Flight cancellations under the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) government shutdown order have begun, affecting hundreds of flights and thousands of travelers at 40 U.S. airports. This could continue for as long as the shutdown lasts (and potentially affect many more travelers as the busy holiday season approaches).
While flight cancellations are never fun, the cascading effect of the government shutdown could make dealing with it even more frustrating. Here are four steps you should take immediately if your route is interrupted.
Enable alerts from your airline
Flight cancellations often happen with little or no notice, sometimes when you’re already en route to your destination, and airlines are certainly scrambling to comply with the FAA’s shutdown order. As they continue to reduce their schedules, it is possible that your flight will be disrupted well before you leave for the airport.
To stay informed, download your airline’s app and enable push notifications to receive status updates as they become available, and keep an eye on your emails and text messages for additional alerts.
Check your rebooking options as soon as possible
Airlines often automatically rebook passengers whose flights are canceled to the next available alternative. Again, make sure you have your airline’s app on your phone to quickly view your options. If the airline offers it, you can accept the changed itinerary, choose another one, or decline it and get a refund instead. Going through the mobile app will likely be much faster than waiting in line at the customer service counter or trying to reach by phone. (However, if you need to speak to a real person at your airline, we have a guide for that.)
Of course, you should check your airline’s guidelines specific to cancellations of closures. Frontier, for example, waives change and cancellation fees and allows passengers to request a changed itinerary or refund, but you may not automatically be placed on the next flight. United is offering rebooking options as well as refunds to anyone who chooses not to travel, even if their flight is not affected. You’ll find relevant reviews on your airline’s website (e.g. Delta, American, JetBlue, and Southwest).
Know what you are entitled to
If your flight is canceled less than 14 days before departure and you choose not to travel, you are entitled to a refund, even if you booked a non-refundable or basic economy ticket. Airlines may offer travel credits or vouchers first, but you can try asking for cash if you prefer.
What do you think of it so far?
You can review your airline’s standard commitments for “controllable” cancellations on the Department of Transportation’s Airline Cancellations and Delays Dashboard, but you should also check the FAA’s flight reduction-specific policies, as noted above.
Consider booking a backup
If your trip is an absolute must, you may want to book a backup option at a different time, on a different airline or through a different airport. While there’s no guarantee that this flight won’t also be canceled, it at least increases your chances of arriving at your destination with a confirmed seat while other affected travelers are booked on routes hours or days later.
You can buy a refundable ticket, knowing you’ll get where you need to go or get the extra money back if your original itinerary works out, or use points and miles, which are often easily deposited into your account if you cancel your ticket. Be sure to check the terms and conditions of your rewards program. You can also purchase travel insurance, which will usually reimburse your purchase in full, although for a fee.
