On Friday, it became clear that about 40 major airports in the United States were cutting air traffic, in light of the ongoing government shutdown. By Sunday, over 1,000 flights had been canceled – and more are expected to follow.
So far, however, it is primarily domestic traffic that is affected.
We have not noticed any major disruptions for our members who sell events to the US. It has been possible to reschedule and so on. But if it continues for a long time, it will become more and more problematic, says Didrik von Seth.
What is important to keep in mind if you have booked a trip to the USA and then want to continue domestically?
Then you check with the airline you are traveling with to see what the status is on the connecting flight. The airlines themselves also notify you of flights that are canceled and you should rebook to the nearest available flight if possible.
Not as strong protection
In Europe, there is “very strong passenger protection” with a level of compensation if a flight is canceled. This is not the case in the US, notes Didrik von Seth. But if you have bought the ticket in Europe and it is valid for a connecting flight, there is a difference.
Then the European rules apply to the airline that would have operated that service. However, if you buy two tickets – say I fly with KLM or SAS to New York and then I have bought my own ticket onward domestically. Then the American rules apply and they are not as strict or have the same consumer protection as the European ones.
The organizer is responsible for rebooking.
Didrik von Seth continues:
If you have a package tour arrangement, the organizer is responsible for information and rebooking and everything like that, so you just need to contact your organizer.
In summary: keep track of which company you are traveling with, their information and what applies, and what rights you have.
Fredrik Shayn Scherman/TT
Facts: The shutdown of air traffic
TT
The reason for the cutback in American air traffic is that federally employed air traffic controllers have to work without pay due to the government shutdown, which has meant that many people are staying home.
The decision to reduce air traffic in "high-volume markets" has been made by the FAA. Initially, there will be a reduction of 4 percent. The proportion will be increased gradually and reach 10 percent next Friday - if Democrats and Republicans in Congress have not agreed on a budget before then.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy tells CNN that the situation "will only get worse" if an agreement is not reached.
Among the affected airports are LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark in the New York area as well as international airports in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Miami, Orlando, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Francisco, among others.
