If you’re one of the estimated 82 million Americans traveling domestically this week, you’re in luck. So far, according to USA Today, flight cancellations have been low this week, despite general fears that the recent government shutdown will create a travel crisis. This comes just weeks after US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered a 10 percent reduction in flights at 40 US airports due to the longest government shutdown in US history. Reuters reported at the time that thousands of air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration agents went off the job without pay for more than a month. But thankfully, after 43 long days, the shutdown ended in time for Thanksgiving travel.
But government shutdowns aren’t the only thing that could put a halt to your holiday travel. The FAA expects this to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel week in 15 years, and specific weather and mechanical problems are sure to arise, especially with winter storms moving into the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region – sorry, Chicago travelers.
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How to check your flight status online
This is something that you must do before leaving for the airport. There’s nothing worse than zipping up your suitcase, turning down your house, making the trek to the airport and finding your way through security and getting to your gate and discovering that you could have been in pajamas the whole time. Always check the airport’s website or your airline’s website before going to the airport.
We also recommend downloading your airline’s app, which makes it easy to check for updates quickly. Finally, to check for a specific flight or route, you can use sites like Flight Aware and Flight Tracker. If the plane you’re flying to Wichita is delayed en route to Atlanta, these tools can help you estimate potential delays.
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Thanksgiving flight cancellation trends so far
Overall, flight cancellations are at a low level this year, but that could change rapidly, according to a CNN report.
Flight Tracker has a tool called Misery Map, which shows which airports are experiencing the most delays and cancellations. As of Wednesday, November 26, Chicago O’Hare International Airport has more problems than any other airport, according to Flight Tracker. The airports with the most delays and cancellations so far include:
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Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
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Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
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Los Angeles (LAX)
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Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP)
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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
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Denver (DEN)
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La Guardia New York City (LGA)
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Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
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George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston (IAH)
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Boston Logan (BOS)
So, your flight was cancelled. what now?
If your flight is canceled, congratulations: You now have a perfect complaint for Thanksgiving dinner. When you say something like, “Traveling during the holidays, am I right?” So everyone will agree with you.
Now you have to get to work. If you’re still at home and you find out that your flight is cancelled, visit the airport’s website or your airline’s website. Check if you are owed a refund or other type of compensation. Luckily, the US Department of Transportation has a dashboard that shows you how much airlines owe you in the event of a cancellation. To make sure you get everything you’re entitled to, check out DOT’s Airline Cancellations and Delays dashboard.
Next, you need to figure out your next step. Can you take a train to your destination, or rent a car? Is there another airline you can switch to? Or are you going to get your refund, go back home, and order dinner instead of a ride? Move quickly in situations like this, as rental cars and other flights can fill up quickly.
As always, no matter what travel issues you have this holiday season, be nice to the airline employees trying to fly you across the country. And you might want to get to the airport a little earlier than usual to skip the inevitable lines.
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