The holiday travel season is always a bit chaotic — long lines, crowded gates, and weather delays are almost expected. But this year, travelers are facing an extra layer of uncertainty with the government shutdown and the ripple effects it can create across the aviation system.
As both a travel agent and the spouse of an air traffic controller, I see this season from both sides. I see travelers anxious to make it home for the holidays, and I see aviation professionals doing their best under incredibly challenging conditions. My goal in sharing this is simple: to help you travel smarter, calmer, and with a little more empathy for everyone who keeps the skies moving.
How to Prepare for Holiday Air Travel
How to Prepare for Holiday Air Travel1. Book the Earliest Flight You Can
Morning flights are less likely to face delays that ripple through the system. A 6:00 a.m. departure might sound rough, but it often means you’re at your destination while others are still watching the “Delayed” sign blink.
2. Choose Nonstop When Possible
Each connection adds a potential failure point — missed flights, lost luggage, and longer waits. If you can fly direct, it’s worth it.
3. Use Your Airline’s App
Download your airline’s app and turn on notifications. Gate changes, cancellations, and boarding updates often appear there before they’re announced at the airport. It also makes rebooking easier if you need to act fast.
4. Pack with Purpose
Keep essentials (medications, chargers, travel documents, a change of clothes) in your personal bag. If your checked luggage takes the scenic route, you’ll still have what you need for at least 24 hours.
5. Build in a Time Buffer
Get to the airport early. Allow extra time for traffic, parking, and security. Even if things go smoothly, having that margin means you start your trip with less stress — and maybe even time for a coffee before boarding.
6. Keep an Eye on the Weather
Check forecasts at both your departure and arrival airports. A storm hundreds of miles away can still impact your route, so monitor the situation and sign up for airline alerts.
7. Know Your Rights
Familiarize yourself with the Department of Transportation’s “Fly Rights” page. It outlines what airlines are (and aren’t) required to provide in cases of cancellations, delays, or missed connections.
8. Have a Backup Plan
If your flight is canceled, use every resource — the app, phone line, the airport desk, and your travel agent!
Sometimes a quick refresh in the app can show open seats faster than an agent can find them. Be proactive and flexible.
A Gentle Reminder: Be Kind
A Gentle Reminder: Be KindBehind every flight are hundreds of people making it happen — from gate agents and baggage handlers to TSA officers, flight crews, and air traffic controllers. During times of high stress, many of these professionals are doing their jobs under difficult circumstances, often short-staffed or facing uncertainty about their pay due to the shutdown.
A kind word, a calm tone, or even just patience in the face of frustration can truly make a difference. Remember, the person on the other side of the counter didn’t cause the delay — but they’re the one who can help you fix it.
If Things Go Sideways 
If Things Go Sideways 
Act fast: If your flight is canceled, check the app and get in line to speak with an agent and call your travel agent. Working all angles increases your chances of rebooking quickly.
Keep receipts: If your delay causes you to incur expenses (like a hotel stay or meals), save your receipts — they might be reimbursable if the issue was within the airline’s control.
Stay flexible: Sometimes the best path forward is creative — like flying into a nearby airport or taking a later flight to a different hub.
A Personal Note
A Personal NoteAs a travel professional, I advocate for my clients every day to make their trips as smooth as possible. And as someone who watches the aviation world from the inside through my husband and his colleagues, I can tell you that they are doing their best to keep everyone safe and on schedule, even when conditions are tough.
This holiday season, let’s travel with patience, preparedness, and kindness. Your calm can ripple out just as powerfully as someone else’s frustration — and we could all use a little more calm in the air.
Safe travels, everyone.
Cheryl
ABCD Adventures Travel Services
Making travel accessible for all.
