Where to check if a shutdown affects your flight
The fastest way to know if your flight is affected is to check the FAA website (faa.gov) or call the FAA directly at 1-866-835-5322. During a shutdown, the FAA still operates — air traffic controllers keep working — but some services stop. The FAA's homepage lists which functions are running and which are paused.
Your airline's website and app will also show delays and cancellations as they happen. If you booked through a third-party site like Kayak or Expedia, log into your airline account directly instead, because those sites sometimes lag behind the airline's own system.
Text your airline's customer service number (usually on your booking confirmation) to ask directly whether your specific flight is affected. Have your confirmation number ready. During a shutdown, response times are slower than normal, but the airline knows which flights are running.
Key Takeaways
- The FAA website and the airline's own app show real-time delays and cancellations caused by shutdown staffing shortages.
- Air traffic controllers still work during a shutdown, but some safety inspections and certifications pause, which can delay flights.
- Calling your airline directly is faster than checking third-party booking sites, which update less frequently.
- If your flight is cancelled, the airline must rebook you on the next available flight at no extra cost or refund your ticket.
What actually stops during a shutdown and what keeps running
Air traffic control towers stay open and controllers keep working — they are considered essential personnel. Planes take off and land on schedule in most cases. What stops is the work that happens behind the scenes: safety inspections of aircraft, certification of new pilots and mechanics, and maintenance of some ground equipment.
These delays pile up. If an aircraft was supposed to get a required inspection before your flight, that flight gets delayed or cancelled until the inspection happens after the shutdown ends. A pilot whose medical certificate was set to expire during the shutdown cannot legally fly, so flights lose crew members. Mechanics cannot certify repairs, so planes sit grounded longer.
The longer the shutdown lasts, the more flights are affected. A one-day shutdown might cause no cancellations at all. A two-week shutdown creates cascading delays across the entire system because the backlog of inspections and certifications grows faster than it can be cleared.
How to learn about your specific flight is cancelled
Log into your airline account on the airline's website or app and look at your booking. If the flight is cancelled, the status will say "Cancelled" in red. If it is delayed, the status shows the new departure time. These updates happen in real time as the airline makes decisions.
If you do not see a status change yet, the flight may still be running as scheduled. Cancellations and delays are usually announced 24 to 48 hours before departure, though some happen closer to flight time if the problem is discovered late.
Do not rely on email notifications alone — airlines send them, but they can be delayed. Check your account directly instead. If your flight shows as on time but you want to confirm, call the airline's customer service line or text them using the number on your confirmation.
What happens if your flight is cancelled
Your airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your destination at no extra charge. You can ask to be rebooked on a competitor's flight if the airline's own schedule does not work for you, though the airline is not required to pay for a competitor's ticket — only their own. If no flights are available for several days, ask whether the airline will cover a hotel and meals while you wait.
You can also request a full refund of your ticket price instead of rebooking. The airline must process the refund within a set number of days (usually 7 to 10 business days for credit card purchases). If you paid cash or by check, the timeline is longer.
Keep your boarding pass and any receipts for meals or hotels you paid for out of pocket. If the delay was caused by something other than the shutdown — mechanical failure, crew shortage unrelated to shutdown — you may be owed compensation under Department of Transportation rules, though shutdown-related delays are treated differently.
Checking the status of connecting flights
If you have a connecting flight, check both legs of your trip separately. One flight might be cancelled while the other runs on time. If your first flight is delayed, you may miss your connection. Call the airline when ready to be rebooked on a later connection before you arrive at the airport.
If your first flight is cancelled and you are rebooked on a later flight, the airline will automatically rebook your connection as well — you do not have to ask. But verify this in your account before you go to the airport. If the new first flight arrives too late for the original connection, make sure the airline has already moved your second flight to a later time.
What to do if you are already at the airport
Go to the airline's ticket counter or gate agent when ready. They have access to real-time information about which flights are running and can rebook you on the spot. Do not wait in the boarding area hoping the flight will depart — if it is going to be cancelled, you want to know as soon as possible so you can arrange ground transportation or a hotel.
If the airport is crowded and lines are long, use the airline's app or website to message customer service while you wait. Many airlines respond to app messages faster than phone lines during a shutdown because phone lines are overwhelmed.
How shutdown delays differ from other flight delays
Shutdown-related delays are caused by staffing shortages and paused safety work, not by weather or mechanical problems. This matters because the rules for compensation are different. The Department of Transportation generally does not require airlines to pay compensation for delays caused by government actions or circumstances beyond the airline's control — and a shutdown falls into that category.
You are still owed rebooking or a refund, but you are not owed money for the inconvenience the way you might be for a delay caused by the airline's own mechanical failure or crew mismanagement. Some airlines offer travel vouchers or miles as a gesture during shutdowns, but this is voluntary, not required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my flight definitely be cancelled if there is a shutdown?
No. Most flights continue to operate during a shutdown because air traffic controllers keep working. Cancellations happen when required inspections or crew certifications are paused. A short shutdown may cause no cancellations at all. Longer shutdowns cause more cancellations as the backlog of paused work grows.
Can I get a refund instead of rebooking?
Yes. If your flight is cancelled, you can request a full refund of your ticket price instead of taking a rebooking. The airline must process the refund within 7 to 10 business days for credit card purchases. Call the airline or request the refund through your account.
Do I get paid money if my flight is delayed by a shutdown?
No. The Department of Transportation does not require airlines to pay compensation for delays caused by government shutdowns because they are outside the airline's control. You are owed rebooking or a refund, but not monetary compensation. Some airlines offer vouchers voluntarily.
Should I go to the airport if my flight status still says on time?
Yes, unless the airline has explicitly cancelled the flight. Cancellations are usually announced 24 to 48 hours before departure, but some happen closer to flight time. If your status has not changed to cancelled, assume the flight is running and arrive at the airport as normal.
What if I am stuck at the airport overnight because of a shutdown delay?
Ask the airline whether they will cover a hotel and meals. They are not required to during a shutdown, but many airlines do as a courtesy. Keep all receipts if you pay out of pocket — you may be able to claim them as a business expense or dispute them with your credit card company depending on your circumstances.