Fly the unfriendly skies

November 10, 2025

By Kim Komando

Flying soon? Listen up. At 40 of the country’s busiest airports, flights coming and going will be reduced by 10% this week. 

That means thousands of flights canceled, or in other words, 200,000 fewer seats and butts in the air per day. Blame it on a record‑long government shutdown.

Major hubs will be the hardest hit: Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York‑JFK, Chicago O’Hare and many more. Together, those 40 airports cover roughly 70% of U.S. flights, so yes, even if you’re in Hicksville, you feel it.

🌎 Bookmark these trackers

FlightAware’s Misery Map. It’s a look at flight delays and cancellations across the U.S. Green means “so far so good,” red means you’re in for a wait. Bookmark it, check the hub you’ll fly through, and consider building in extra time.

Live Cancellation Tracker. It shows flights being cancelled so if you see your carrier flagged, it’s time to re‑check your itinerary or call ahead.

📱 Your flightmare survival plan

1. Book the first flight of the day. Yea, it’s a bummer, but flights departing before 9 a.m. are about twice as likely to fly as those later in the day.
   
2. Download your airline’s app now. This is your fastest route to real‑time rebooks and alerts. In there, check the seat map. Oddly empty flight = higher risk of cancellation. Full flight = safer bet.
   
3. Use the MyTSA app. Get live security wait times, so you’re not stuck in a five‑hour shuffle line that’s already happening.
   
4. Know your rights. If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed due to the cuts, you’re legally entitled to a cash refund, not just some future credit. You may also be entitled to hotel vouchers, meal credits, or even a full refund, but only when you ask. Pro tip: Ask the airline to “protect” you on the next flight out. That means reserving a spot even if the system hasn’t auto-rebooked you yet.
   
5. Have a Plan B. Rental car one‑way pickups are up 20% right now. Trains or even a longer drive might save your holiday.

✈️ Pass this on: Know someone flying soon? Don’t leave them grounded. Forward this post before they end up sleeping in an airport chair with their neck at a 90-degree angle. Sharing this could save a trip, a holiday or at least someone’s sanity. And hey, we’ve all got that one friend who needs the reminder to download the airline app before they get to the gate.