How to prepare for Department of Transportation flight reductions during government shutdown
USA TODAY’s Nathan Diller has travel tips to survive DOT’s reduced flights during the government shutdown.
Nov. 9 marks the third day of government-mandated flight cancellations, and travelers are once again glued to their phones and computers to see if their flights are among the growing number of flight cancellations. Among them are USA TODAY reporters Nathan Diller and Eve Chen, who are headed to Florida from Nashville and Atlanta, respectively.
By mid-afternoon, there were already more than 1,100 canceled flights on Sunday, following more than 1,000 flights on Saturday, according to FlightAware data. The disruption comes as Transport Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the situation could worsen in the coming days if the government shutdown continues.
“It’s only going to get worse,” Duffy said in an interview with CNN, warning that air travel could slow “little by little” as the year-end busy season approaches.
The Department of Transportation will first order airlines to reduce their schedules by 4% at 40 major airports starting Nov. 7, with plans to increase the cuts to 6% by Nov. 11, 8% by Nov. 13, and 10% by Nov. 14. Mr Duffy later said cuts could reach 15% to 20% if the shutdown lasted longer, putting a strain on an already overburdened system as air traffic controllers continued to work without pay.
With Thanksgiving just weeks away, travelers across the U.S. are facing increased uncertainty and fewer options as flight cancellations worsen across the country. Check out Diller and Chen’s daily log.
Arrive at 9am Eastern Time
It’s a quiet morning at Nashville International Airport (BNA). Travelers breezed through mostly empty column lines at TSA checkpoints where wait times were listed as less than 10 minutes.
I arrived just after 8 a.m. local time, checked my baggage at the Southwest Airlines ticket counter, and was through security by about 8:30 a.m.
The airport didn’t feel as crowded as other weekend mornings I’ve been here.
The screen showing departure times and gates showed five canceled flights and 19 delayed flights. BNA was not among the airports targeted for FAA cuts, and other parts of the aviation system showed no signs of stress.
— Nathan Diller, on a flight from Nashville
All is well at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Sunday morning. It is the world’s busiest airport and home to Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines.
I arrived at the airport 2 hours and 15 minutes early for my 11:30 a.m. Delta flight to Miami. It was originally scheduled for 9:25 a.m. The airline first alerted me to the delay last night and updated me about the additional delay in the morning so I could plan accordingly.
Some Delta travelers lined up to receive agent assistance at the departure counter, but nothing special happened.
The line at TSA, which has pre-check and touchless ID, took just three minutes, and then another few minutes to get checked, while the average published TSA wait time across airports is just five minutes.
— Eve Chen, from Atlanta
Riding time
Our flight from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale was on time. When we arrived at the gate, Concourse D was not crowded and there were many empty seats.
Boarding for my 10:15 a.m. flight began at 9:45, and the line moved smoothly, even though the gate agent said it was “completely full.”
— Nathan Diller, on a flight from Nashville
In Atlanta’s E Concourse, dozens of travelers waited patiently in line for agent assistance at the Delta Air Lines counter. It’s still early, so it’s advantageous for those who need to rebook.
Looks like my flight was delayed again, now at 11:50am. Passengers begin to gather near the gate, chatting with each other and fiddling with their phones as they wait. I overheard one traveler say, “We’re almost there, baby.” It’s almost there.
— Eve Chen, from Atlanta
My flight boarded after a 2.5 hour delay, but I have a Sky Club cider and the comfort seats are set up the same as Premium Select, so I have no complaints.
Don’t forget to thank the TSA officers who kept us moving and safe.
— Eve Chen, from Atlanta
landing
My plane landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) at 1:19 p.m. local time, about five minutes ahead of schedule.
The airport was busy, but not full. The lanes at the TSA checkpoint were mostly empty, and by the time I got to baggage claim, there was no one waiting at the merry-go-round.
As of around 2pm ET, FLL had 44 cancellations and 189 delays, according to FlightAware, but my travel day was as smooth as it was before the shutdown.
