Traveling soon? Know how to navigate flight cancellations now

Flying soon? Listen up. At 40 of the country’s busiest airports, flights coming and going will be reduced by 10% this week. That means thousands of flights canceled, or, in other words, 200,000 fewer seats in the air per day. Blame it on a record‑long government shutdown.FLIGHT CHAOS GRIPS US AIRPORTS AS SOME AIRLINES ADVISE BOOKING 'BACKUP TICKET': SEE THE LISTMajor hubs will be the hardest hit: Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York‑JFK, Chicago O’Hare and many more. Together, those 40 airports cover roughly 70% of U.S. flights. So, yes, even if you’re in Hicksville, you feel it.If you plan on flying anywhere, here’s what you do.SHUTDOWN'S IMPACT AT AIRPORTS WILL WORSEN, SAYS TSA — TRAVELERS SHOULD 'GO EARLY' AND 'BE PATIENT'Gas prices are down (average around $3.08), so a road trip could really make sense.Don’t wait. Don’t assume. Keep checking, stay flexible and treat your travel like you’d treat a storm warning: Get ahead of it, not behind it.Pass this on: Know someone flying soon? Don’t leave them grounded. Forward this post before they end up sleeping in an airport chair with their neck at a 90-degree angle. Sharing this could save a trip, a holiday or at least someone’s sanity. And hey, we’ve all got that one friend who needs the reminder to download the airline app before they get to the gate.Get tech-smarter on your scheduleAward-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.