130. Navigating Travel in a Government Shutdown: What You Need to Know

The government shutdown has stretched into week three, and travelers everywhere are feeling the ripple effects. In this episode, I’m breaking down what the shutdown really means for your travel plans, sharing insider tips to avoid frustrating delays, and giving you smart strategies to protect your trip with travel insurance and flexible planning. Whether you’ve got a flight coming up or you’re just dreaming of your next escape, this quick, actionable guide will help you turn shutdown chaos into smooth, unforgettable journeys.

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• 62. Set Jetting with Bridgerton: Exploring the Regency Charms of Iconic Filming Locations
• 92. Laplands Luxury Travel: Northern Lights, Arctic Circle, and Siberian Huskies!
• 117. Summer’s Not Over Yet! Last Minute Luxury Travel Getaways You Can Still Book

Connect with Michele on IG: @jetsettingwithmichele or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/MMTinsiders

Contact Michele to plan your next vacation: www.makinmemoriestravel.co/contact, michele@makinmemoriestravel.co, or schedule a 15 minute consult: https://tidycal.com/texasmfs/15-minute-meeting

This episode was produced by The Podcast Teacher: www.ThePodcastTeacher.com.

Transcript

Hello Jetsetters.  Michele here with Makin Memories Travel, your passport to extraordinary adventures. Now, before we dive into today's very timely episode, I want to share some very exciting news. It is because of all of you that I can say jet Setting with me is now ranked in the top 10% of travel podcasts worldwide. I can't believe it. Cue the confetti. This incredible milestone is truly thanks to all of you, my listeners and my friends and my family who download and listen to these episodes every week. So if you are enjoying them and you are one of those people who does download and listen every week, I would love to keep growing and keep this momentum up.

So help spread the word. You can share it with your friends. You could leave a review on Apple Podcasts, which actually really does help people read them and then they're like, oh, that sounds good. I'm going to listen and follow and download. Following this podcast so that you never miss an adventure is of course a true compliment to me and I appreciate all of you. Just a quick little housekeeping note in addition to that good news. Why stop celebrating? A quick heads up. Got two unforgettable group trips which I have spoken about before, but since you know the Christmas decorations are already coming out before Halloween at the grocery store, thought I should mention you can start planning 2026 travel February.

We're chasing the Northern lights and the Lapland Bucket List experience and it's going to be wrapped in that warm, cozy winter magic. Can't you see yourself with a good hot chocolate or mulled wine, sitting by the fireplace? It's crackling and your boots are off and you're in those warm mitten like socks. It's truly an awesome experience. Then in late March, early April, it's spring again. So join me for the Bridgerton Spring soiree where we're going to immerse ourselves in that Regency elegance. We've got some exclusive behind the scenes footage and maybe a little romance is in the air. As I said, done full podcast episodes on both of these trips. The links to all of that is in the show notes.

Would love to have you join me on either or both of those trips. Now on to the news. So the government Shutdown began on October 1st and now we reach the three week mark. It is clear that the travel industry is feeling the fallout, as are we all in real time. What began as political news has now triggered airport delays, closed national parks and frustrating disruptions. That is definitely getting in the way of my getaway plans. So this episode was recorded on October 9, which was pretty timely to break down what these unfolding effects mean. But you're listening to it a full two weeks later, which means we're three weeks into the shutdown.

But if by some magic, pixie dust, Disney in your pocket, fairy dust, Tinkerbell magic has happened and the government shutdown is over by the time you are hearing this, just know that all of these things are actually still happening because of the ripple effects. So hopefully I'm talking to you from the future and the shutdown is no more. But you will probably have all of these travel issues come regardless, because from airport delays, who we all love those right. To limited access at the iconic landmarks that our country is known for. The shutdown's impact is going to already be felt, but the effects on that are going to extend well into the summer travel period. And the longer it goes, the more into next year's travel plans will be impacted. So how do you stay one step ahead? Duh. Keep your travel dreams on track despite the shutdown.

Well, of course. With me. Let's unpack. Pun intended. What's happening and what you need to know right now. Let's start at where it is the worst. The airport delays. As the government's shutdown has now stretched past three weeks, the airport experience is anything but smooth sailing.

