Government shutdown - flights?

[MAYNARDS99]

It's an 8.5-hour drive down for us. Made a backup cancellable rental car reservation.

 

[AussieFan8]

I know there are bigger problems in the world - my brother is one of the furloughed federal employees - but this is stressful. It's a 19 hour drive for us and I don't think I'm willing to make that drive. We are scheduled on the last flight out from Orlando, and I'm tempted to change it because it seems the most likely to get canceled, except I'm not sure that I can assume that. More stressful is that my daughter and I are scheduled separately on one way flights both ways, making any cancellations/changes more challenging. If we were on separate flights but it was normal times, I'd be fine with it. But the increased likelihood right now that we could get moved to separate flights and that one flight might be canceled and one not is problematic. We fly in two weeks so I'm going to watch how things transpire for at least the next few days before making a decision.

 

[SaintsManiac-vol.2]

I know there are bigger problems in the world - my brother is one of the furloughed federal employees - but this is stressful. It's a 19 hour drive for us and I don't think I'm willing to make that drive. We are scheduled on the last flight out from Orlando, and I'm tempted to change it because it seems the most likely to get canceled, except I'm not sure that I can assume that. More stressful is that my daughter and I are scheduled separately on one way flights both ways, making any cancellations/changes more challenging. If we were on separate flights but it was normal times, I'd be fine with it. But the increased likelihood right now that we could get moved to separate flights and that one flight might be canceled and one not is problematic. We fly in two weeks so I'm going to watch how things transpire for at least the next few days before making a decision.

And those bigger problems can be discussed elsewhere. Worrying about our flights is what this thread is for. I am really hoping this is over in the coming week! Driving is not an option for me, so I get it. I'd rather cancel the whole thing than do that!

 

[gottalovepluto]

UA appears to be handling things best disclosure wise. They have even published a list of all FAA cancellations here.

 

[gottalovepluto]

DL got wrecked by the weather+staffing at ATL yesterday. They’re obviously still trying to recover so could be another rough day for them. If you’re routing via ATL soon and have another option might want to consider it. As far as time of day people seem concerned about later flights but at least with DL morning cancellations are currently much more common.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Our SW flight was delayed 1 1/2 hours today. I’m grateful it wasn’t cancelled.

I wanted to add we’re flying home Tuesday night and I’m not very optimistic. I hope I make it to work Wednesday.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

It's an 8.5-hour drive down for us. Made a backup cancellable rental car reservation.

Our back-up plan is to drive. It is 16 hours for us. We will take our own vehicle. Not happy about paying for a hotel going and coming, but that may be the only option.

 

[DCLMP]

It sounds like they may have reached a deal. Maybe doom off for a couple of months.

 

[gottalovepluto]

It sounds like they may have reached a deal. Maybe doom off for a couple of months.

Guess they didn’t care to see our reactions to wrecked holidays…

 

[DCLMP]

Guess they didn’t care to see our reactions to wrecked holidays…

That..plus a multitude of other reactions. It made me realize I better buy the cancel for any reason insurance for my European cruise next Summer. I normally just buy medical when I cruise, but we are not living in normal times.

 

[2vets]

Hopefully they can unwind this mess in 2 weeks, and importantly, pay those workers.

Just reporting in that DH and I flew to MCO yesterday on separate airlines, we left early and both had a connection. We have an event/conference here, and I have a 4-day solo trip tacked on - without the event, I might have delayed this visit. We live on the west coast, so driving isn’t an option. Our home airport had some fog, not enough to close the airport but enough that there were delays, made worse by staffing issues at home and connecting airports. And then MCO had scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon that, combined with staffing issues, led to multi-hour delays in and out. We both got here, but both of us had to sprint to our connections (my bag was the first off at baggage claim, so I was lucky!!) and had a variety of tarmac sitting/back to gate issues. I got in several hours late.

I guess we’ll see what happens with the current deal. We got here, so that’s great, but I’m likely to delay further air travel until this is over. Yesterday really demonstrated that relatively minor and common weather issues will put major strain on the system when staffing is low.

 

[EACarlson]

For those with TSA concerns it’s worth knowing if your airports contracted TSA out. Was reading SFO is having all the ATC delays but TSA is humming along as they’re contractors.

That's really only SFO, MCI and SFB. The only others aren't even worth mentioning as one TSA officer could screen everyone.

 

[hardcorestitch]

The shutdown is seemingly over… it looks like a tentative deal has been reached! After over 40 days…

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/government-shutdown-latest-senate-weekend-session/

 

[DCLMP]

The shutdown is seemingly over… it looks like a tentative deal has been reached! After over 40 days…

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/government-shutdown-latest-senate-weekend-session/

I believe the house votes on Wednesday. Maybe by next week or the following week flights will be back to "normal". We can go back to worrying about the weather screwing up our travel.

 

[Amyshubby]

It's obviously going to take a few days for any agreement to pass, but hopefully many of the air traffic controllers who were calling in sick because they took other temporary work will quickly return knowing they will get paid.

 

[eandt]

It's obviously going to take a few days for any agreement to pass, but hopefully many of the air traffic controllers who were calling in sick because they took other temporary work will quickly return knowing they will get paid.

I would doubt few if any ‘took temporary work’ …they knew what they were doing by calling off. I was subject to government shutdowns and the resulting missed paychecks numerous times in my career but my coworkers all came to work unpaid everyday because it was the right thing to do to honor our oath … every one of these folks even the call off crew will get paid every penny owed to them and they knew that from the start. Many Banks and businesses also offer extremely low or no interest loans and credit, again knowing they will eventually be repaid as well. Instead of waiting for the shutdowns and then ‘protesting’ they should be electing representatives willing to actually work toward an actual budget which we haven’t had in more than a decade no matter which party had control instead of these 90 day CR’s that allow them to hold the country hostage 4-5 times a year. Honestly that is really their only job.

 

[Choirmom]

Even if they reach the 10% cancellation being threatened, that’s still 90% of flights that will fly, so more than likely you’ll be fine.
In your favor, Alaskan flies 3 non stops to MCO from Seattle most days & Delta flies two. I don’t know which one you’re on, but if it’s the early morning one you have a chance to get on one of the other two if your flight is cancelled.
Also, assuming you have a non stop you don’t have to worry about making it to a connecting airport on time to catch your next leg or if that second leg will be cancelled.
Keep an eye on what’s happening w/ SEA - MCO flights in the days leading up to your flight & be ready to pivot. Keep a close eye on your flight & know what other flights will get you where you want to go - so that if your flight cancels you’re ready to jump on your back up flight & reschedule before everyone else on your canceled flight grabs the remaining seats on the next flight, personally if my flight canceled early enough I’d try to move to the red eye the night before.

Thank you for the response and tips. We are supposed to fly out on the 8:00 am flight on Saturday (nonstop to MCO). Not sure if there is a red eye the night before (this would be my preference if my daughter could make it).

 

[sndral]

Thank you for the response and tips. We are supposed to fly out on the 8:00 am flight on Saturday (nonstop to MCO). Not sure if there is a red eye the night before (this would be my preference if my daughter could make it).

You’re welcome, I fly out of a small regional airport on the west coast & connect through some hubs often impacted by weather, so I’ve had to learn the art of forced pivoting .
The Alaskan red eye to Orlando from Seattle is AS 394 - it leaves at 11:10 pm & flies 5 nights a week (doesn’t fly Tues. & Wed..)