Mass flight cancellations began Friday after the Federal Aviation Administration required capacity reductions at 40 major U.S. airports amid controller staffing shortfalls tied to the government shutdown. The FAA ordered 6% cutbacks at those hubs starting Tuesday and 10% by Friday, with disruptions growing as facilities strain. Many affected airlines have issued waivers, travel advisories or refund policies to give customers more flexibility.
American Airlines
– Aiming to keep long‑haul international and hub‑to‑hub flights operating to preserve connectivity for crews and aircraft.
– Says it will proactively contact customers whose flights are canceled.
– Customers whose flights are canceled or who choose not to travel can change flights or request a refund without penalty.
– Issued a travel advisory for 21 airports; eligible customers can rebook through Nov. 17.
– Expected to cancel roughly 200 flights on the FAA’s 6% cutback day.
Delta Air Lines
– Hardest hit by staffing issues at Atlanta; canceled hundreds of extra flights during severe backups.
– Extended a travel advisory covering all 40 affected airports.
– Travelers booked Nov. 7–14 can rebook on flights through Nov. 21 without paying a fare difference; later rebookings may incur fare changes.
– Customers may cancel and request refunds (even if a flight is not canceled); refunds are automatic if a flight is canceled or significantly delayed.
– Includes penalty‑free cancellations and changes for basic economy in advisory window.
United Airlines
– Issued a travel waiver covering flights Nov. 6–13 out of specified airports (including CLE, DEN, EWR, GUM, HKG, IAD, IAH, LAX, ORD, SFO).
– Affected customers may rebook on flights departing seven days before to seven days after their originally scheduled travel.
– Customers can cancel and receive a full refund; those who booked before Nov. 4 can cancel and get refunds even if their flight is not canceled.
– Plans to avoid canceling long‑haul international and hub‑to‑hub flights.
– Publishes cancellations online (updated regularly).
Southwest Airlines
– Will automatically rebook most customers whose flights are canceled; customers can also self‑rebook or request refunds.
– Passengers with trips Nov. 7–13 may rebook or travel standby within the same city pair without a fare difference.
– Customers can cancel trips Nov. 7–13 and get refunds even if flights aren’t affected (cancellations must be made at least 10 minutes before departure).
– Winter weather in the Midwest has compounded operational challenges at Midway, a major Southwest base.
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines (Alaska Air Group)
– Issued a flexible travel waiver for trips booked Nov. 7–14; passengers can fly anytime through Nov. 21 without a fare difference.
– Will not cancel international service or critical routes to remote communities (Alaska and neighbor‑island service protected).
– Plans to reduce frequency on routes with multiple daily departures rather than eliminating essential service.
JetBlue
– Issued a travel advisory covering about 20 cities, including JFK, BOS and FLL.
– Travelers with flights through Nov. 14 can rebook without change fees or fare differences through Nov. 20.
– If a flight is canceled and you choose not to travel, you can request a refund per DOT rules.
– Option to take a travel credit plus 2,000 TrueBlue points instead of a cash refund (best for frequent JetBlue flyers likely to use the credit).
Frontier Airlines
– Launched a flexible policy waiving all change and cancellation fees for flights through Nov. 12, provided origin and destination stay the same.
– Fare differences apply if the new itinerary costs more; no travel credit if the new itinerary is cheaper.
– If the flight isn’t affected by FAA restrictions, cancellations typically yield travel credit rather than a full refund unless the flight is canceled or significantly delayed.
– CEO advised passengers who must be somewhere to consider booking a backup ticket on another carrier.
– Low‑frequency routes may mean long waits for alternate flights even when rebooked.
Spirit Airlines
– As of the latest update, no active travel waiver posted; the carrier is monitoring the situation and will work with customers to minimize impacts.
Who pays if you get stranded?
– DOT requires airlines to issue full refunds for canceled flights; they are not required to cover secondary costs (hotels, meals, taxis) when disruptions are not the airline’s fault.
– Many airline waivers offer free rebooking or refunds, but out‑of‑pocket expenses for unexpected overnight stays are typically not reimbursed by carriers.
– Credit card travel insurance may not cover shutdown‑related disruptions as a “covered reason” on some plans; check your card benefits. Independent travel insurance policies often provide broader delay and cancellation coverage — read terms carefully.
Important notes and what to do
– These waivers and advisories are changing rapidly. Monitor airline communications and airport notices frequently.
– If your flight is canceled, you are entitled to a refund if you choose not to travel.
– Consider rebooking early, keeping backups in mind, and checking airline and DOT policies for refunds and options.
The 40 airports most affected by the FAA’s flight cuts
– ANC (Anchorage); ATL (Atlanta); BOS (Boston); BWI (Baltimore/Washington); CLT (Charlotte); CVG (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky); DAL (Dallas Love Field); DCA (Reagan National); DEN (Denver); DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth); DTW (Detroit); EWR (Newark); FLL (Fort Lauderdale); HNL (Honolulu); HOU (William P. Hobby); IAD (Dulles); IAH (George Bush Intercontinental); IND (Indianapolis); JFK (New York JFK); LAS (Harry Reid/Las Vegas); LAX (Los Angeles); LGA (LaGuardia); MCO (Orlando); MDW (Chicago Midway); MEM (Memphis); MIA (Miami); MSP (Minneapolis–St. Paul); OAK (Oakland); ONT (Ontario); ORD (Chicago O’Hare); PDX (Portland); PHL (Philadelphia); PHX (Phoenix); SAN (San Diego); SDF (Louisville Muhammad Ali); SEA (Seattle–Tacoma); SFO (San Francisco); SLC (Salt Lake City); TEB (Teterboro); TPA (Tampa).
Keep checking your airline’s website and email/text alerts for the latest waivers, rebooking windows and refund instructions.
