Traveling soon? Know how to navigate flight cancellations now

Flying soon? Listen up. 

At 40 of the country’s busiest airports, flights coming and going will be reduced by 10% this week. 

That means thousands of flights canceled, or, in other words, 200,000 fewer seats in the air per day. Blame it on a record‑long government shutdown.

FLIGHT CHAOS GRIPS US AIRPORTS AS SOME AIRLINES ADVISE BOOKING ‘BACKUP TICKET’: SEE THE LIST

Major hubs will be the hardest hit: Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York‑JFK, Chicago O’Hare and many more. Together, those 40 airports cover roughly 70% of U.S. flights. So, yes, even if you’re in Hicksville, you feel it.

Your “flightmare” survival plan

If you plan on flying anywhere, here’s what you do.

• Book the first flight of the day. Yeah, it’s a bummer, but flights departing before 9 a.m. are about twice as likely to fly as those later in the day.
• Download your airline’s app now. This is your fastest route to real‑time rebooks and alerts.
• Use the MyTSA app. Get live security wait times so you’re not stuck in a five‑hour shuffle line that’s already happening.
• Check your seat map. Oddly empty flight = higher risk of cancellation. Full flight = safer bet.
• Know your rights. If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed due to the cuts, you’re legally entitled to a cash refund, not just some future credit.
• Have a Plan B. Rental car one‑way pickups are up 20% this week. Trains or even a longer drive might save your holiday.

SHUTDOWN’S IMPACT AT AIRPORTS WILL WORSEN, SAYS TSA — TRAVELERS SHOULD ‘GO EARLY’ AND ‘BE PATIENT’

Gas prices are down (average around $3.08), so a road trip could really make sense.

Don’t wait. Don’t assume. Keep checking, stay flexible and treat your travel like you’d treat a storm warning: Get ahead of it, not behind it.

Pass this on: Know someone flying soon? Don’t leave them grounded. Forward this post before they end up sleeping in an airport chair with their neck at a 90-degree angle. Sharing this could save a trip, a holiday or at least someone’s sanity. And hey, we’ve all got that one friend who needs the reminder to download the airline app before they get to the gate.

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