Poll: Many Americans worried about travel post shutdown cancel or change holiday plans
The recent end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history has left lingering effects on travelers, particularly as the holiday season approaches. According to a survey commissioned by The Points Guy and conducted by YouGov, a significant portion of U.S. adults planning to travel for Thanksgiving and Christmas have altered their plans due to concerns stemming from the shutdown and the associated air traffic controller shortages. The survey, conducted on November 11-12, revealed that 41% of Thanksgiving travelers and 40% of Christmas travelers reported making changes to their travel arrangements. This includes 18% of Thanksgiving travelers who outright canceled their plans and 19% of Christmas travelers who did the same, reflecting a considerable impact on holiday travel.
Safety concerns are also prevalent among the flying public, with nearly half (48%) of respondents expressing anxiety about flying due to the shutdown and the potential implications for air traffic safety. The fear is palpable, as 20% of those surveyed indicated they were either “not very concerned” or “not at all concerned,” suggesting a significant divide in public sentiment regarding air travel safety. As the holiday travel season nears, these findings highlight the ongoing apprehensions many Americans have about flying, which could influence travel patterns and airport congestion during one of the busiest times of the year.
Despite the turmoil, many Americans remain committed to their travel plans, but the survey underscores the uncertainty and changes travelers are willing to make in response to the recent government crisis. As we await further developments, such as potential shifts in holiday pricing and last-minute deals, the travel landscape remains dynamic. The Points Guy promises to keep readers informed on evolving travel conditions, ensuring that travelers can navigate this holiday season with greater awareness and preparation.
While the longest government shutdown in U.S. history has finally
come to an end
, the travel repercussions are ongoing — and they’ve made some travelers even more fearful about traveling right now.
The Points Guy commissioned a poll from YouGov on the impacts of the shutdown and the ensuing chaos for travelers, with some fascinating findings. Among them?
Among U.S. adults planning to travel for either Thanksgiving or Christmas:
41%
of Thanksgiving travelers responded that current travel disruptions made them cancel, reschedule or adjust their Thanksgiving travel plans
40%
of Christmas travelers responded that current travel disruptions made them cancel, reschedule or adjust their Christmas travel plans
48%
of all U.S. adults responded that they are either very or somewhat concerned about flying due to safety reasons because of the shutdown and/or the air traffic controller shortages
These are sizable chunks of the flying public — especially considering the fact that we are fast approaching some of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Here’s what our new survey found.
Fear of flying
JENS HAUSPURG/GETTY IMAGES
One of the most interesting findings of the new TPG-YouGov survey was that nearly half of Americans are concerned about flying due to the government shutdown and the shortage of air traffic controllers.
THE POINTS GUY
A whopping 48% of Americans said they were “very” or “somewhat” concerned about flying due to safety reasons, while 20% were either “not very concerned” or “not at all concerned.”
That suggests there are some ongoing worries about the overall safety of the system.
The survey was taken Nov. 11-12, so just as the shutdown was coming to an end.
Thanksgiving travel
SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES
Of those we surveyed who planned to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, approximately 4 in 10 (41%) had either been rethinking their trips or had actually changed or canceled them. Eighteen percent said they canceled their travel plans. Another 15% said they adjusted their plans (such as by driving or taking the train instead of flying). That’s a significant portion of the flying public.
THE POINTS GUY
Christmas travel
Christmas Eve 2021 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES
We saw similar numbers for the Christmas travel period. Of those who were planning to travel for Christmas, 6% of respondents reported rescheduling their flights. Another 15% said they adjusted their plans, opting to drive or take a train instead. A whopping 19% of those who planned to travel for Christmas reported canceling their travel plans altogether.
THE POINTS GUY
It will be fascinating to see if these numbers hold up now that the government crisis is over — but it is clear that the 43-day-long shutdown has already left its mark on the 2026 holiday season.
Bottom line
Most Americans are still planning to travel for Thanksgiving or Christmas despite the recently concluded government shutdown and the resulting travel chaos. But a substantial number were worried enough to change or cancel their travel plans.
While we don’t yet have data on what it will mean for holiday prices and the possibility of last-minute deals, you can be sure we will bring those details to you as we get them.
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6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
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Methodology:
The Points Guy commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 1,185 U.S. adults. Fieldwork was undertaken Nov. 11-12, 2025. The survey was carried out online and meets rigorous quality standards. It gathered a non-probability-based sample and employed demographic quotas and weights to better align the survey sample with the broader U.S. population.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