Have you felt the frustration of the longer security lines yet? I certainly did myself. When I traveled October 15th, I was traveling to a conference in Costa Rica and Even with the TSA PreCheck and the global entry that I already have, the lines were noticeably longer. Just felt harder. What really struck with me was seeing when I say it felt harder, the toll that this is taking on the TSA agents who are working those long lines. They have tired faces, they are working longer hours because their colleagues are calling in sick. They are not getting pay. There are rumors that they won't be getting back pay. And they are doing their very best despite the staffing shortages.

And it didn't stop at tsa, like walking through and going to my gate. The gate agents are also stretched thin because they're handling passengers who are unprepared because they don't have this podcast or they're not reading the current events and they just get to the airport as if all is right with the world. And those particular passengers can be downright rude to people who literally have no control over what's happening. None of us have any control over any shutdown related travel delays issues. None of it. So let's talk about what's happening behind Those scenes for those people, those TSA agents who are working without pay. Many are dipping into their holiday and their sick leave not so they can take a day off so that they can take on a side job like delivering Uber eats or becoming a Lyft driver so that they can bring in some quick income while they are having to work the rest of the week without pay. So that juggling act really just means that agents are using their sick leave more frequently, which is creating even more staffing gaps.

So the longer security lines and the slower screening times, these waits can add up to an hour or more at busy airports. I shared on my Instagram stories some of the airports that have already been affected and seen delays. I live in Texas. I can tell you both of my connection cities of Dallas and Houston were on that list. Any of your busier airports that are already stretched to capacity like the Dallas Fort Worth Airport or the Atlanta Airport or New York airports, LA airports, they're feeling it even more because they were already stretched thin to begin with. So air traffic controllers are feeling the strain too. And let's not forget that their technology is already antiquated and old. They are now working again, short staffed, fewer people available to manage that complexity of airplanes that are taking off and landing.

Immense pressure, not pressures that I ever want to have, which leads to more flight delays, sometimes cancellations, and that brings up a domino effect that disrupts connecting flights and passengers. So you have heard me say on this podcast before, when traveling during busy times, I always try and take the earliest flight out so that that domino effect doesn't catch up with me. My plane is already here on the ground the night before and I always do my best to take a nonstop flight so I don't have to connect through Dallas or Houston. And that way I mitigate some of those possible delays. But airlines, they're scrambling to keep up. And as we all know from the Southwest meltdown two years ago, airline technology for scheduling crews is also antiquated. So. So rearranging crews, adjusting those flight plans and then managing the growing customer frustration that we are all feeling for travelers, for you and I, that means we've got to stay nimble and we have to be informed.

It's more important now than it ever was. So the best advice that I can give you, Give yourself extra time at the airport. Do not be rushed. Stay glued to your flight updates and don't forget to pack a generous helping of patience. Pack that in your carry on bag so that it stays with you throughout your journey. Understanding those human Stories, those operational hurdles behind those disruptions, it's going to help us all navigate this bumpy period together. We can all show understanding and compassion. And when all else fails, bring treats.

I'm not kidding. I bring treats for the TSA workers. Food is my love language. So a good delivery of Tiff's treats, warm hot cookies, it does wonders for someone, makes them smile. Okay, so we've covered airports. Let's shift gears. Let's talk about another part of your trip that could be impacted. And that is, let's say you've decided to road trip it to a national park or a historic federal site.

Other fabulous, fun destinations that I love to travel to. So while airport delays are grabbing all of the headlines and the attention, like, I mean, we've seen camera crews and anchors and journalists like camping out in the airport lobbies, the government shutdown is actually also reshaping the experience for travelers who are already in a natural beauty area or want have already made plans to go visit a national park or a federal line or a federal landmark. So many parks and monuments are operating with a reduced staff. They definitely have limited services. For example, you may find your visitor centers are closed. Restrooms might be off limits or they might not be taken care of in the optimal amount of time. Ranger led tours, those can all be canceled. And in some cases, that important maintenance and preservation work is on hold again, affecting not just your safety and visitor experience now, but into the future.

