What to do if your flight is delayed or canceled during the US government shutdown

By JOSH FUNK and RIO YAMAT, AP Transportation and Airlines Writers

The federal government shutdown has entered its second week, and already shortages of air traffic controllers have strained operations and disrupted flights at some U.S. airports.

Experts, as well as union leaders representing air traffic controllers and security screeners, warn that the impact could grow significantly worse if the shutdown continues and employees start to miss paychecks.

Here’s what to know about your rights as a passenger, and what you can do if delays and cancellations start piling up:

Check before going to the airport

It’s better to be stuck at home or in a hotel than to be stranded in an airport terminal, so use the airline’s app or flight websites to make sure that your flight is still on before