Tips for navigating reduced flight schedules at metropolitan airports

Travel experts spoke to Newsday about some tips for traveling in the coming days and weeks after the Federal Aviation Administration said it would impose a 10% reduction in flights at major airports across the country, beginning Friday.

The reduction, which could amount to 1,800 canceled flights each day by one estimate, were announced in response to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, who recently missed a second paycheck amid the federal government shutdown. Most controllers are working mandatory overtime, six days a week during the shutdown, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association has said.

Which airports are affected, and how long will this last?

The FAA has announced 10% reductions at 40 major airports in over two dozen states, including Kennedy, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty and Teterboro in the metropolitan area. Long Island MacArthur Airport is not on the list, but flights there could be affected if they come from or go to the listed airports, including Boston Logan, Baltimore/Washington, Miami, Tampa and Orlando, Florida.

Like the government shutdown itself, it remains unclear how long the restrictions will be in place.

Rebecca Alesia, a luxury travel adviser with Wanderology, based in Locust Valley, said flight travel is relatively slow now compared with the summer or winter holidays.

"It will be interesting, to say the least, to see what will happen if this continues into Thanksgiving," she said.

Are certain types of flights more likely to be canceled?

Chicago-based United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in a statement the company’s "long-haul international flying and our hub-to-hub flying will not be impacted ... Instead, we will focus our schedule reductions on regional flying and domestic mainline flights that do not travel between our hubs."

It’s possible, Alesia said, other airlines will focus on maintaining their flights in and out of their major hubs, though much remains unclear.

"I think economics is going to be the driver" in deciding which flights are canceled, she said. "If you have a flight that's only 60% full ... that's probably going to be [canceled before] a flight that's at 100% capacity."

Tori Tomasheski, co-founder of ET Family Travel, in Garden City, said travelers may want to avoid booking trips with layovers to reduce risk of cancellation.

"If you are delayed at airport one, they're not waiting for you at airport two," she said.

Are airlines offering refunds?

Yes, but their policies differ — so it’s important to check the details of your ticket.

For example, United, American, and Frontier Airlines announced all customers will have more flexibility to cancel or change their flights while the restrictions are in place. Southwest, on the other hand, said Thursday customers could rebook or get a refund only if their flight was canceled. Delta said it was offering extra flexibility for travelers going to, from or through the affected airports.

Will this drive up airfare prices?

Airfares are likely to rise as fewer seats become available and as some people take advantage of the flexible policies to buy backup tickets, Tomasheski said.

Before the government shutdown in September, average airline fares were up 3.2% compared with a year earlier, but down 0.9% compared with 2019, according to the U.S. Travel Association, which tracks inflation in travel prices.

Should I book a backup flight?

Given some airlines’ flexible cancellation policies, some have suggested booking backup tickets.

"It's not a terrible idea, but it depends how much money you want to lay out," said Ellen Volpe, Tomasheski’s business partner. "It depends how much you want to get there [on time]. If you're taking your cruise, the urgency to make sure you're arriving at your destination is paramount."

On the other hand, travelers may depart a day earlier than they need to arrive on time, she added.

If purchasing a backup ticket, it’s important to check the refund policies ahead of time, Alesia said.

What are other tips for traveling during this period?

Travelers should consider purchasing travel insurance and making bookings directly through their airlines or professional travel agents, who are more accessible in case anything goes awry, Alesia and Tomasheski both said.

It’s also worth downloading your airlines’ app onto your phone for flight alerts and easier communication with customer service, Tomasheski said.

Some travelers may want to consider other options, such as the train or driving, where possible.

"I think we're going to see a big increase in train travel this holiday season," Tomasheski said.

In any case, she said, "Pack your patience."

With AP