit airports across the country as a result worsening staff shortages. New flight restrictions add another layer of uncertainty and stress for travelers.

“This could actually be quite disruptive, although the vast majority of flights will still operate as scheduled,” says Nick Ewen, senior editorial director at travel website The Points Guy.

The cancellation of flights on Friday means a reduction in the number of flights by about 4%. That number is expected to rise to the 10% required by the FAA. about 4400 fights daily — by next Friday if the shutdown continues.

Major U.S. airlines say they are trying to minimize disruption and are giving customers additional flexibility to change or refund tickets during this period, even if their flight is not cancelled. The key word is “flexibility,” says Ewan.

“Travelers flying from this weekend into next week need to be flexible and be prepared to change if things don't work out,” he says.

Here's what you need to know if this applies to you.

Which flights may be affected?

Ewen says the likelihood of a flight being canceled depends on factors such as the size of the plane, how full it is and the route of the flight.

“Airlines are really trying to focus on those flights that are going to be the least disruptive, where there are… alternatives to get affected customers to their final destination,” he adds.

United, Delta And Alaska airlines, for example, say their international flights will not be affected.

United also says it is not canceling any flights between its seven hubs in Newark, New Jersey, Chicago, Houston, Denver, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Some airlines have already announced flight changes for the weekend and others for next week. They all say they are working to alert passengers as early as possible about affected flights, directly through booking contact information and through their apps and websites.

Ewen says anyone planning a trip should download their airline's app a few days in advance and make sure notifications are turned on, so ideally travelers are aware of any changes before they actually get to the airport.

“If you do go to the airport, remember that a little kindness goes a long way,” he adds. “Yelling at the ticket checker or customer service agent will not make you more likely to be rebooked.”

What if your flight is cancelled?

Ewen advises passengers to try to rebook their flight as soon as possible through the airline's app or website, by phone or in person if they are already at the airport.

“If you're on a plane with 100 passengers and it gets cancelled, that's 100 people you have to accommodate,” Ewan says. “So if you're one of the first five people to get housing, ideally that's a better situation than the person who's the 95th client.”

Airlines, including Alaska, Southwest And JetBlue say that in most cases, customers on canceled flights will be automatically rebooked on the next available flight, although they can still cancel and receive a refund.

According to the rules of the Ministry of Transport, customers on significantly delayed or canceled flights that choose not to accept the airline's rebooking option are eligible for a full refund, no matter how restrictive their original ticket was.

“That still applies here,” says Ewen. Additionally, many airlines are giving customers more flexibility by allowing them to cancel or rebook flights without change fees.

American Airlines change fee waivercompensating affected passengers – in any fare class – if their flight is canceled or they decide not to fly. Delta similarly allows all customers change or cancel your flights free in affected markets. United also says it will be refund money to those who cancel flights and waive change fees (and in some cases fare differences) for those who rebook.

The specifics of these failures are likely to change in the coming days, Ewen said.

“It's best if you're flying on a particular airline to check that airline's website, read the details of their policies, and be aware that they may change,” he says. “So even if your flight doesn't qualify today, it could be later today, or tomorrow, or Monday.”

Should you change your plans in advance?

With so much going on in the air, some passengers may wonder if it's worth flying at all.

Ewan says if your plans are flexible, it may be worth moving them – both to remove some of the potential risk and to add some “relaxation to the system” by opening up places for other people. The same applies to those who may travel by car or train instead.

“Everyone has a different understanding of how important it is to make a booked trip,” he says. “But if you're really flexible and think, 'Yeah, no, I can do it another time,' it might be a good idea to go ahead and decide to cancel.”

What about booking your upcoming trip?

Thanksgiving travel, which can be a headache any year, is one of big question Notice how the shutdown drags on.

For now, Ewen says, it's still “safe.” He says people who already have Thanksgiving flight reservations shouldn't rush to cancel them yet, and those hoping to make plans can still proceed with caution.

“If anyone hasn't yet booked a Thanksgiving trip and needs to fly, I would suggest trying to lock in those plans now and perhaps consider adding travel insurance to that, or perhaps booking a fully refundable ticket in case of delays or cancellations.”

Mark Friedlander, a spokesman for the nonprofit Insurance Information Institute, recommends people look for travel insurance policies other than those offered by airlines at checkout, noting that sites such as Squaremouth make it easier to compare options.

He says standard policies typically start at 4% to 10% of the cost of a prepaid, non-refundable trip – and while you don't have to buy them on the same day you book your flight, it's cheaper to do so sooner rather than later.

There's one catch: Most standard policies have a “known events clause” for things like natural disasters or political crises, Friedlander says. So travel insurance you buy while a layover is already in progress is unlikely to cover any disruptions it causes. That's why ultra-flexible airline policies are “good news for all consumers,” he says.

The Points Guy's Ewan says the longer the shutdown continues, the longer it will take for crews and planes to get back on track – the more reason airlines and passengers are hoping for a quick solution.

“Right now we're in a bit of a lull before the Thanksgiving rush,” he says. “So if we can get this situation sorted out, hopefully we can avoid some major problems during Thanksgiving week. But again, that remains to be seen.”