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Many Americans are bracing for a potential travel nightmare after the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that 40 of the nation’s busiest airports will be reducing flights due to staffing shortages amid the ongoing government shutdown. With hundreds of flight cancelations announced Nov. 7 and more on the horizon, many travelers have one major question on their minds: Will my trip be affected? NBC News senior consumer and investigative correspondent Vicky Nguyen joined TODAY Nov. 7 to outline tips for navigating the travel chaos. What Do Travelers Need to Know? Starting Nov. 7, the FAA is reducing the number of flights by 4%, with plans to increase that figure to 10% by Nov. 14. Per travel website Going.com, that equates to 200,000 seats per day. “This is going to have major ripple effects,” Nguyen said, adding that travel experts have called the situation unprecedented. The good news? Major airlines, including American, Delta, United and Southwest, are offering customers flexible options, including full refunds without penalty. At Delta and United, this applies to basic economy fares that aren’t typically refundable. For multiple airlines, the refunds are available for customers whose flights are canceled and for travelers who simply choose to cancel their flight to avoid the chaos. Southwest will offer this option through at least Wednesday, Nov. 12. Alaska Airlines also announced that travelers whose flights are canceled will receive a full refund. If you’re flying with an airline that doesn’t have a refund offer in place at the moment, Nguyen reminded travelers that they’re entitled by law to a refund if their flight is significantly delayed. “If they try to give you an e-credit or a travel credit toward future use, you can say, ‘No, thank you. Please give me my money,’” she said. If You Can't or Don't Want to Change Travel Plans This Weekend, What Should You Do? Sometimes travelers simply don’t have the option to reschedule plans. If you’re in that scenario in the coming days, Nguyen recommends taking the following steps. Download Your Airline's App Before Heading to the Airport “That is your portal to customer service. That tells you what’s going on with your boarding time,” Nguyen said. Download the MyTSA App to See Airport Wait Times “Earlier this week, there were reports people were waiting for five hours in the TSA line in the Houston airport,” Nguyen said. The MyTSA app can help you get a lead on wait times. Get to the Airport As Early As You Can Nguyen suggests arriving at the airport 30-60 minutes earlier than normal to get ahead of any delays with the boarding process. Have a Plan B for Transportation If all else fails, Nguyen suggests pivoting if your flight is impacted or if air travel proves to be too complicated. “Maybe there is a train or you could rent a car. Hertz is saying they’ve seen one-way car rentals spike by 20% just for this weekend,” she said. How Can I Know If My Flight Will Likely Be Canceled? Forty of the busiest airports in the country will be impacted by flight cancelations, the FAA said this week. This includes New York City’s three airports, LAX and SFO in California and Chicago O’Hare. Together, these 40 airports account for 70% of flights coming in or out of the U.S., per Going.com. 1 Way to Tell if Your Flight Could Be Canceled “The long haul flights and the international flights — American, Delta, United say they’re trying not to impact those at all,” Nguyen said. “Domestic is where it gets a little sticky.” Since it’s still unclear which domestic flight routes will be affected, Nguyen shared the following tip:
