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If you’re planning on finally taking a vacation this summer, you’re not alone.
With the peak travel season just starting, vacationers are finding packed airports, sold-out hotels, sky-high prices and long waits for everything from rental cars to restaurant tables.
After two summers overshadowed by COVID-19, Americans seem to be confident about traveling again. Evidence: Three-quarters of Americans plan to take a trip this summer, according to research from Allianz Partners, a travel insurance provider.
All this comes despite average gas prices of $5 and more, airline tickets double and triple the cost of a year ago and thousands of flight cancellations due to staffing shortages.
“Travelers are still eager to hit the road this summer,” says Bob Pishue, an analyst with INRIX, a transportation analytics company working with AAA. “[But] we expect nationwide travel times to increase about 50 percent compared to normal.” In other words, a trip for which you once planned two hours could now take four.
Airport survival strategies
Even as travel surges, airlines have cut back on flights due to a shortage of pilots and other workers. Summer travelers already have seen thousands of flight cancellations. We asked Christopher Elliott, editor of the travel newsletter “Elliott Confidential,” to share his secrets for a smooth journey.
Arrive at the airport early. “If the airline tells you to get there an hour before your flight, give yourself two hours. If you can book an early morning flight to avoid the crush of tourists — do it,” Elliott says.
Download your airline’s app. It will alert you to flight delays, and may even let you rebook a trip before a cancellation is announced at the airport.
Bring your own snacks. “Airport food is pricey and unhealthy,” Elliott says. “Besides, who wants the stress of standing in another long line?” But know what will pass through TSA security. Liquid or gel foods over 3.4 ounces won’t make it.
Think outside the gate. You don’t have to wait at your crowded gate. Keep walking and you may find a nearby spot with plenty of seating.
Sign up for airline perks via email. Air France, for example, has a program called Ready to Fly that allows passengers to upload travel documents before flying. Elliott says on his last trip the check-in line was only five minutes for those who had uploaded their information beforehand.
Consider buying a pass for an airport lounge. But first check your credit card benefits, which may include lounge access.
Interest is high for all types of travel, as different as regional road trips or guided journeys with commercial tour operators.
“We’d anticipated pent-up demand for travel this year, but it has been even beyond our expectations,” says Timo Shaw, president of VBT Bicycling Vacations and Country Walkers, which offer active trips around the globe. “Right now, domestic tours are almost sold out for 2022 — with lots of interest in 2023 as well.”
Across the country, the most popular summer destinations include the Atlantic and Gulf coast beaches, Orlando, Florida, theme parks and Hawaii. Overseas trips are seeing a jump too, fueled by a recent change in federal policy that eliminated COVID-19 testing for U.S. residents returning from abroad, and for other incoming international travelers.
The Allianz study predicts vacation travel to Europe jumping by 600 percent over 2021. Top cities include London, Paris, Dublin, Rome and Reykjavík, Iceland. All this means airports are beyond crowded even in the middle of the week when traffic is usually lighter.
Kirsten Maxwell, founder of the family travel blog Kids Are A Trip, says she has noticed the difference, most recently when she had to fly through London’s Heathrow Airport. “It feels even more crowded than pre-COVID if that’s possible. I imagine that July and August are going to be ridiculously busy.”
