TRAVELERS should expect delays at airport security lanes thanks to a partial government shutdown that began on Wednesday.
Gridlocked Democrats and Republicans have failed to come to terms over policy disagreements, and now Americans are paying the price.
Travelers should brace for delays after the federal government issued a partial shutdown[/caption]
Under the freeze, the majority of Transportation Security Administration workers will be forced to work without pay[/caption]
Under the shutdown, airport employees, including air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration, will be forced to work without pay, The New York Times reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration and Customs and Border Protection are among the agencies that will be affected by the federal spending freeze.
They won’t have the money to hire or train new workers thanks to the shutdown.
However, most employees, including those who screen at checkpoints, are deemed essential and are still required to work.
Despite this, the TSA has warned travelers to prepare for potential delays.
“While our personnel have prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure the security of our transportation systems, an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports,” a TSA spokesperson told USA Today.
The warning comes after some FAA and TSA workers refused to come to work during the last government shutdown in 2019.
The US Travel Association, a non-profit that promotes travel to and within America, expects the country to lose $1 billion every week the shutdown is in place.
President and chief executive of the group, Geoff Freeman, predicts that operations will worsen as the days drag on.
“The longer a shutdown drags on, the more likely we are to see longer TSA lines, flight delays and cancellations, national parks in disrepair and unnecessary delays in modernizing travel infrastructure,” he said in a statement.
During the latest government shutdown, which spanned from December 2018 to January 2019, TSA agents called out sick at higher than usual rates.
Staffing issues became so severe that the Miami airport was forced to temporarily shutter an entire terminal.
Erik Hansen, the senior vice president of government relations at the US Travel Association, warned that history shows airports will indeed slow down.
He clarified that air travel will still be “safe” but notes that TSA officers will experience “additional stress” under the freeze, he told USA Today.
Flyers traveling in the next few days should continually check their airports and airlines for updates for the smoothest trips.
What to do after a flight is delayed
TRAVELERS may not know that they could miss their flights even if they show up in time for a delayed departure date.
Flyers are urged to think twice before following the updated travel details sent directly by carriers to their phones.
That’s because airlines can suddenly resolve issues and return a once delayed flight back to its original departure time.
Carriers are always working overtime to ensure that airport schedules are kept on track, so flight times shift throughout the day.
If a flight is delayed, most passengers will get an email or text notifying them of the change and providing a new departure time.
However, unlucky flyers have followed these updated rules, only to arrive at a gate to find their plane gone as the flight left earlier than expected.
Plus, many airlines note in their condition of carriage that they aren’t liable for the flights missed through delay mixups.
Spirit Airlines says, “In the event of a delay, guests are recommended to remain in the gate area for updates and possible early departures.
“Spirit shall not be liable to any guest who missed a flight, which departed earlier than the estimated departure time posted for the delay.”
