Copyright Men's Journal
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made a shocking announcement on Wednesday that it will reduce 10 percent of flights across 40 U.S. airports amid the longest government shutdown on record, as airports grapple with air traffic controller shortages and the holiday season in full effect. The FAA’s move is intended to ease the workload on unpaid air traffic controllers and TSA agents, and make air travel safer at some of the busiest airports in the country. Just hours after the announcement, major airlines across the country began reaching out to customers to explain how they plan to mitigate the FAA’s unprecedented move and how it will affect customers come Friday, Nov. 7. Now, Katy Nastro, travel expert at the flight deals site, Going, is warning travelers that, among other things, the 40 impacted airports are just the tip of the iceberg amid the ongoing travel chaos. “While 40 U.S. airports is a lot, the effects on travelers can reach far beyond just the single airport since almost 70 percent of all U.S. flights are either to or from any of these airports,” Nastro says. “The list will start at less than 10 percent but grow in the coming days. For travelers that means, in some form or another, you may get impacted even if not flying out of the listed 40.” Nastro believes that regional and less full flights may be targeted, meaning “less full flights to smaller cities, or flights with more limited schedules to begin with are most likely on the chopping block.” All in all, customers should brace for longer delays/flights, tighter connections, and cancellations as airlines scramble to make the necessary changes ahead of Friday. Customers Have the Right to a Cash Refund “However, if a flight does get canceled, travelers are owed a full refund for the ticket, full stop,” Nastro says. “If they are presented with a credit, they have the right to refuse and ask for a monetary refund.” Those relying on travel insurance after purchasing last-minute tickets should prepare for the worst, like digging deeper into their pockets. “With fewer flights available to rebook onto, last-minute fares are rarely cheap. Insurance is also tricky: many policies won’t cover shutdown-related disruptions outright, and because this is now a foreseen event, coverage would only apply if the plan was purchased before Oct. 1,” Nastro warns. Check Your Benefits Nastro’s advice to customers? Check what protections their preferred travel credit card already offers, and what policies include a “common carrier” disruption benefit, which, Nastro says, can serve as a workaround in this scenario.
