Smart Tips to Handle the Current US Government Cutbacks In Air Travel
I have read a lot on this topic in the last few days. There are some good tips, some over-the-top advice, and some downright misleading information. That said, let me take a crack at it:
Have a Back-Up Plan at the Ready
I don’t usually start with the most important point, but just in case you only planned on reading one article, I felt the need to start with it this time. If you are to get that email or text that your plans have changed or been canceled, the quicker you react the better, and having a plan at the ready could be the difference.
For this example, let’s say you are visiting a friend in Tucson, AZ, and you live in Chicago. You currently have a direct flight on United from O’Hare. Your friend is picking you up at the airport. It was an easy trip to plan. Now it just got messy with a “we are deeply sorry but your flight has been canceled” email. Here is an example of your plan B, C, D:
Plan B: Ask the airline to fly you into Phoenix. This is a much larger airport, and if they canceled nearby Tucson, one would think Phoenix is holding strong.
Plan B-2: Rent a car one-way from Phoenix if your friend can’t make the drive. You are looking at about an hour and a half drive. TIP: Look at rental car options first to see the cost and availability before asking for the flight change.
Plan B-3: Look at the option of a train after you land at a different airport. For example, Amtrak’s Sunset Limited from LA to New Orleans passes through Tucson. A train from any city along the route may be an option. In this case, LA or El Paso could work depending on the timing and how much time you are spending there.
Plan C: Fly out of an alternative airport. You are booked to leave from O’Hare. Ask to change to Midway or even Milwaukee (then B-2 and B-3 may still apply).
Plan D: Leave a different day if that is an option.
Key Research Tips When Getting Your Plan in Order
- Alternative airports to fly into
- Alternative airports to fly out of
- “How do I get” from X to Y after I land at the alternative
- What trains run through my destination
- What bus service runs through my destination
Adjust Your Plans Slightly If You Can
If you are planning a trip somewhere and it is crucial that you arrive when planned, get ahead of it and try to fly in a day early or even earlier that day. When plans go bad in travel, the best thing you can have on your side, ahead of even money, is time.
Book or Change to a Hub If You Can
If you fly out of a regional airport right now and have a layover at a nearby hub, try rebooking out of there and take the drive. For example, if you live in greater Madison, WI, think of rebooking out of Chicago. Live in southern Maine, look at Boston. In an NPR interview with Nick Ewen, senior editorial director of The Points Guy travel website, Ewen is quoted saying “the likelihood of a flight getting canceled comes down to factors such as the size of the plane, how full it is and what route it is flying.” If your small plane from Madison is half full, you may be more likely to be canceled. But that flight out of Chicago on a large Airbus A321 to Phoenix has a stronger chance of taking off just fine.
Forget Flying
If you have the time, look at Amtrak. There are no current cuts to Amtrak at the moment, and you may have some fun. Now this doesn’t work in my first example of Chicago to Tucson, but it does if you are visiting a friend in New York City for the weekend from Boston. Live in Florida? See what Brightline has to offer. Look at bus options. Greyhound is an option, but a quick Google search for “buses from X to Y” may uncover something new.
Don’t Just Assume You Are Canceled
As of writing this, approximately 7% of flights are canceled and that could rise to 10% soon. That is a lot. But that still holds a 90-93% chance nothing will affect your trip. Follow the advice above and enjoy your trip!
