If you receive my newsletter then you know I’ve been warning about the government shutdown for weeks and unfortunately our political leaders have allowed it to happen. I just so happened to have a flight this morning, so I know firsthand what it’s like to fly during a government shutdown.
I had a 9:35am flight out of LAX (Los Angeles International), but I wanted to take my kids to school, so I thought I was cutting it close because of the government shutdown. I ended up arriving at the airport at 8:45am. Normally, it would be no biggie since I wasn’t checking a bag. However, because of the shutdown and the fact I was flying out of American Airlines’ (AA) remote gates, since that’s where most of their regional jets park, it requires a shuttle out of Terminal 5 (gate 52).
I went straight to security and for once Clear saved me some time because the TSA Pre line was much longer than usual. Once their kiosk scanned my face, an agent told me to go to the TSA Pre line. Usually, there’s another Clear team member waiting, but I didn’t see him. Turns out I needed to go to the far left to the dedicated Clear lane, and the agent was kind of hiding behind a column.
I breezed through. While I was waiting for the other passengers to put their bags through the X-ray scanners, I asked the TSA officers working, “how’s it going with the government shutdown?” They both gave me a friendly but exasperated “we’re working for free.” I asked, “how long can you last like this?” and they said, “We will see.” The passenger in front of me said you should have a tip jar, and they laughed but probably thought that’s not a bad idea. I might’ve contributed.
I asked if business is as usual, and they said for now yes. My bags cleared quickly, and then I asked two other officers at the opposite end the same questions, and we basically had the same conversation. So for now, business is as usual. But the longer it’s shut down, the more of a problem it’s going to be. The last time the government shut down was 2018/2019, and it lasted for 35 days, and absences by air traffic controllers and TSA rose 10% since they don’t get paid during a shutdown.
I’ve been receiving a lot of emails from different PR agencies and tourism boards about the shutdown. Here are a couple which might help you understand what’s going on:
Travel to Hawaiʻi Continues: What You Need to Know During the Federal Shutdown
Their tourism board wrote: “Travelers heading to Hawai‘i should not cancel or postpone their trips.”
They say: “Flights to the Hawaiian Islands and within the state should remain largely unaffected. Essential federal government workers such as air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents will continue to work in the event of a federal shutdown, ensuring safety and security. Travelers may experience longer wait times. Travelers should check with their airline for the status of their flight before heading to the airport. They should also plan to arrive early to the airport to give themselves extra time to pass through TSA security as a precautionary measure.”
They also covered those visiting Hawai‘i’s national parks and wildlife refuges. “Some national parks and wildlife refuges in Hawai‘i will be closed or have limited access during the federal government shutdown. If visitors plan to visit a national park or refuge on or after Oct. 1, encourage them to call or check the site’s official website for the latest alerts, operating hours, and visitor information.”
Yosemite National Park
The good folks at Yosemite National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks sent me a similar notice: “Despite the U.S. government shutdown, Yosemite National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks remain open and accessible to visitors. However, some services may be limited. We encourage visitors to stop by our Oakhurst Visitor Center for maps, local advice, and even trash bags. Visit Yosemite | Madera County is here to help in any way we can—please don’t hesitate to reach out.”
If you’re planning on going to a National Park, read what these retired rangers recommend.
