My flight got canceled because of the shutdown — here's what I did to avoid getting stranded
Airlines have started canceling flights for the coming days as the Federal Aviation Administration has mandated a 10% reduction in flights operated in the U.S. due to what is now the longest-ever government shutdown and the resulting staffing challenges. In fact, there are already over 800 flights canceled today, several times the normal number.
As luck would have it, my Sunday flight from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) operated by United Airlines was one of the thousands of flights that have been proactively canceled due to the FAA mandate.
Here's how I was notified of that cancellation and what I did to try and still make it to my intended destination.
Being proactive is key to trying to get rebooked if your flight is canceled
I've opted into communications from United, so I was notified via text message about this change three days before my planned travel. It's possible the carrier also emailed, but the email (assuming there was one) likely went to the agency that booked my flight, as I'm attending a media event in Florida.
The notice I received via text indicated that my flight was canceled and that the airline was trying to rebook us and would notify me if they could find a new flight.
However, I was not going to just wait for another option to maybe be found for me — and I don't recommend you do that either if you really want to get where you are going.
So, I logged into my United account immediately after receiving the cancellation notification and searched for other flight options on the same day, as I knew there would likely be at least one plane full of people now trying to do the same thing. Thankfully, there were some other options available, and I was able to select another flight online within about three minutes of getting notified of the cancellation at no additional charge. United has noted that about 50% of travelers affected so far have been able to get a different flight within four hours of the original one ... but that also means that 50% haven't been as lucky.
If I had wanted to get a refund, I would've also been able to do that. In fact, United is currently offering a refund to anyone who requests one and chooses not to fly from Nov. 6 to 13.
Most airlines are doing these rolling cancellations within a few days of departure, so keep a very close eye on your reservations, opt into all notifications and then act quickly if your flight is canceled to increase the odds of making it to where you want to go.
Here are some additional tips if you have plans to travel during the government shutdown: