When the government shutdown hit, it didn’t take long for the ripple effects to show up in air travel. My husband happened to be traveling for work that week, and what should have been a simple domestic trip turned into a parade of cancellations, delays, gate changes, and “your crew is on the way… maybe.”

His texts from the airport became increasingly erratic, the kind of messages that let me know he was this close to hitchhiking home. There were hours of waiting, half-answers, rolling delays, and entire gate areas full of passengers refreshing their apps like their lives depended on it.

And while everything eventually worked out, watching it unfold in real time was a wake-up call. Government shutdowns are unpredictable, but the issues they expose are the same ones we see every busy travel season. With the holidays, winter weather, and lingering operational strain ahead, now is the time to plan smarter.

Here are the lessons we learned  and the ones that will absolutely help you this season:

1. Book directly with the airline.

When flights were delayed or canceled during the shutdown, the people who booked through third-party sites were stuck in the longest lines and had the hardest time rebooking. When you book direct, the airline is responsible for helping you  and that alone can save hours of frustration and dozens of “please hold” moments.

If booking direct isn’t an option, like in my husband’s case where his employer used an online travel agency (OTA), this is exactly when a travel advisor becomes invaluable. When things go sideways, you have a human working directly for you navigating the chaos.

2. The early bird truly gets the worm.

Early flights had the highest chance of taking off on time because delays hadn’t snowballed yet. Plus, those first departures often use planes that sat overnight and were already serviced. Once the afternoon hit, everything started backing up and the cancellations followed.

For the holidays, choose the earliest flight you can tolerate. Your 6 a.m. self might grumble, but your future self will be so relieved.

3. Avoid Thursday and Sunday travel (if you can).

These were the worst days during the shutdown and they’re consistently the worst during holiday travel. Everyone’s trying to maximize the weekend while still getting back to real life on Monday. More crowds, fewer backup options, and a higher chance that one small delay becomes a domino effect.

If you can shift even one day earlier or later, you’ll sidestep a lot of the chaos.

4. Pack your patience… and a Plan B.

Shutdown or not, crowded holiday airports can’t run perfectly. Build in buffer time, expect lines, bring generous snacks, and always keep a backup plan for connections, childcare, or unexpected hotel nights. Flexibility is its own form of sanity protection.

And take advantage of any travel perks you already have like TSA PreCheck, airport lounges, priority boarding, family security lanes. Even if you don’t use them every time, knowing your options matters.

5. Keep your travel apps updated and notifications ON.

During the shutdown, people at the gate often got updates after the app did. Push notifications were faster and more accurate than the announcements.

Download your airline’s app. Turn on alerts. And don’t rely solely on the airport screens.
Bonus: apps like Flighty give you a broader view of airline operations that might impact your flight before the gate agents even know.

6. Choose airports wisely.

Some airports handle disruptions better than others. During the shutdown, major hubs like Newark and JFK were hit hardest simply because of volume. But even between JFK and LGA, JFK saw significantly shorter delays, likely because airlines prioritized international travel while trimming domestic routes to meet FAA mandates.

If you have the option, flying out of a secondary airport or even driving an extra 30 minutes — can make your whole trip easier.

7. Protect yourself with travel insurance.

Delays, cancellations, overnight stays, meals, it all adds up fast. Travel insurance helps you recoup what would otherwise become surprise expenses. It’s one of the easiest ways to keep holiday travel from getting… financially spicy.

If you have a travel credit card, check whether it already includes trip protection. And if you’re not sure where to start, this is another moment where a travel advisor can guide you through the best options.

At the end of the day, the shutdown was a reminder that travel—especially during the holidays—runs on a mix of preparation, flexibility, and attitude. Some things you can control, some things you can’t, but knowing how to navigate the system makes all the difference. If you plan ahead, choose smarter travel days, understand your options, and give yourself permission to pivot when needed, you can get through even the busiest travel season without losing your sanity. And if you ever need a human in your corner when things get messy, that’s exactly what I’m here for. This should feel easy.