What to Consider When Flying During a Government Shutdown

The FAA has begun emergency capacity reductions at 40 major U.S. airports, and travelers should expect widespread delays, cancellations, and longer security lines—here’s what you need to be prepared.

Starting this morning, travelers across the United States are facing unprecedented flight disruptions as the Federal Aviation Administration implements emergency reductions at 40 major airports nationwide. Nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks during the government shutdown, which is now in its 38th day and ranks as the longest in U.S. history.

“We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, operations will be cut by 4 percent starting today and will scale to 10 percent by Friday, Nov. 14. Cirium, an aviation analytics company, estimates the full reduction could affect roughly 1,800 flights and 268,000 seats per day. Long-haul international flights are currently exempt from cuts, while regional flights and less-full flights face the highest cancellation risks.

If you’re headed to the airport soon, here’s what you need to know to make the best travel decisions.

Should you cancel your flight?

The security checkpoint at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.

Kamil Krzaczynski/Getty Images

For most travelers, preemptively canceling isn’t necessary. In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, airlines should have the capacity to rebook passengers. At this point, most airlines have finalized cancellations through Saturday, and you can check your flight status on your airline’s website or mobile app. Many major carriers are also offering flexible rebooking policies, even for basic economy tickets. 

However, if you’re worried about last-minute cancellations, checking alternative flight routes and times won’t hurt. Travel expert Jennifer Yellin recommends having a backup plan, especially if your travel calendar isn’t flexible. 

“This is where airline miles come in handy, especially since you can typically cancel your flight for no fee,” says Yellin. “While airlines will always put you on the next available flight, with many passengers being displaced, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get out on that next flight.”

Expect longer security lines.

When you’re at the airport, you may experience longer security lines. Just like air traffic controllers, TSA agents are working without pay. 

“While the vast majority of TSA’s nationwide operations remain minimally impacted by the government shutdown, occasional delays at some security checkpoints are to be expected,” says a TSA spokesperson, “The longer the shutdown goes on, the more severe the impact on our TSA workforce who have expenses they must pay for, making it harder to show up for work when not being paid.”

If your flight is cancelled, know your rights.

Passengers experiencing delays and cancelations at San Francisco International Airport.

Gabrielle Lurie/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

Passengers are entitled to a full refund to their original form of payment under DOT regulations, even for nonrefundable tickets, according to Evan Oshan of Oshan & Associates, an aviation attorney with over 20 years of experience. However, he clarifies that airlines are not required to cover costs like hotels, rental cars, or missed events when the cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances such as a government shutdown. 

“The key issue is proving whether the airline chose to cancel your specific flight (triggering full passenger protections) versus the FAA directly mandating that the flight cannot operate (limiting airline liability),” explains Oshan. “This is why documentation is so critical—save every notification, email, and text about your flight status.”

What Travel Insurance Covers

Standard travel insurance has significant limitations when it comes to shutdown-related disruptions. “Most standard policies don’t specifically cover government shutdowns unless you purchase ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ coverage, which typically costs 40 to 50 percent more and only reimburses 50 to 75 percent of nonrefundable costs,” Oshan says.

On top of that, he explains that CFAR policies typically have to be purchased within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit, and many policies exclude known events. So, coverage may be limited if you’re buying insurance after the shutdown has already begun.

Before You Head to the Airport

Travelers wait in a security check point line at O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago.

Jim Vondruska/Getty Images

• Download your airline’s app and enable all notifications
• Check flight status repeatedly and track your inbound aircraft
• Travel with a carry-on only if possible
• Pack essentials like medications in your carry-on
• Arrive extra early for potentially longer security lines and possible rebookings