Samantha Brown recently posted a TikTok (embedded below) with some great tips for those traveling during the government shutdown.
@samanthabrowntravelsSign up for alerts for your airline to get any delays or cancellations asap. Monitor airport website a few days ahead to see if trouble is a brewin. Check http://nasstatus.faa.gov for staffing issues Follow @pointsbyj!
Here’s the transcript: “Okay, I am flying during the government shutdown and here are two things I did before my flight.
First of all, big thank you to air traffic control and TSA agents who are working without pay, keeping us safe and secure so that I can fly and, uh, get paid.
A few days ahead of my travel, I started checking my airport’s website for any alerts about affected travel and monitored my security wait times during that time that I was going to arrive, you know, just to get a sense. It’s like monitoring the weather when a storm is a brewing.
Then a big shout out to Points by J, who cooed me into this website. This is the National Airspace System. It alerts you to any events at our nation’s airports. But you wanna scroll down to this button, and that takes you to air traffic control system.
Oh, when you see a 1960 slot like this, you know you’re getting to the good stuff. Now zoom into staffing triggers, and there are no airports listed. Staffing trigger is when air traffic control facilities are short staffed, and it will list the specific airport.
If the air traffic control is short staffed, it just means there could be delays to make certain everyone flies safely. It does not mean you should not fly. It just means there could be delays.
I built in an extra hour for any unforeseen security delays because I believe there is no such thing as getting to the airport too early. There are zero delays, and I get to enjoy an extra cup of tea.
Comments from TikTok:
Shannon McKeever: TSA officer here! Thank you for your kindness.
Lucycaboosee: As a wife of an air traffic controller, of course their priority is always going to be to get you to your destination safely and efficiently — that has always been a priority and it will continue to be their priority, but I hope everyone sees that adding financial stress to an already very stressful job does not help. They don’t get to leave financial stress at home when working — they are thinking about it when they are controlling traffic. Bills don’t stop. Mortgages don’t care about back pay or government shutdowns. I know air traffic controllers that are having to prioritize groceries over taking their kids to doctors appointments right now and that is sad.
EW: Thank you for the shoutout! In ATC, our goal is the “safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.” No matter our staffing, safety is always priority number one.
AJ Bower: I always build in 2 hours, even on good days. I’d rather be early and wander the shops or play on my phone than be held up. Airport anxiety is strong in me.
If you want more travel tips, here’s my post on steps travelers affected by cancellations or delays can take to stay on track.
