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Would a government shutdown affect flights, cruises? What travelers should know.

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Would a government shutdown affect flights, cruises? What travelers should know.

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  • A U.S. government shutdown is possible and may begin as soon as this weekend.
  • Travel plans, including flights and cruises, are unlikely to be significantly impacted in the short term.
  • However, a prolonged shutdown could lead to delays and disruptions in travel services.

A U.S. government shutdown could begin as soon as this weekend.

Lawmakers reached a bipartisan agreement to keep the government open through at least mid-March on Tuesday, but President-elect Donald Trump later rejected the plan and called for raising the debt ceiling. That added a new complication with the Friday night deadline fast approaching.

The good news is, if a shutdown happens, it’s unlikely to have a huge impact on any travel plans you may have, so you can still count on getting to your holiday destinations.

And while a long shutdown could result in more noticeable impacts for travelers, it’ll take a while to get there. Here’s what government documents and past precedent tell us is probably going to happen instead.

Does a government shutdown affect my flight, cruise? 

Basically, no, it shouldn’t.

Funding to agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection would be on hold. However, the agents who you typically interact with at airports and seaports, and the controllers who oversee your flights are considered essential and will be working without pay during the shutdown.

Impacts on those agencies have more to do with things like hiring and training. All the crucial safety functions like inspections and air traffic control continue.

Consular operations in the U.S. and internationally will also continue normally “if there are sufficient fees” to support them, according to the most recent guidance from the State Department. “This includes passports, visas, and assisting U.S. citizens abroad.”

There could be economic repercussions, though. A government shutdown is estimated to cost the country’s travel economy as much as $140 million per day, according to an estimate from the U.S. Travel Association.

Who is considered essential personnel in the travel industry?

You can think of it as the people who keep things moving. Air traffic controllers, safety inspectors, security agents and customs officials have all been exempt under previous shutdown plans and will likely continue working even in the current situation.

How did other shutdowns impact travel?

During previous shutdowns, impacts to travel were minimal. In 2019 it took about two weeks of no pay before FAA controllers and TSA agents started not showing up for work. At that point, lines started stacking up at security checkpoints and flights started getting delayed. Shortly after, the government finally agreed to funding legislation and got things back in order.

That same year, some national parks closed entirely, while others remained technically open but without staff to maintain them. Some fell into disarray, with trash piling up and toilets overflowing.

Previous government shutdowns have generally not impacted cruises, however, according to Stewart Chiron, an industry expert known as The Cruise Guy.

“Cruise passengers should pack some additional patience as there may be some delays and inconveniences, possibly caused by staffing, but cruise vacations should proceed without issues,” he told USA TODAY last year.

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