You can’t control whether your flight gets cancelled, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared. Travelers arrive at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground delay citing staffing shortages in Southern California’s airspace, causing flight delays at LAX. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Time).
On Thursday, the Trump Administration announced that 40 major airports, including those in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Washington, D.C., New York, and Chicago, will face restrictions in order to reduce flights in the U.S. by 10 percent, beginning Friday. The reductions are meant to alleviate the strain on air traffic controllers who are currently working without pay due to the federal government shutdown. That may not seem like a lot, but the U.S. handles roughly 45,000 flights per day, according to the FAA. Cancelling more than 4,000 flights on a day’s notice is a big deal that will have a real impact on travelers. Thankfully, there are ways you can prepare for the increased likelihood of disruptions while the reductions remain in effect. Here are five things you should do right now:
1. Download the airline’s app
I know this seems obvious, but if you bought your ticket on a website or through a travel agent, you should download the airline’s app and add your reservation. This way, you can receive push notifications about changes to your travel plans. Most airlines will allow you to add your reservations regardless of where you made them, using just your record locator and name, but it’s a good idea to create an account if you don’t already have one.
In addition to notifying you of disruptions, most airlines will allow you to make changes from within their app. If your flight is cancelled, you can view options for rebooking and often avoid having to call altogether.
2. Get Flighty
Another app you should absolutely download is Flighty, which is—without question—the single best travel app I’ve ever used. I know that sounds like hyperbole, but it’s not a joke. On the surface, Flighty is basically a way to track your flights, but its superpower is that it does it better than the airlines themselves.
I’m not kidding when I say that I’ve been standing at a gate, waiting to board, when I get a notification from Flighty that my flight has been delayed or cancelled long before the airline updates that information. In fact, I’ve walked up to more than one gate agent after this happened to ask about a flight, and they have no idea there’s a problem. Of course, a few minutes later, the gate display shows what Flighty already told me—that this flight isn’t going anywhere.
Flighty is a paid app, but you can subscribe for a week at a time, which is great for someone who doesn’t fly a lot and only wants to pay while they’re traveling.
3. Check for waivers
To proactively deal with the inevitable cancellations, airlines will issue waivers that let travelers make changes to their reservation without paying a penalty. That means you can pick a different flight, as long as your departure and destination are the same. Airlines post these on their website, and in many cases, will send you an email letting you know you may have a flight that is affected.
Delta, for example, has issued a waiver that will let you make the change with no fee, and it will waive the difference in fare, as long as you rebook your travel before a certain date. Currently, that’s November 16, though I imagine that will change if the shutdown continues.
4. Arrive early
If you are traveling as planned this weekend, the last thing I recommend is to show up a little earlier than you might otherwise. Even though it seems strange to show up early for flights that might be cancelled or delayed, the reality is that time is your friend. If your flight is disrupted, there’s always a chance that the best alternative option is an earlier flight. If you’re already at the airport, it’s a lot easier to switch.
In addition to shortages in air traffic controllers, the TSA is facing its own staffing issues as its employees are also working without pay during the shutdown. There’s a good possibility of longer lines as checkpoints deal with reduced staffing.
5. Be patient
The reality is that there’s nothing an airline would rather do less than cancel a flight. As frustrating as that is for you, cancelled flights are an even bigger logistical headache for the airlines. Thousands of passengers will be affected this weekend, and that means airline employees will be dealing with thousands of frustrated people.
It’s worth remembering that none of the people you’re interacting with at the airport or on airplanes have anything to do with whatever delays or disruptions you might face. A little patience and grace won’t get you where you’re going any faster, but they will go a long way toward making the whole experience a little less miserable for everyone.
Credit to: INC
