Thanksgiving air travel: Track flight statuses, delays, and cancellation trends online
As Thanksgiving approaches, millions of Americans are gearing up for holiday travel, with an estimated 82 million expected to fly domestically this week. Fortunately, despite initial concerns stemming from a recent government shutdown that affected air traffic operations, flight cancellations remain low this year. The shutdown, which lasted 43 days, led to a 10% reduction in flights at 40 airports, prompting worries about potential travel disruptions as families prepared for the holiday. However, the U.S. Transportation Secretary’s timely intervention and the eventual end of the shutdown have helped ease these fears, allowing travelers to navigate their journeys with greater confidence.
This Thanksgiving is projected to be the busiest travel week in 15 years, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and travelers should remain vigilant as typical challenges—like weather-related delays—arise. With winter storms expected to impact the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region, travelers flying through Chicago O’Hare International Airport may encounter significant delays, as it has been identified as one of the airports most affected so far. Other airports, including Dallas Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis–Saint Paul, are also experiencing issues, highlighting the importance of staying informed about flight statuses. Travelers are encouraged to utilize resources such as airline apps and flight tracking websites to check for updates before heading to the airport, ensuring they are not caught off guard by any last-minute changes.
In the unfortunate event of a flight cancellation, the article offers practical advice for affected travelers. First, it’s essential to check the airline’s website for potential refunds or compensation, as the U.S. Department of Transportation provides a comprehensive dashboard detailing what airlines owe passengers in such circumstances. Options like alternative transportation or switching airlines should be explored promptly, as these solutions can fill up quickly during the busy holiday season. Lastly, the article emphasizes the importance of patience and kindness towards airline staff, who are working diligently to assist travelers during this hectic time. With a bit of preparation and a positive attitude, families can navigate their Thanksgiving travel plans with relative ease, focusing on what truly matters: enjoying time together over a festive meal.
Well, folks, it’s that time of year. Holiday cheer, a big ol’ bird on the table, walking the tightrope of polite conversation, and, most horrifyingly, praying to high heavens that your Thanksgiving air travel plans go off without a hitch.
If you’re one of the projected
82 million Americans
traveling domestically this week, you’re in luck. So far,
according to USA Today
, flight cancellations are low this week, despite general fears that the recent government shutdown would lead to travel woes. This comes a few weeks after the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
ordered a 10 percent cut in flights
at 40 U.S. airports due to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Thousands of air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration agents went to work without pay for over a month,
Reuters reported at the time
. But thankfully, after 43 long days, the shutdown ended just in time for Thanksgiving travel.
But the government shutdown isn’t the only thing that might cause a bump in your holiday travel. The FAA expects this to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel week in 15 years, and typical weather and mechanical issues are sure to arise, particularly with winter storms moving into the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region —
sorry, Chicago travelers
.
How to check your flight status online
This is something you should absolutely do before you leave for the airport. There’s not much worse than zipping up your suitcase, locking up your house, making the trek to the airport, and finding your way through security and to your gate only to find out you could have stayed in pajamas the whole time. Before you head to the airport, always check the airport website or your airline’s website.
We also recommend downloading your airline’s app, which makes it easy to check for updates on the fly. Finally, to check on a specific flight or route, you can use sites like
Flight Aware
and
Flight Tracker
. If the plane you’re taking to Wichita is delayed on its way into Atlanta, these tools can help you anticipate likely delays.
Thanksgiving flight cancellation trends so far
Overall, flight cancellations are on the low side this year,
according to a CNN report
, but that can change fast.
Flight Tracker has a tool called the
Misery Map
, which shows which airports are experiencing the most delays and cancellations. As of Wednesday, Nov. 26, Chicago O’Hare International Airport has far more issues than any other airport, per Flight Tracker. The airports with the most delays and cancellations so far include:
Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Minneapolis–Saint Paul (MSP)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Denver (DEN)
La Guardia New York City (LGA)
Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston (IAH)
Boston Logan (BOS)
So, your flight was canceled. Now what?
If your flight is canceled, congratulations: You now have the perfect complaint to make over Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone will agree with you when you say something like, “Traveling during the holidays, am I right?”
Now you need to get to work. If you’re still at home when you find out your flight is canceled, head to the airport website or your airline’s website. Check if you’re owed a refund or other types of compensation. Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Transportation has a dashboard that shows you exactly what airlines owe you in the event of a cancellation. Check the DOT’s
Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard
to make sure you get everything you’re entitled to.
Next, you’ve got to figure out your next move. Can you take a train to your destination, or rent a car? Is there another airline you can switch to? Or are you going to take your refund, head back home, and order dinner in lieu of navigating travel? Move quickly in situations like this, as rental cars and other flights can fill up quickly.
As always, no matter what travel issue ails you this holiday season, be nice to the people airline workers trying to get you across the country. And you just might want to show up at the airport a bit earlier than usual to wade your way through the inevitable lines.
