U.S. shutdown travel: rebooking, savings and safety tips now

The U.S. shutdown travel landscape has shifted rapidly in early November 2025, and passengers should assume disruptions may continue. Federal actions by the FAA, cascading airline responses and strained airport services mean many itineraries are at elevated risk of delay or cancellation , particularly in the two weeks before Thanksgiving, when Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned travelers that « it’s only going to get worse » and to expect cuts that could sharply reduce air capacity.

This article collects what to expect, how regulators and carriers are responding, and concrete steps to rebook, save money and stay safe. Read the quick checklist and section-by-section guidance below, and monitor FAA, DOT, TSA and your carrier’s alerts in real time.

What’s happening now: FAA reductions and staffing strain

In response to staffing shortfalls and rising operational risk, the FAA ordered phased flight reductions at 40 major U.S. airports: a 4% cut starting Nov. 7, increasing to 6% on Nov. 11, 8% on Nov. 13 and 10% by Nov. 14 if the shutdown continued. Transportation officials framed the stepped approach as a safety measure, with the possibility of further reductions if staffing doesn’t improve.

The scale of unpaid workers has been a serious factor. Roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and tens of thousands of TSA screeners have been working without pay during the shutdown, contributing to absenteeism and operational stress cited by regulators. Those staffing gaps have been linked directly to both the FAA decisions and airport disruptions.

Flight-tracking snapshots in early November showed thousands of daily delays and cancellations once the FAA reductions began: for example, one Friday recorded roughly 3,800+ delays and about 950 cancellations, and other days saw cancellations and delays in the low thousands. Carriers have reported many thousands of passengers affected on peak days , American Airlines, for instance, cited figures in the thousands (about 12,000 customers affected on a particularly busy day) , and trade groups say millions overall have been disrupted since the shutdown began.

How airlines and DOT are responding

Airlines have enacted travel notices and waivers that often allow free rebooking, cancellations and refunds for passengers on impacted travel. Major carriers are using these waivers to re-accommodate customers and waive change fees; many have advised passengers to accept re-accommodation offers quickly because space can vanish fast during rolling cuts.

Importantly, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s April 24, 2024 final rule requires airlines to issue prompt automatic refunds when flights are canceled or significantly changed, and to refund ancillary fees when services are not provided. The DOT expects refunds to be automatic and prompt , commonly seven business days for card purchases and up to about 20 days for other payment methods in many cases , so ask for a refund if a carrier’s alternative isn’t acceptable.

Travel experts and carriers recommend checking the airline app or website first; carrier apps often update fastest with rebooking options and waiver codes. If the offered alternative doesn’t work, request a DOT cash refund and retain confirmation screenshots and receipts for any follow-up disputes.

Practical rebooking steps and savings tactics

Practical steps: open your airline app immediately, check the flight status, screenshot available options, and accept a re-accommodation if it meets your needs. If you prefer a different flight or carrier, use the DOT refund rule to request cash back and then book elsewhere. Track waiver or travel-notice codes , that code often determines whether you can reissue without a fare difference or fee.

To save money during rebooking, use airline waivers to avoid change fees, compare alternate carriers before accepting a rebooking, and consider using points or miles if flexible award space exists. If you take a DOT refund, compare fares across carriers and factor in the refund timing: you may be able to buy a new ticket immediately with cash or points and settle the refund once issued.

If you must buy last-minute alternatives, check credit-card protections and travel insurance for trip-delay or trip-interruption coverage. Some cards and policies reimburse meals, lodging and alternative transport , but read the fine print carefully to confirm whether carrier- or government-related shutdowns are covered.

Documentation, refunds and claiming out-of-pocket costs

Keep meticulous records. Save booking confirmations, screenshots of rebooking offers, emails, and receipts for hotels, meals and interim transportation. These documents are essential when requesting reimbursements from airlines, credit-card providers, or travel insurers, and they support DOT complaints if an airline fails to honor refund obligations.

If you incur out-of-pocket expenses because of a canceled flight, submit receipts to your airline’s customer service and check whether your credit card or travel insurance covers trip-delay expenses. Airlines’ customer-service plans and DOT rules require carriers to be responsive about refunds for canceled flights and ancillary services not provided.

If you believe a refund was wrongly denied or delayed, file a DOT consumer complaint. Also ask the airline for written confirmation of the reason for your delay or cancellation , that note can be useful for insurance and chargeback claims.

Security waits, airport tips and alternate transportation

TSA and airport security have been heavily affected: multiple large airports reported long TSA lines with advisories to « arrive early. » Some local advisories warned of 60, 75+ minute waits and isolated reports of multi-hour lines surfaced; Houston’s IAH even warned passengers to expect extended waits and in some instances more than three hours.

TSA guidance remains to arrive at least 2 hours for domestic flights and 3 hours for international travel; use TSA PreCheck or CLEAR, if available, to reduce screening time and speed up your trip through busy checkpoints. Pack smart and keep ID accessible to minimize hold-ups at security.

Consider alternate transportation where practical. Reporting showed increased interest in rail and intercity bus options as flights were canceled or reduced; for medium-distance travel, Amtrak or reputable bus carriers can be reliable alternatives and may avoid airport-based congestion around major hubs during the shutdown.

Safety, personal prep and what to do if you’re stranded

Prepare for personal safety and self-sufficiency. Carry hard copies and screenshots of booking confirmations and receipts, keep prescription medications and essentials in your carry-on, have backup payment methods and share your itinerary with someone at home. Enroll in your airline and airport text/email alerts so you get real-time updates.

If you find yourself stranded, keep all receipts for meals, hotels and alternative transportation. Ask the airline for a written explanation of the delay or cancellation; that documentation helps with insurance claims or credit-card disputes. File a DOT complaint if you believe the carrier failed to meet refund or customer-service obligations.

For travel safety outside airports, note that many National Park Service visitor services and ranger programs are curtailed during a shutdown. Parks may remain open but with reduced staffing and higher risk; plan conservatively, avoid risky backcountry travel, and carry navigation, water and emergency supplies if you visit public lands during the shutdown.

Quick checklist and sources to monitor

Quick checklist: check your flight status, open your airline app, screenshot current options, know your DOT refund rights, keep receipts, consider alternate transport, arrive extra-early, and enroll in real-time alerts from your carrier and the airport. These one-line actions can reduce stress and protect your rights.

Authoritative pages to monitor continuously include FAA operations updates, DOT air consumer/refund pages, TSA checkpoint guidance, your airline’s travel-notice page and your departure airport’s advisories. These sources will have waiver codes, updated wait-time estimates and the latest operational notices needed to make choices on short notice.

Finally, weigh whether to travel at all if your trip is discretionary. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that capacity could be cut further and urged urgency from policymakers. If you can shift travel away from peak days or postpone nonessential trips, that may avoid exposure to last-minute disruption.

Stay alert, document everything, and use the DOT protections and airline waivers available to get refunded or rebooked. With a bit of preparation and the tips above, you can navigate U.S. shutdown travel more confidently and minimize both cost and safety risks.