The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an unprecedented directive on Wednesday. Air traffic at 40 U.S. airports must be reduced by up to 10 percent starting Friday, Nov. 7, the federal agency says.
The move affects hubs from Atlanta to Chicago, Denver to Los Angeles, and New York to Washington, D.C., and comes in response to a 37-day government shutdown, currently the longest in history. The shutdown has forced tens of thousands of essential aviation workers, particularly air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, to continue working for next to no pay, resulting in increased fatigue and staffing shortages.
“In my 35-year history in the aviation market, I am not aware of any circumstances in which we would take such an action,” FAA Administrator Brian Bedford said at a press conference Wednesday.
First, 4% of flights will be canceled from November 7th, increasing to 10% the following week. The FAA operates more than 44,000 flights a day, so more than 4,000 flights could be affected each day.
Travelers can expect cascading disruptions such as increased delays, fewer rebooking options and crowded gates, especially as the start of the Thanksgiving travel period approaches.
“There are so many unknowns at the moment, and it can definitely cause anxiety for travelers,” said Katie Nastro, a travel expert at Going, a discount flight app and newsletter. He added that if the closure continues and actual flight reductions are implemented, “this is likely to be one of the biggest disruptions in aviation history.”
Should I cancel my flight?
Brett Snyder, CEO of Cranky Concierge, which specializes in emergency air travel assistance, said he does not recommend that travelers cancel flights in advance.
“The reality is that airlines are not going to be very full over the next few weeks,” Snyder explained. “The pre-Thanksgiving period is typically quiet, so if flight cancellations are postponed, there should be room to reaccommodate most people onto other flights.”
He added that if a traveler’s original flight is among those canceled by the airline, the traveler can decide whether to continue with their travel plans based on whether the new option is suitable for them.
“The bigger question is what happens if the shutdown extends into Thanksgiving, because that’s when planes are very full and that creates additional pain,” Snyder added. “Fortunately, we’ve seen[some airlines]allow anyone to cancel without penalty, regardless of fare rules. So if people are really over-stressed and don’t want to deal with this, they have options.”
Nastro noted that those with flexible travel plans should consider postponing their trip to a later date, as canceling plans is the only way to avoid disruption altogether.
Check to see if your airline offers a rebooking fee waiver
If you have flexibility in your plans or don’t want to deal with the headaches of possible delays and cancellations, check out what your airline offers in terms of rebooking options. Already, all major U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, are offering flexible rebookings and fee waivers, encouraging travelers to completely reschedule their trips.
Consider back-up flights
Travelers who are unable or unwilling to change their travel plans are encouraged to consider alternative plans.
“Short-haul regional flights are probably in jeopardy for airlines, so those who want to hop on quickly may want to consider flying with another airline as a backup plan,” Nastro said.
Book backups on different airlines and airports and use your miles
“If you live near multiple airports, avoid risk. For example, if you’re in New York, your main trip will be at JFK,” says Jesse Neugarten, founder and CEO of transaction tracking service Dollar Flight Club. “If you book from Newark and have miles of spare award tickets, you can cancel for free if all goes well. That flexibility gives you options if one airport faces staffing or weather issues.”
“And be sure to book on two different airlines, or your ‘duplicate reservation’ may be canceled by the airline,” says Gary Leff, publisher of the travel blog View from the Wing.
Lev also suggests using your miles to make backup reservations.
“There is no fee to cancel and redeposit points,” Lev says. “If your first flight is taking off, cancel your award ticket by the departure time of that flight. If that first flight is canceled or significantly delayed, you should receive a refund and be able to use your award (travel) alone.”
It’s also a good idea to book a backup ticket on any airline you might fly on in the future to avoid losing credit. Credits are typically valid for one year only.
What if I haven’t purchased a ticket yet?
If you haven’t booked your tickets yet, Tiffany Funk, travel expert and co-founder of point.me, advises, “Your best bet is to give yourself some leeway, plan your trip at least a day or two before you actually need to get there, and book an early morning or late night flight when there are fewer flights scheduled.”
Both Lev and Nastro said now is not the time to book basic economy fares, as they tend to have change fees and little flexibility. Some airlines offer change fee waivers, but they may not apply until the date you are considering traveling.
How do I know if my flight will be cancelled?
If you plan to fly from one of the 40 affected busy airports, expect potential changes. Stay up to date with flight status updates on your airline’s app or website.
It’s also important to make sure your phone number and email are up to date in the airline’s system so that you can be notified by text or email if there are any changes or cancellations. Similarly, if you booked with a travel agent, make sure the airline has your contact information, not just the advisor’s. The sooner you learn that your flight has been affected, the more likely you are to be able to rebook before others.
It is still unclear which flights will be most affected.
“It’s important to know that this situation is in constant flux,” Funk said. “Communications from the FAA to airlines have not been very clear and current plans are not well-conceived and are unlikely to have the impact described on key air traffic control pressure points. Consumers should expect the situation to change as airlines receive more information and begin implementing and adjusting response plans.”
Nastro added, “Regional flights and flights that are less than full are on the brink (often). If you’re departing on a short-haul flight (less than two hours), be sure to check the seat map just to be sure. There’s no guarantee that your flight will be canceled yet, but it’s a small guide to preparing for the worst.”
American Airlines and United Airlines have already announced that long-haul international flights will not be affected, but other airlines may be forced to reduce flights on some routes.
“If you’re in a large city with good connectivity, hub-to-hub flights and international flights are the least likely to be affected,” Funk said. On major domestic and international flights, “there’s a real chance that the airline will accommodate you on another flight, even if you’re delayed by a day or need an additional connection.”
That said, broader cuts could cause knock-on effects such as the need to reroute flights, cascading delays, longer connection times, and strained buffers.
Stay tuned for FAA and DOT announcements and updates from airlines.
Know your rights if your flight is canceled
Because airlines are expecting a myriad of disruptions, many airlines are waiving change and cancellation fees, even in basic economy, during this period.
If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed (more than 3 hours) due to this capacity reduction, you will receive the following benefits:
- There is no additional charge for rebooking on the same airline (or partner airline).
- If the airline is unable to provide a comparable alternative, a full refund will be provided in the original method of payment. Please note that you do not have to accept the voucher (unless you do not want to receive it for some reason, such as because it is worth more than the original fare). Airlines must issue refunds. This also applies to non-refundable Basic Economy tickets.
- In the case of significant delays, accommodation, meals, or additional compensation may be provided (although given that these delays are not the airline’s fault, the airline is unlikely to provide this additional assistance as it is not mandatory).
