It Happened to Me: What You Need to Know if There’s a Cyberattack at the Airport

28.08.2024 - 21:45 / smartertravel.com

Nine hours before my flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) was due to depart, I got an email from the airline that my flight was delayed. I was annoyed since the weather was clear both in Seattle and at my destination but didn’t really think too much about it—until I checked the news and saw that the airport was under a cyberattack.

Cyberattacks on American airports are not a new phenomenon. Major hubs like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta have all fallen victim in the past, and such incidents are likely to continue, potentially causing significant travel disruptions.

The tips that I learned from my experience could help you if you’re flying out of an airport that’s been hit by a cyberattack.

Check Social Media for Updates

There was minimal news coverage of what was happening at the airport, and I found the most accurate and up-to-date information on SeaTac’s X (Twitter) account.

If you hear about a cyber attack, check the official social media accounts for the airport and your airline to find out what’s happening.

If you’re not at the airport yet and want to know how chaotic it is, searching for hashtags related to the incident can show you real-time videos and stories from travelers already there that will help you know what to expect.

Monitor Your Flight Status

About an hour after being notified that my flight was delayed, I got another email letting me know that my flight was back to its originally scheduled time. You should monitor your flight status closely and plan to be at the airport for your original departure time in case anything changes.

I flew out on the first day of the cyber attack, when 165 flights were delayed and six were canceled. My flight was delayed about an hour, but the delay was never announced again. When computer systems are down, there can be lags in notifying passengers about departure time changes.

Allow Extra Time at the Airport

During a cyber attack, computer systems will be down, and passengers and luggage will have to be checked in manually. Even TSA screening may have to be done manually in some cases (in my case, I was able to go through TSA PreCheck as normal), which can take a significant amount of extra time.

Check Into Your Flight Online

Fortunately, I had already checked in online and saved my boarding pass before the cyber attack struck. Check-in lines at the airport were extremely long for people who did not check-in online, so avoid doing this if you can.

Related:

What to Do If You’re Caught in an Emergency Situation Abroad

Print your ticket at home (or save your mobile boarding pass to your phone) as you won’t be able to print your pass at an airport kiosk.

Do Not Check a Bag

Avoid checking a bag at all costs during a cyber