So during a previous shutdown, a different administration, the President visited the Washington Monument and he connected with tourists who had traveled from all over the country to visit the Washington Monument only to find it closed. When they got there completely unexpectedly, they didn't know there was like a photo of one child, child crying. They couldn't go up to the top. And they were very disappointed and obviously very inconvenienced because in D.C. not much was open for them to do at that time. So real people's travel and travel memories put on hold. So the President went to the Washington Monument with all the Secret Service in the background to shake their hands and explain how he was apologetic for that inconvenience. And here's where it is especially important.

These challenges don't just vanish when the shutdown ends. As I've said a couple times now, that backlog of the deferred maintenance, a surge of visitors who have postponed earlier trips, and then the strained local economies of the small cities where some of these national parks and monuments, those that keep the economies churning in these small towns, it promises that it's going to send those ripple effects rolling into prime summer season. So if you're dreaming of that summer visit already thinking about summer 2026, please remember, flexibility and patience will also be your best travel companions. But that's also exactly why working with me and a travel professional who I understand the ebb and flow of the travel uncertainties, like the critical time right now, but always, I'm always staying up to date on that. Agents like myself, we can help you navigate those shifting openings, those alternative destinations. And of course, we share our insider access, AKA my Rolodex that keeps your trip extraordinary regardless of any shutdown surprises. So it's not just the airports and the parks that we keep an eye on for you. There are more travel hurdles for all of us to consider during a shutdown or really any truly busy travel season.

A few more bumps that you might hit on your path while you're traveling during government shutdown or if you're getting ready to travel and the government is still shut down, is please watch your visa and your passport processing times. This is huge. Federal employees in these departments are furloughed or they are working without pay again, which means some of them might be calling in sick. And that means applications can take longer to process. So if you've got an international trip on the horizon, please check your passport expiration date. You need to have a full six months of eligibility before your passport expires before you leave this country. Most countries will turn you around at their customs gate if you do not have at least six months of eligibility on your passport before it expires. So any delays with that, your visa or passport processing times, obviously you're going to add unexpected stress for you.

And if I may be so bold, everyone around you who's also looking forward to the trip. So let's say you're in Austin like me and you've decided, yeah, that airport's overcrowded, there's a lot of delays going on. I don't really want to do that. I'm just going to drive to my local nearest cruise port, which is barely a three hour drive for me. Well, guess what, cruise levers not off the hook. Some ports require federal inspections before ships can set sail and when they get back back into port. And those federal inspectors might be limited during a shutdown, which could lead to last minute delays or last minute changes to a cruise itinerary or make it impossible to make a flight home if it's delayed getting inspected when it docks back in the United States after going out of country. So even things that seem small, such as background checks for programs like TSA PreCheck Global Entry, they can all slow down.

And that means your expedited security perk that you have loved for all this time. It may be harder to obtain or renew during this period. And let's be real, it might not really be working at its prime optimal movement. So remember this pro tip. Build extra time into your travel plans. Please do not try and fly into your cruise on the day of your cruise. Please come in the day before. Please do not get an 8am flight out of Miami when your cruise ship doesn't dock until 6:30 in the morning.

Build that extra time into your plans. And especially for things that you usually would take for granted like the document processing check ins and transfers, little prep time can turn what feels like a Tylenol inducing migraine into just another funny story that you're going to tell your BFF over coffee. And please, for the love of everything, let's not forget about travel protection. Your best safety net in times like these will really all the time is travel insurance. It is a game changer though. During a government shutdown, it covers unexpected trip delays, trip cancellations, or interruptions caused by airport backups or federal site closures. That's right. It protects your travel investment so that maybe once all of the ripple effects have evened out, you can rebook your travel and it would already be covered.

Having that protection means if your flight gets delayed or your cruise inspection holds up that departure time, you can be reimbursed for extra hotel nights, meals or even alternative transportation. And the law has changed again. Airlines are no longer required to provide you with meal vouchers or hotel rooms. You will be paying for those out of pocket. And that is where travel insurance comes in handy because they can reimburse you upon you collecting your receipts and showing a receipt and making a claim. That's what I was trying to say. Save those receipts. Make a claim.

