Coming home for Thanksgiving next week?

[Anonymous]

Is your DC coming home for Thanksgiving next week? The ATCs are getting backpaid now, but the ATC shortage and flight cancellations are expected to spill over Thanksgiving travels. I understand the situation is flux, with differing opinions when the full schedule will return, but as of this morning the flight cuts remain at 6%. DC is a freshman in midwest with tickets for a 4-days trip home to Wash DC next week, but has concerns that the delays might add unbearable travel time and frustrations, or worse leave them stranded in DC (I know some travellers double-book, but the prices have gone way up). With the fall semester coming to an end and finals week starts Dec 10, would DC be better off postponing coming home till after finals? To put it in context, DC struggles a bit with the final stretch in getting decent final grades (B+ and above) in the most consequential semester of their college career. What are the considerations for your own DC when making this go / no-go decision? TIA

[Anonymous]

Crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.

[Anonymous]

Seriously? You’re debating whether to bring your kid home for Thanksgiving? Flight cuts were reduced to 3% yesterday, and usually only in frequency between two points with many daily options.

[Anonymous]

I understand the concern OP. How tight is the return trip? Is there leeway in the schedule for them to arrive several hours to a day later?

[Anonymous]

DC isn’t changing his flights or plans. Things are shaking out.

[Anonymous]

This is just unthinkable to me. My child is driving distance thank goodness, but it would break my heart (and theirs) not to come home.

[Anonymous]

Bringing your freshman home for Thanksgiving is important. Have them check in as early as as possible, get to the airport early, and throw themselves on the mercy of the reservation or gate agent at the first sign of a problem.

At the same time, have them put out feelers for students with a car who will be driving east. If they can get from Chicago (or wherever) to Pittsburgh, Philly, Richmond, Baltimore, Newport News… anywhere you drive to pick them up (or take train the rest of the way) that will be closer than Chicago.

[Anonymous]

First week in December from study abroad. Sophomore. International flights seem to be ok. Fingers crossed.

[Anonymous]

My husband travels full time for work and hasn’t had a single delay since November 1 (over 15 flights at least all over the country). I’m not saying there isn’t an issue but I think it is somewhat overblown and certainly wouldn’t cause me to consider having my kids stay on campus for thanksgiving.

[Anonymous]

My kid is still planning to fly. If his flight back gets canceled, he’ll eventually get back by either us driving him or him taking a later flight (the drive is 6 hours one way).

There are plenty of kids in his campus who don’t go home for Thanksgiving, though, and the school has a special Thanksgiving dinner.

[Anonymous]

Would consider for an older child but not a freshman. I was a flight away for college and the cost of flights was significant for my family. I didn't come home for TG after freshman year, but that first year, it's important.

[Anonymous]

OP. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. DC is flying back to STL Sat Nov 29, so there is some cushion if flight got delayed. But purchasing a backup ticket would be costly. Driving is 16 hours non-stop, so less of an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bringing your freshman home for Thanksgiving is important. Have them check in as early as as possible, get to the airport early, and throw themselves on the mercy of the reservation or gate agent at the first sign of a problem.

At the same time, have them put out feelers for students with a car who will be driving east. If they can get from Chicago (or wherever) to Pittsburgh, Philly, Richmond, Baltimore, Newport News… anywhere you drive to pick them up (or take train the rest of the way) that will be closer than Chicago.

OP. Thank you for the many good suggestions. I would add to call the airline's reservation line immediately when there is an inkling of flight delay/cancellation, combined with rushing for the gate/reservation agent rebooking line. When there is a lot of fellow passengers in the same boat, typically calling is a faster way to rebook for the next flight available.

[Anonymous]

My child is on the West coast and we are a bit nervous, but going ahead with her scheduled flights as she would be so sad not to come home. We are not really nervous about the trip home, but her flight is on Sunday after Thanksgiving which is a mess every year even without the ATC issue this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband travels full time for work and hasn’t had a single delay since November 1 (over 15 flights at least all over the country). I’m not saying there isn’t an issue but I think it is somewhat overblown and certainly wouldn’t cause me to consider having my kids stay on campus for thanksgiving.

That’s just luck of the draw. I booked my first flight in many months for Friday and it was cancelled. Going forward the level is still 3% so it’s pretty bad luck to be one who gets cancelled. But if you are, rebooking over Thanksgiving weekend will be a nightmare.

I’m guessing that if it’s safe, the forced cancellations will end and you’ll only be at the mercy of normal issues like weather and mechanical issues, which presumably parents considered and factored in when they made their holiday plans.