FREAKING OUT!!! About air travel in a few days

[Lorilais_mommie]

So I just saw a good morning America that air travel is having LONG delays and many many cancelation...

Airports do not know when or where air traffic controllers are going to be furload(spelling?)
They find out the day of?!?! And then send people home..

So we leave In a few days, and now I'm freaking out!!!!
We are traveling with our DD(6) and DD(18mo.)

Had anyone been having problems??

We have a 7am flight, so I hope we can get out before it gets to bad...

 

[goofy4tink]

Not all airports are going to be horribly affected. Where are you flying out of? I fly out of Boston's Logan in a month....I'm not terribly concerned. If I have to wait, I have to wait.

 

[Carriemel]

I believe that Air Traffic Controllers must be given a 30 day advance notice of any furlough. There really haven't been many delays yet due to the furloughing. You can look at some websites that show delays like:

http://www.flightaware.com and http://www.flightstats.com

Both of those websites will show you any current delays on flights. This might be something that you'd want to keep an eye on the day before and the day of travel.

But really, you shouldn't have any problems with major delays. A 7am flight is relatively early so your flight wouldn't have much of a chance to be backed up like later flights might be.

 

[smitch425]

With a 7am flight, you should be just fine. Delays are not the end of the world. Just be glad you aren't financially impacted. We are losing $1400 a month. Have a great trip!

 

[LadyBeBop]

Yes, some Feds are getting hit very hard. I'm probably going to lose five days pay, so that's about $1,100 before taxes over the six month period until October. Not as bad as $1,400/month though.

I'm not an ATC, but my eldest DD is. She had her first furlough day yesterday.

There wil be problems, especially in the larger airports. However, since you're flying out early in the morning, you should not have any major delays. Are you flying non-stop, or will you have a layover?

And what about your flight home?

Would be nice to know where you're flying out of.

 

[Christen99]

Yes, some Feds are getting hit very hard. I'm probably going to lose five days pay, so that's about $1,100 before taxes over the six month period until October. Not as bad as $1,400/month though.

I'm not an ATC, but my eldest DD is. She had her first furlough day yesterday.

There wil be problems, especially in the larger airports. However, since you're flying out early in the morning, you should not have any major delays. Are you flying non-stop, or will you have a layover?

And what about your flight home?

Would be nice to know where you're flying out of.

I'm thinking our red eye with a connection in Charleston leaving out of SFO with two special needs kids will be a LOT of fun lol. Hopefully uneventful and a little boring.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I'm thinking our red eye with a connection in Charleston leaving out of SFO with two special needs kids will be a LOT of fun lol. Hopefully uneventful and a little boring.

I hope it is too, however it could get fun.

How soon is your trip? And what time does your redeye leave SFO? And arrive in Charleston. And what time does your flight to Orlando leave Charleston? And what airline?

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

Not all airports are going to be horribly affected. Where are you flying out of? I fly out of Boston's Logan in a month....I'm not terribly concerned. If I have to wait, I have to wait.

We are flying out of Boston as well... Its a non stop... I had heard the airport security is bad right now.. So we a planning to leave early..

But I hope we don't end up sitting there for hours..

We just have ressie for chef mickeys at 5pm
But need at least an hour to run by MK to pick up our APs and Tiw card..

 

[erinscreen]

I just got back from a business trip yesterday, and I encountered only problem--a short delay at O'Hare. There was also some picketing going on in Charlotte, but it did not affect me at all. I don't think you have any reason to freak out--you may encounter some slightly longer than normal delays, but I wouldn't change plans or anything--just relax, you are about to be at Disney!

 

[debjk4]

Maybe no more need to worry?? Just got a news update on my phone that the Senate passed legislation to end air traffic control furloughs! Hope that is correct news!

 

[mikehn]

I just got back from a business trip yesterday, and I encountered only problem--a short delay at O'Hare. There was also some picketing going on in Charlotte, but it did not affect me at all. I don't think you have any reason to freak out--you may encounter some slightly longer than normal delays, but I wouldn't change plans or anything--just relax, you are about to be at Disney!

Yup, no need to "freak out". I'd rather be delayed at an airport waiting for a flight to Disney world than be sitting in my office working.

 

[Ofinn]

Maybe no more need to worry?? Just got a news update on my phone that the Senate passed legislation to end air traffic control furloughs! Hope that is correct news!

I'm glad to hear this. I have never understood cutting hours of hard working people that pay taxes and contribute to society..... um so we can what spend more money on all the entitlement programs for the people that suck the life out of the economy. I'll get off my soap box now.

 

[ibob52]

Maybe no more need to worry?? Just got a news update on my phone that the Senate passed legislation to end air traffic control furloughs! Hope that is correct news!

Passed by Senate ... Next stop / vote ... House of Representatives

 

[Christen99]

I hope it is too, however it could get fun.

How soon is your trip? And what time does your redeye leave SFO? And arrive in Charleston. And what time does your flight to Orlando leave Charleston? And what airline?

It leaves at 10:15 PM and arrives at 6 AM in Charlotte, and we have a connection around 8 in Charlotte on US Airways. What could possibly go wrong :

All that matters is we all arrive safely at our end destination. Everything else is an adventure.

 

[Minnesota!]

It leaves at 10:15 PM and arrives at 6 AM in Charlotte, and we have a connection around 8 in Charlotte on US Airways. What could possibly go wrong :

All that matters is we all arrive safely at our end destination. Everything else is an adventure.

I absolutely LOVE this attitude! We need more people like you!!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

There's nothing you can do and "freaking" out will only upset you and the kids. Hate to say this, but you are just going to have to "roll with it" Arrive at the airport early and pack your patience.
Of course you could remember WHY we are in this mess next November when you go vote! (I WILL!)

Even this "we have to do something vote because OUR vacations are going to be messed up" is going to take a couple of days to work through so if you are flying this weekend just be prepared.

 

[Greysword]

Looks like the House passed the bill, as well.

http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-calls-effort-end-airport-delays-good-140534158.html

I guess the bill is H.R. 1765 (in case you want to look it up)

Executive Summary:
H.R. 1765 allows the Secretary of Transportation to transfer $253 million from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program account to the FAA’s Operations account. The transfer authority is necessary to prevent reduced operations and staffing at the FAA during the remainder of fiscal year 2013 and will ensure a safe and effective transportation system. The bill requires the Secretary to notify the House and Senate appropriations Committee prior to the transfer.


Here is a link to the vote count (if interested):
http://www.gop.gov/votes/113/1/125

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

OP, you can Google it unless you saw the news today already, but the FAA announced all furloughs are now canceled thanks to the action of Congress, and air travel will be back to normal early this week