— Nathan Diller, on a flight from Nashville
We arrived in Miami nearly three hours later than originally planned, but it took even longer because the jetway was unable to connect us to the plane.
The passenger in front of me was anxious to catch the cruise in a few hours (best to arrive a day early, just in case). Another passenger climbed up the aisle to get a better connection. I don’t know if they achieved it, but I’m glad they did.
— Eve Chen, from Atlanta
Miami International Airport was busy, but it didn’t feel any busier than other times I’ve flown there.
I was surprised to see that 20% of departing flights are delayed, according to FlightAware, but it made sense since my plane was arriving late and I was always going to be turned back on another flight.
Since I was late meeting an old friend, I didn’t have time to check out the TSA line directly upon arrival, but the airport listed wait times at most checkpoints as less than 10 minutes.
— Eve Chen, from Atlanta
What should I do if my flight is cancelled?
“The best thing travelers can do is be as proactive as possible and switch to new flights,” Going founder Scott Keyes told USA TODAY. “When flights are suddenly canceled, hundreds of passengers need new itineraries. There may only be a few seats left on the best flights, and it’s on a first-come, first-served basis.”
Travelers can always call their airline’s customer service number or speak to an airport representative, but Keyes recommended using a mobile app.
“Most airlines make it easy for travelers to rebook for free,” he said in an email. “This allows customers to choose the flight that best suits their circumstances, without long holds or queues.”
If passengers need to speak to someone by phone, Keyes suggested calling one of the airline’s international lines.
“Most airlines have phone numbers in countries around the world, including Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Australia, and they have agents who can help you rebook, just as you would a U.S.-based agent,” he said. “But hold times on these international hotlines are a fraction of those on U.S. hotlines.”
Hopper said the average delay rate at U.S. airports (delays of less than an hour) was 4.8% in September. It rose to 5.4% in October after the shutdown, and to 5.8% so far in November.
“Cancellations also increased from 0.56% of flights affected in September to more than 0.6% in October and November,” the company said in an email. Hopper estimated that more than 13,000 flights will be canceled or significantly delayed next week due to the DOT’s planned reductions.
What do I have to pay if my flight is canceled or delayed?
If an airline cancels a flight for any reason and chooses not to rebook, passengers are entitled to a full refund, according to DOT regulations. The same goes for “significant” delays or changes.
This includes arriving at least three hours later than originally scheduled for domestic travel and at least six hours late for international travel. DOT maintains a list of eligible scenarios on its website, along with a dashboard of airlines’ commitments to controllable delays and cancellations.
Even if the government shutdown caused the delays or cancellations, Mr. Keyes was not aware of any exceptions to those rules. “You can take comfort in the fact that when the pandemic caused mass flight cancellations in 2020, federal regulators still explicitly and repeatedly required airlines to issue refunds,” he said.
DOT did not respond to requests for comment.
Some airlines offer waivers that allow travelers to change flights without paying change fees or fare differences. Major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, have implemented exemptions related to flight reductions.
Does travel insurance cover flight delays or cancellations due to flight outages?
It depends. “While some comprehensive travel insurance policies may help in the event of airline flight delays or cancellations, coverage for disruptions associated with government shutdowns may vary,” said Suzanne Moreau, CEO of InsureMyTrip.
He said “cancellable for any reason” coverage is “the best option for flexibility” and typically provides a refund of 50% to 75% of the prepaid non-refundable trip cost if the policyholder cancels at least 48 hours in advance.
Hopper saw a 40% increase in air travelers overnight after the DOT announcement and added an interruption assistance feature that allows users to instantly rebook or receive a refund if their flight is delayed or cancelled. “Since the shutdown began, Disruption Assistance’s sales have surged more than 60%,” the company said in an email.
Keyes noted that flight troubles helped end previous government shutdowns. “It is not inconceivable that many in Washington, D.C., are similarly looking to navigate this disruption as a path toward reopening the government.”
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
