As the U.S. grapples with the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, its impact on airports and travelers has prompted European countries to issue warnings to their citizens considering trips to America. Among them, the United Kingdom has revised its travel advice, highlighting potential disruptions that might affect travelers heading to the United States.
In its updated advisory, the UK specifically mentions the possibility of “travel disruption” due to the partial shutdown of the U.S. government. The statement cautions that travelers may encounter “longer than usual queues at some U.S. airports” as a result of the situation.
The advisory further recommends that travelers stay informed by checking with their travel providers, departure airports, or airlines for the most current guidance and updates.
The delays stem from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers calling out of work due to unpaid wages. This marks the third time in nearly six months that TSA staff have faced this financial strain, leading to significant operational challenges.
According to a TSA spokesperson, the national call-out rate reached 10.19% on Sunday, underscoring the strain on airport operations, as reported by Fox News Digital.
There was a national callout rate of 10.19% on Sunday, a TSA spokesperson told Fox News Digital this week.
That’s the highest rate the agency has seen.
On Tuesday, the Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta cautioned travelers about delays in an X-post — and called out passengers for attempting to hack the system.
“We are seeing increased congestion at the International Terminal Checkpoint caused by domestic travelers attempting to bypass lines in the Domestic Terminal,” wrote airport officials.
“If you are flying domestically, please use the Domestic Security Checkpoints. At this time, wait times at the International Checkpoint are longer than those at the Domestic Terminal.”
Over the weekend, callouts spiked at major airports, with Houston reaching over 50% — while New Orleans and Atlanta airport callouts hit over 30%.
Callout rates have spiked nationwide, with the highest single-day airport callout rate reaching 55% at Houston Hobby Airport on Friday.
In addition, 366 TSA officers have now quit during the shutdown.
It takes four to six months to train and certify officers — creating a critical staffing gap, Fox News Digital was told by a source familiar.
Travel expert Clint Henderson of The Points Guy website told Fox News Digital that as the shutdown drags on, flight passengers can expect the situation to only get worse.
“TSA workers are going without pay, and some are quitting. Others are having to pick up gig work to pay the bills,” said Henderson.
“A combination of weather issues at major airports across the country are making matters worse,” he added.
“Mornings seem to be the worst times. Be sure to keep an eye on local news sites and social media in case of long lines. Some airports update wait times on their homepages, though — so keep an eye on that.”
Flight passengers have the right to request a prompt refund if the airline cancels the flight, said Henderson, or if it is severely delayed and the passenger decides not to accept the alternative bookings.
“You are entitled to a prompt refund of your original payment method within 21 days,” he said.
“That also covers delays within the U.S. of more than three hours or six hours for international flights.”
