Airlines are giving frustrated travelers some added flexibility amid long security lines and lengthy delays at airports nationwide due to the partial government shutdown.
The work stoppage has once again forced tens of thousands of TSA officers to work without pay, resulting in hundreds of screeners quitting and thousands more calling in sick or refusing to show up.
Las Vegas-based budget carrier Allegiant recently introduced a new "Travel with Confidence" policy, eliminating change fees for eligible bookings and providing customers the option to cancel and receive a refund without penalty now through the end of the shutdown.
However, major carriers, including Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, have issued travel alerts for travelers passing through some of the country's hardest-hit hubs.
With TSA lines stretching on for hours, United's waiver applies to travelers at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport with flights originally scheduled to depart by Wednesday, March 25. Customers can rebook without penalty but must complete travel by Friday, March 27.
Delta issued a similar waiver for travelers at its hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport this week. Those customers have until Monday, March 30, to complete rebooked travel.
Meanwhile, Delta recently suspended some travel perks for members of Congress, including expedited screening at TSA checkpoints, in response to the partial government shutdown's impact on resources.
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