This shutdown isn’t getting any better. With it making things like air travel more difficult, steps are going to have to be taken to make things easier for Americans. I really thought this shutdown wouldn’t happen, or possibly that it would last a week or so but nowhere near as long as it has. Things have gotten difficult for a lot of providers and clients, and it seems to be getting worse. Flights are going to be cut, which could hurt a lot of clients’ sponsored bookings and FMTYs.
Only a day or so ago, the Transportation Secretary announced that domestic flights are going to be reduced by 10%. I didn’t think much of it since 10% didn’t really seem like a big deal. For someone who doesn’t know much about airplanes, it wouldn’t but this is affecting a lot of people. Since the shutdown, aviation workers have been overworked and unpaid, leading many to find other jobs. This cut is meant to help relieve some of that fatigue. Tomorrow, flights will be reduced by 4%, then 5% on Saturday, 6% on Sunday, and finally 10% on Monday until the shutdown is no longer in effect.
FMTYs and sponsored tours are going to be heavily affected, but tours in general will take a hit. With this 10% cut in flights, providers will be extremely selective about where they tour. Flights will be delayed or even canceled, so I’d expect a fair amount of cancellations to come into play in the next few days. It’s also possible flights will cost more due to fewer seats being available which, in turn, will affect clients paying for travel in personal bookings. Flights were never really that costly, usually being one of the cheaper parts of a booking, but now they could rival one or two hotel stays. Finally, some providers simply won’t be able to tour. With things becoming more difficult and possibly more expensive, touring might just not be worth it. The provider will be looking to at least break even, like she always does, but that’s going to be harder with how things are right now.
There are things we can do to stay ahead of this. If you’re doing an FMTY or a sponsored tour, check the itinerary to see if there’s a layover at one of the airports affected by the cuts. Let your provider know before booking that there’s a chance their flight could run into issues. Upgrading might be a good idea though costly, it’ll give your provider peace of mind, which makes things a lot easier for you too. So far, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York have all been affected by these cuts. These are all major hotspots for the hobby, so it’s something we’re just going to have to deal with and adapt to.
For now, all we can really do is stay patient and plan smarter. The shutdown has turned what used to be routine travel into a waiting game, and that’s frustrating for everyone involved. If we stay flexible and keep communication open, things will smooth out once this shutdown finally ends. Until then, a little awareness and preparation can go a long way toward keeping both providers and clients from losing too much in the chaos.
Only a day or so ago, the Transportation Secretary announced that domestic flights are going to be reduced by 10%. I didn’t think much of it since 10% didn’t really seem like a big deal. For someone who doesn’t know much about airplanes, it wouldn’t but this is affecting a lot of people. Since the shutdown, aviation workers have been overworked and unpaid, leading many to find other jobs. This cut is meant to help relieve some of that fatigue. Tomorrow, flights will be reduced by 4%, then 5% on Saturday, 6% on Sunday, and finally 10% on Monday until the shutdown is no longer in effect.
FMTYs and sponsored tours are going to be heavily affected, but tours in general will take a hit. With this 10% cut in flights, providers will be extremely selective about where they tour. Flights will be delayed or even canceled, so I’d expect a fair amount of cancellations to come into play in the next few days. It’s also possible flights will cost more due to fewer seats being available which, in turn, will affect clients paying for travel in personal bookings. Flights were never really that costly, usually being one of the cheaper parts of a booking, but now they could rival one or two hotel stays. Finally, some providers simply won’t be able to tour. With things becoming more difficult and possibly more expensive, touring might just not be worth it. The provider will be looking to at least break even, like she always does, but that’s going to be harder with how things are right now.
There are things we can do to stay ahead of this. If you’re doing an FMTY or a sponsored tour, check the itinerary to see if there’s a layover at one of the airports affected by the cuts. Let your provider know before booking that there’s a chance their flight could run into issues. Upgrading might be a good idea though costly, it’ll give your provider peace of mind, which makes things a lot easier for you too. So far, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York have all been affected by these cuts. These are all major hotspots for the hobby, so it’s something we’re just going to have to deal with and adapt to.
For now, all we can really do is stay patient and plan smarter. The shutdown has turned what used to be routine travel into a waiting game, and that’s frustrating for everyone involved. If we stay flexible and keep communication open, things will smooth out once this shutdown finally ends. Until then, a little awareness and preparation can go a long way toward keeping both providers and clients from losing too much in the chaos.
