As the likelihood of a shutdown of the U.S. federal government approaches, travelers naturally are worried about what such an event would mean for their travel plans, especially for flights and cruises. Knowledge of the potential impact can allow you to plan ahead and soften the blow.
Effect on Air Travel
However, there are several problems with this picture:
- Absenteeism: Employees of those industries may have been less willing to show up for work without immediate paychecks, but the lack of immediate partial payment prompts some essential employees to call in sick or take some leave of absence to find other jobs. For instance, during the 2018-2019 shutdown, there was a good deal of calling in sick by TSA agents. Since it caused longer security lines and delays at airports, it would certainly help if it is posted here.
- Fight Delays or Cancellations: Staff shortages among air traffic controllers have been known to result in delays or even flight cancellations. An example will be the 2018-2019 shutdown during which flights scheduled to New York’s LaGuardia Airport were grounded on account of such staff shortages and caused massive delays across the Northeast.
- Training and Certification Paused: The FAA can furlough safety inspectors and suspend training programs. Thus, certification of new aircraft and pilots can be delayed. It had furloughed around 3000 airline safety inspectors during the 2013 shutdown affecting aviation regulations.
Impact on Cruise Travel
Though cruise operations are operated by private companies and are therefore less immediately impacted by a federal shutdown, some aspects may still be affected:
- Port Operations: Federal agencies govern U.S. ports, and a shutdown may result in decreased staffing for customs and border protection officers. This decrease could cause longer processing times for passengers boarding or leaving cruises.
- Passport Processing: If you need a passport for your cruise, note that passport offices could have closures or decreased services during a shutdown, which could delay passport issuance.
Tips for Travelers
To reduce likely disruptions in a government shutdown:
- Arriving early at the airport can help you account for possible delays resulting from security screening.
- Stay informed by routinely checking in with your air carrier or cruise operator for itinerary changes and any likely cancellements or delays.
- Track official announcements from the government. Keep updated on news on shutdown status and remarks from federal agencies controlling travel and transportation.
- Have contingency plans and think about purchasing travel insurance to guard against unanticipated situations like government shutdowns causing cancelations or delays.
- Make sure your documentation is current; if you have to renew your passport or obtain visas, do it well ahead of time to avoid running across processing delays.
Although a government shutdown may bring uncertainties to travel plans, knowing the possible effects and being prepared ahead of time can reduce disruptions. Being informed and flexible, travelers can better manage these issues.
