Is the FAA cancelling flights at SC airports? What about connected flights? Here’s what we know

As many of the nation’s airports begin seeing flights canceled Friday due to the government shutdown, the age-old wisdom on air travel remains the same: Check your flight before going to the airport.

Columbia Metropolitan and Greenville-Spartanburg are not on the Federal Aviation Administration list of airports being required to cut flights. Spokespeople at both airports say it’s too early to say what effect the cancellations will have on their flights.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday that air traffic will be cut by 10% at 40 airports to cope with shortages of air traffic controllers, who are working without pay.

Columbia has 10 nonstop destinations and flies to 11 airports, including both of Washington, D.C.’s main airports, both of which are on the list. Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport is on the list as well.

Kim Crafton, vice president of marketing at Columbia Metropolitan said, as of Thursday there were no interruptions of service due to staffing at TSA or air traffic controllers.

Tiffany Cherry, spokesperson for the Greenville airport, said operations were normal Thursday and wait times have not gotten longer, but that could change as the cancellations roll out.

“The airports we serve at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport are among the top 40 airports,” she said.

GSP has over 100 daily nonstop flights — the number varies by day — and includes Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, and Dallas.

Airports and airlines have real-time updates on their websites.

If you’re making a connection, there is an FAA website that shows which airports are experiencing delays and why.

What to do if flight is canceled

Here’s what airlines will do for you if your flight is delayed or cancelled.

All the airlines serving Columbia and Greenville will rebook on their airline and all except Allegiant and Southwest will book you on a partner airline. You can do this at the airport with a customer service representative or you can call or go online and make the change with a reservation agent.

If your flight is delayed more than 3 hours, they will give you a meal voucher. They also will pay for lodging if you’re stranded overnight.

They are not required to pay you additional compensation but are required by law to refund your money if you decide to cancel even if you bought a non-refundable ticket. Bag fees and seat upgrades are also refundable.

Travel experts say take the cash, not a voucher, which can expire.

Each airline has its own rules. The U.S. Department of Transportation has a list to compare what airlines will do for you.

Columbia Metropolitan carriers are:

• American
• Delta 
• Allegiant
• United

Greenville Spartanburg carriers are:

• American Airlines
• Allegiant Air
• Alaska Airlines
• Breeze Airways
• Delta Air Lines
• Southwest Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• United Airlines