Might be cancelling—government shutdown

[quandrea]

We are booked for Princess Marathon weekend. With the Government shutdown ongoing I’m starting to have less confidence in air travel safety. The news today is not encouraging. President of the Flight Attendant Association says air travel is becoming unsafe as TSA workers and Air traffic controllers are overtaxed. No vacation is worth the risk, but I’m really bummed. The points would already go into holding, so I’ll ride it out a bit. Plane tickets will go down the drain. Anyone else considering cancelling?

 

[suebeelin]

No... I just figure it’s like driving. There’s always a risk but unlikely

 

[Maistre Gracey]

It’s a hoax. There is zero point zero diminished safety. It is possible there may be some delays, but no compromise in safety.

Edited to explain...

There are two major entities affected, Air Traffic Control (ATC) and TSA.
Granted, neither wants to work without a paycheck, but ATC still isn’t going to vector (turn) two airplanes so they will collide. It IS possible that some may call sick which would reduce the volume of traffic that can be handled.
TSA, unlike ATC which is truly a well paid career job, works on a different level. They do not make the money to handle multiple missed paychecks (although they will get paid eventually).
They may call in sick or resign in record numbers which may slow things down. But, I HIGHLY doubt any working TSA professional will purposely let a gun go through the checkpoint.
Again, it may slow it down, but in my opinion will not compromise safety.

Source: Professional Airline Captain

Open for questions...

 

[bumbershoot]

IMO it’s posturing like some of the nonsense said during strikes.

No I’m not cancelling.

 

[verleniahall]

They are not going to put your safety at risk

 

[Tiki_Sara]

I understand your concerns but it’s a month away, anything could happen between now and then. Imagine how cross you’d feel if you cancelled now and then everything was resolved next week.

There may be delays at security and with take off but at no point would your safety be compromised.

 

[cmoliver5]

FWIW, I work in the industry as do several other members of my extended family (2 cousins are ATC controllers in fact), and while I cannot image the strain this must be putting on the people and families effected, I have every confidence in our safety. I flew last week in and out of both midsize and major airports and experienced nothing but professionalism and thoroughness.

 

[Ben E N]

FWIW, I work in the industry as do several other members of my extended family (2 cousins are ATC controllers in fact), and while I cannot image the strain this must be putting on the people and families effected, I have every confidence in our safety. I flew last week in and out of both midsize and major airports and experienced nothing but professionalism and thoroughness.

Those workers have moved from villians (not really, but hassles) to heroes in my mind. It's about the only good thing this shutdown has done I'm my opinion.

 

[AnnaS]

I would not be cancelling.......

 

[quandrea]

I understand your concerns but it’s a month away, anything could happen between now and then. Imagine how cross you’d feel if you cancelled now and then everything was resolved next week.

There may be delays at security and with take off but at no point would your safety be compromised.

I agree. I will be waiting until the last possible moment to cancel. I’m hoping for a resolution. Perhaps given that I’m Canadian, the whole thing spooks me a bit more. Very well reasoned responses. Thanks to all.

 

[bobbiwoz]

It’s a hoax. There is zero point zero diminished safety. It is possible there may be some delays, but no compromise in safety.

Edited to explain...

There are two major entities affected, Air Traffic Control (ATC) and TSA.
Granted, neither wants to work without a paycheck, but ATC still isn’t going to vector (turn) two airplanes so they will collide. It IS possible that some may call sick which would reduce the volume of traffic that can be handled.
TSA, unlike ATC which is truly a well paid career job, works on a different level. They do not make the money to handle multiple missed paychecks (although they will get paid eventually).
They may call in sick or resign in record numbers which may slow things down. But, I HIGHLY doubt any working TSA professional will purposely let a gun go through the checkpoint.
Again, it may slow it down, but in my opinion will not compromise safety.

Source: Professional Airline Captain

Open for questions...

Thank you for chiming in!

 

[Toolulu22]

We’re flying in three weeks. I’m not worried about safety as much as delays. I have Precheck, my DH does not. We’re planned extra time to go through the security line. We’re mostly hoping the larger issue is resolved before then....

 

[bobbiwoz]

We are not canceling...looking forward to Festival of the Arts and MM at MK.

 

[Allison]

Not even a thought in my mind to cancel.

 

[Breezy2]

Don't cancel. If a TSA worker is at the airport they are dedicated and doing their job. Safety is not an issue. You may experience some delays if they are short staffed so build in extra time. Then, when you do interact with them, please thank them for their dedication and sacrifice in these uncertain times. No worries-enjoy your trip!

 

[Henwen88]

Just flew out of MCO Wednesday. Regular TSA line was 10-15 minutes, and Pre-check was walk-on. Everyone was professional and seemed to be business as usual.

I would not cancel. And I don't even like to fly on a good day

 

[Tiki_Sara]

I agree. I will be waiting until the last possible moment to cancel. I’m hoping for a resolution. Perhaps given that I’m Canadian, the whole thing spooks me a bit more. Very well reasoned responses. Thanks to all.

I’m a Brit living in Jersey, so it’s all a bit disconcerting here too. We travel on Thursday, never thought of cancelling, just allowing extra time for the security.

 

[n2mm]

We leave in a week. We are prepared to drive if we have to, but right now we are booked on JetBlue out of DCA/Reagan.

 

[aoconnor]

In the news this morning that the FAA is halting flights from Laguardia in NYC due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. What a mess! I'm supposed to fly out of LGA in two weeks for a cruise... hoping it's over by then.

 

[DLgal]

If there is TRULY a safety risk, the airlines will collectively decide to ground flights until the risk is mitigated. They have an obligation to their employees, customers, and board members to NOT lose the airline money as the result of an avoidable accident.

I kind of hope they go this route, to be honest. After a day or so of grounding ALL air travel within the US, you will see the government reopen so fast your head will spin.