The federal government shutdown has entered its second week, and already the shortage of air traffic controllers has strained operations and disrupted flights at some U.S. airports.
Reagan National Airport became the latest this week to report delays due to staffing issues Wednesday. But earlier in the week, problems arose at airports in Chicago, Newark, Denver and Nashville, and the tower even had to close its doors in Burbank, California.
Staffing issues lead to ground delays at O’Hare due to government shutdown
Experts, as well as union leaders representing air traffic controllers and security screeners, warn that the impact could worsen significantly if the shutdown continues and employees begin missing paychecks.
Here’s what you need to know about your rights as a passenger and what you can do if delays and cancellations start to pile up:
Check before you go to the airport
It’s better to be stuck at home or in a hotel than to be stuck in an airport terminal, so use the airline’s flight app or websites to make sure your flight is still in service before heading to the airport. This FAA site can be checked to see if there are widespread delays at your airport.
Kyle Potter, editor-in-chief of Thrifty Traveler, warned that it can be difficult to obtain compensation if something goes wrong.
“In the United States, Americans have woefully few rights as travelers. When things go wrong, it’s really up to the airline industry to decide what it means to do right by customers,” Potter said.
My flight was canceled. And now ?
If you’re already at the airport, it’s time to find another flight. Wait in line to speak to a customer service representative and call or go online to connect with the airline’s reservations staff. It’s also helpful to communicate on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, because airlines can respond quickly.
The airlines will rebook you on a later flight at no extra cost. The good news at the moment is that it’s not a peak period, so travelers have a better chance of finding a spot. But the busy holiday season is fast approaching with Thanksgiving next month and Christmas in December. At these peak times, passengers might have to wait days to get a seat on a new flight.
Can I request to be booked on another airline?
You can, but airlines are not required to put you on another carrier’s flight. Some airlines, including the larger ones, except Southwest and budget airlines, say they can put you on a partner airline, but even then it’s often hit or miss. Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com, recommended researching alternative flights while waiting to speak with an agent.
Should I get a refund?
If you no longer wish to make the trip or have found another way to get to your destination, the airline is legally obligated to refund you, even if you purchased a non-refundable ticket. It doesn’t matter why the flight was canceled.
“If the airline cancels your flight, you can say, ‘Fine. I will accept a refund and get my money back,” Potter said. “The important thing is that your payment is returned to you. You don’t just settle for an airline voucher that may expire in a year or less.”
You are also entitled to reimbursement for baggage fees, seat upgrades or other extras that you were unable to use.
Can I get compensation?
U.S. airlines are not required to pay additional cash compensation or cover lodging and meals for stranded passengers, even if a flight cancellation is the airline’s fault.
The Biden administration proposed a rule that would have changed that and required airlines to pay passengers for delays and cancellations in more circumstances. But the Trump administration abandoned the measure last month, and airlines praised it for the decision.
Travel insurance can help if you purchased an insurance policy when booking or used a travel credit card offering this product. But Potter said you shouldn’t assume you’ll be covered even if you have insurance. Check the fine print to see if you’re covered in situations like this when a worker shortage causes problems.
Which airlines will cover
Each airline has its own policy. The U.S. Department of Transportation has a site that allows consumers to review each airline’s commitments to reimbursement and coverage of other expenses when flights are canceled or significantly delayed.
Other tips
If many flights are canceled, airline agents will soon be overwhelmed. If you are in a group and someone is in a higher tier in the airline’s frequent flyer program, use the number associated with that person to call the airline. You can also try calling your airline’s international help number – usually available online – as these agents can also change your itinerary.
Be kind. The agent you’re talking to is probably dealing with other frustrated travelers as well, and yelling at the agent won’t make them want to help you. The cancellation is not their fault.
Consider other options
If these problems worsen, you might wonder whether it’s better to travel by train, car, or bus, but there’s really no way to predict when and where a staffing shortage might occur. And the ongoing shortage of controllers is so critical that even a small number of absences can cause problems.
Potter said the shutdown is different than when only one airline is having problems and travelers can simply choose another airline. This creates problems for entire airports at once.
“It’s the whole airport-airline infrastructure,” Potter said. “As these problems expand and spread as the shutdown continues, it is unlikely that a single airline will be operational in time if the others fail. This will affect the entire system over time.”
