Airlines like Delta and United are offering free refunds for canceled flights

The U.S.'s biggest airlines are offering free refunds and changes ahead of looming flight reductions caused by the government shutdown.Why it matters: The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to close airspace for hundreds of flights — delaying potentially thousands of travelers nationwide.Many airlines expect the cancellations and airspace closures to start Friday, Nov. 7.Driving the news: The FAA said on Wednesday it plans to reduce 10% of flights at 40 major U.S. airports — adding to the logjam already plaguing airports amid the government shutdown.Hundreds of daily flights could get cut, with hundreds of thousands of travelers affected, per aviation analytics firm Cirium.It's unknown which airports will be impacted by the changes, as the FAA has not publicly confirmed the information.Reality check: Many airports are telling customers what they can do if their flights are canceled or delayed.Here's what airlines are offering.DeltaDelta travelers can cancel, change or refund their flights without penalty during the FAA's reductions, the company said.The airline has a waiver in place and plans to share updates through its app and website.Delta expects the majority of its flights to run on schedule, but "will work to minimize customer impact while keeping safety our top priority." AmericanAmerican Airlines plans to contact customers directly if any changes to their flights are made.The airline says customers should review the company's app for updates.The airline said travelers whose flights are cut for any reason, or those who don't want to travel, can change their flight or request a refund without any extra fees.SouthwestSouthwest plans to rebook travelers automatically in most cases.Travelers who are rebooked but don't wish to fly will be eligible for refunds, the airline said. They can rebook their flights or explore other options.Southwest has asked customers who can't travel on their new flights to rebook "at least 10 minutes" before the newly-booked flight departs.UnitedAny changes to United flights will be shared through the company's app, website or push alerts. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the company plans to offer "several days' advance notice" to "minimize disruption."All travelers — even those whose flights aren't impacted — will be eligible for a refund if they don't wish to fly, the company said.United plans to offer rebooking options for impacted flights. FrontierFrontier expects flights to "operate as planned," the company said in a statement.However, if there are cancellations, the airline plans to be proactive with customers and inform them of any switches through the Frontier mobile app.Customers whose flights are cut or delayed for more than three hours (domestic) or six hours (international) can rebook their flights, or request a refund.Of note: Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle said travelers on major airlines should book backup tickets on other carriers — like Frontier — if they have delays or cancellations.Go deeper:What to do if the FAA cuts or cancels your flightFlight chaos looms at Logan as FAA cuts flightsShutdown threatens Thanksgiving travel, U.S. Travel warns

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