Answers to holiday travel questions: expert advice on delays, refunds and more

With this holiday travel season expected to be the busiest on record, everything from bad weather to a looming government shutdown has airline passengers thinking about every possible scenario to ensure they still make it to their vacation destination.

Whatever the concern, travel experts weighed in to address some potential pre-flight concerns and provide answers to the most frequently asked air travel conundrums.

“We expect 50% more people to travel during the 12-day winter holiday season than during the busy nine-day Thanksgiving period,” Going travel expert Katy Nastro told “GMA.” “Just a few days means a lot more people are out and about. “So make sure to extend your transit times to the airport a little, especially during rush hours, which AAA recommends for major cities.”

How a government shutdown would affect leisure travel

“Air traffic will continue as usual during the busy holiday period. However, the longer this goes on, the longer TSA employees and air traffic controllers will have to go without pay,” she explained, adding that in the past, extended shutdowns have resulted in “staff shortages” with sick and overworked skeleton crews trying to fill the gaps. resulting in longer than usual security lines.”

How early should I arrive at the airport during the holidays?

If ever there was a time to be an early riser at the airport, it’s now.

Whether you’re a frequent flyer and carry-on bag king who may beat long lines checking in overweight and gift-filled luggage or regularly rely on TSA PreCheck to ensure expedited access through special security checkpoints, the agencies have already warned that it will be the busiest travel season on record, period.

“With record numbers of travelers expected, it can’t hurt to build even more time into your airport experience,” Nastro suggested.

The Transportation Security Administration said it expects to screen nearly 40 million travelers from Dec. 19 to Jan. 2, a 6.2% increase from a year ago.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the three busiest days in the coming days will be Thursday, December 19th, followed by Friday, December 27th and Friday, December 20th.

United said it is planning its busiest holiday rush ever with 9.9 million ticketed passengers between December 19 and January 6. The airline said it is adding nearly 500 more flights per day during its holiday travel period. The Chicago-based airline expects Friday, December 20, Friday, December 27, and Saturday, December 28 to be its busiest days.

What to do if your flight is delayed during the holidays?

First, always download your airline’s app to see the most up-to-date information with notifications turned on. Most airline apps allow you to see where your arriving plane is coming from to find out its status, so you’ll be the first to know if a delay is expected.

Nick Ewen, senior editorial director of The Points Guy, previously told “Good Morning America” ​​that apps like FlightRadar24 “can show you the registration number of the aircraft that is scheduled to operate your flight,” which can be helpful in navigating to next steps is nowhere to be seen.

“If you’re waiting for a flight from New York in two hours and your plane is still in Texas, you’re not leaving on time – even if the airline’s system says your flight is on schedule,” he explains. The tool can provide further insights delivery.

Airline expert Scott Keyes, founder of Going, formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights, shared his top tip for delays that either cause you to miss a connecting flight or force you to rebook: Pick up the phone as quickly as possible.

“Especially in bad weather, a lot of people call, so don’t just stand in line at the airport to talk to a gate agent,” Keyes told “GMA.” “You also want to make sure you call the airline. However, in particular, call the airline’s international number.”

This handy hack will bypass the main U.S. hotline, Keyes said, which almost everyone else would call.

According to new regulations from the Ministry of Transport, if there is an obvious disruption to your flight on an airline – three hours or more on domestic flights and six hours or more on international flights – the airline is obliged to automatically issue cash refunds to passengers.

What to do if your flight is canceled while on vacation?

“Flight disruptions are stressful. Perhaps the only thing that can equal this travel stress is dealing with refunds if you decide not to rebook through the airline,” travel expert Katy Nastro previously told “GMA.”

Fortunately, as “GMA” previously reported, new federal regulations that went into effect earlier this year require airlines to make it easier for ticketed passengers to get refunds following cancellations or other significant flight changes also needs to be defined more clearly.

Travelers can now easily receive an automatic refund if they decide not to rebook due to significant disruption. However, this does not mean that travelers can receive both a refund and a new flight – the new federal regulation only covers one or the other.

Click here for a complete overview of the new federal guidance and what it means for travelers.

How to use AirTags for luggage tracking

The long-standing tech travel hack is a great way to make sure you know exactly where your luggage is after checking it in before security or even if you have to go through a gate check.

Now, major airlines like United are implementing “Find My” technology to locate your luggage if it goes missing or doesn’t arrive at your destination.

Check out how it works here.

“For everyone else, it’s always a good idea to pack your AirTag, even in your carry-on,” Nastro said. “With flights likely to be filled to capacity, the overhead bin space will likely be prime space and people will have to go through gate screening. Save the AirTag just in case so you can also keep track of the whereabouts of your carry-on luggage.” “

The airlines are also taking strict action against the limitation of two pieces of luggage and the expansion of hand luggage. To ensure you don’t get isolated during security or boarding, make sure you have your luggage packed before you go through the airport doors.

Gifts: Another reminder to avoid being stopped by security is to make sure any gifts you are carrying are unwrapped and in compliance with 3-1-1 rules. If it is paintable or sprayable, it must meet the requirements. However, you can bring frozen liquids; Just make sure they are rock solid before going through security.

What should you do if someone wants to change seats on a plane?

One of the great air travel debates that really comes down to your personal experience at the moment: Do you swap seats with a fellow passenger whether they ask or not?

Whether it’s a parent with a child who desperately wants your view out the window or some other request, etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall told “GMA” that no one is required to aircraft to change seats when asked to do so.

“You can always ask. What I tell people is, when you ask, you have to have a good reason.” However, she noted, “Be prepared if someone answers you with an answer you didn’t expect.”

Nastro reflected on the age-old travel adage, “Pack up your patience,” and said you should “get an update on practicing ’empathy in the air.’

“We’re all trying to get where we want to go this holiday season, and it doesn’t hurt to come from a place of understanding,” Nastro reminded.

What is Covered by the DOT’s New Airline Ticket Refund Policy?

Click here for full details on the new requirements every airline must follow under federal regulations.