It is true peace of mind and it lets you focus more on the what if and enjoying that adventure. So even when things feel predictable, have that trusted insurance travel buddy. I can help you file that claim. I will have your back when the unexpected strikes. Okay, now here is where I get really depressed when I'm on this soapbox. So beyond these immediate travel disruptions, there's a really a much bigger picture out there. And that is the economic fallout that many of us I can't imagine. If you're not that you're not listening to this podcast that you're feeling from the government shutdown.

It is not just our flights and our national parks. It is we all have job uncertainties, potential delay in paycheck or payment processes. And I mean, I'm not gonna lie, I feel some financial jitters. We're making ourselves second guess our vacations and maybe we wanna postpone them because we're afraid that it's gonna be too difficult to travel. So if you are hesitating to book a trip or you're just kind of feeling that pinch, trust me, you're not alone. I'm right there with you. If it weren't for conferences and the fact that I have to keep traveling, I would probably be even more nervous than you are right now. And traveling is supposed to ease your stress, not add to it.

So here are just a few tips to keep your travel dreams on track, pun intended, even in uncertain travel times. So one obviously is to be flexible. Look for trips that offer flexible cancellation or date change policies and that way we can adjust if your situation changes. Work, sickness, anything that we can do to avoid any significant financial losses. Consider a close to home or a more budget friendly destination. A shorter getaway nearby or a well chosen more budget friendly spot. It can still offer a refreshing escape and it doesn't have to break the bank or even mean an airport experience. So I mentioned in episode 117 the topic was last minute luxury travel getaways.

Those are all still really apropos. You can take a look at that. The episode is in the show notes, but again I'm in Austin so I'm going to use myself as an example. We can road trip it to New Orleans or if we even really want to stay closer to home, there's water parks between here and San Antonio. I can get direct flights and nonstop flights from to either coast out of Austin because we're so centrally located. Tell me where you're located and let me help you plan that alternative or shorter we're calling a micro getaways now. And of course leverage my expertise. Let me help you uncover those deals.

Let me tell you which cruise line has the best discount at this time. And, and what are those flexible cancellation policies that I can help you tailor to what your budget will allow right now. And having my support means you're never going to be navigating those changes or those surprises by yourself. Okay friends, if you're still with me, that is the lowdown right now on how the government shutdown is shaking up travel and the industry and what lies ahead is unknown. To all of us. But we know there will be ripple effects from all of it. It could be continued. Longer airport lines and delays.

I mean, we had them before the shutdown, so why wouldn't we? It could mean that certain national monuments or parks remain closed due to budget constraints. It will mean slower visa and passport processing times. It's just a season now to travel smart, stay flexible, and pack that extra helping of patience. But here is that good news. With that extra helping of patience, some savvy planning, and yes, my help. Who knows the ins and outs of these bumps in the road better than me, we can still craft you some unforgettable memories that will make your trip worth it. Remember, traveling and those memories is not all about the destination. Maybe it's the memory of how you had to pull in to an unexpected roadside stop because the restrooms were closed and you're going to embarrass your child with that story at their rehearsal dinner sometime in the future.

In other words, it's those stories that you gather, even the ones that you weren't prepared for, that have a little unpredictability, that really make travel what it is. And you want to have those travel stories. So I encourage all of us together to keep traveling and exploring and just be patient and do an Instagram live about what you're experiencing. There's safety in numbers. So if your travel plans feel uncertain, then reach out. I promise we'll create an extra AF trip together that you will not forget. Now, this episode this week you were supposed to be hearing about winter vacations, the holidays and winter break travel plans because it is currently the ideal time to be booking those flight arrangements. Yes.

Spoiler alert. Anytime between now and Halloween is really a great time to get your flights and plans in order. So next week, I promise we're going to dive into the continued great time to book your holiday flights. I'm going to share with you some insider tips to score the best winter travel deals and we can talk all about planning that cozy family getaway or perhaps ringing in the new year somewhere extraordinary with your friends and your chosen family. You will not want to miss next week, so make sure to tune in. And until next time, make every journey a memory worth saving.