Over the past year, there have been a few busy holiday travel times that have been ruined by cancellations and delays.
However, there is a promise that Thanksgiving and Christmas travel in 2022—and even holiday travel earlier in 2022, like Memorial Day weekend—might look much better than the holidays last year because airlines have recently made certain modifications.
On the eve before Thanksgiving, demand is already high.
Without a significant holiday, last month saw some of the busiest days for airlines since the beginning of the pandemic.
There are certain things we learned over the summer, though, that you might want to bear in mind as you get ready to fly to the airport for your holiday flight, despite predictions earlier this year that air travel won't improve until 2023.
Think of coming a day early
Your travel arrangements for Thanksgiving are probably already finalized, but if you're still waiting to book flights for Christmas, think about allowing yourself a little more time.
Any hiccup, from icy weather to mechanical issues to airline staffing difficulties, could put a kink in your plans if there is a must-attend family celebration or another event you're expecting to attend.
Planes are also expected to be crowded since airlines are operating on tighter timetables to guarantee that staffing levels can keep up with demand.
Because of this, airlines might not have room for you on the subsequent flight if there is a cancellation.
To prevent a blip in your itinerary from derailing your entire trip, you may need to add a day to your travel schedule.
keep up with airport news
Keep an eye on the airport's social media pages.
This might help you prepare for any obstacles you could encounter on your journey.
These messages typically show up on the airport's Twitter or Facebook feed, whether they be an early warning to reserve a parking spot in advance because availability may be restricted or a notice about some sort of operational issue at the airport.
Major international and domestic airports are included in this.
Additionally, we talked about how the TSA app can give you a head start in estimating the length of the delay you might experience at the security checkpoint.
Learn the regulations of the US Department of Transportation.
Make sure you are familiar with the U.S. Department of Transportation's policies regarding your travel rights, as this is one of the department's recent areas of emphasis.
It has launched a new website outlining passenger entitlements.
One important thing to remember is that if your trip is canceled or considerably delayed and you decide not to fly, you are entitled to a refund.
In the event of a significant interruption under the airline's control, it's also crucial to understand what the airline is responsible for paying for in terms of lodging, meals, and ground transportation.
View the weather at important locations
Even if there isn't a drop of rain or a trace of snow where you are, let alone where you're going, if the weather appears clear, you could still get into problems.
Since so many important airline routes pass through those areas, we frequently seen how a storm system in New York or Florida might clog up travel along the whole East Coast during the summer.
If you're flying American Airlines from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), but the weather is terrible in New York and Washington, two major American hubs, it's probable that the aftereffects will cause delays to your flight.
Keep a close check on the weather in the city where you're flying out of, the city where you're connecting to, and any further cities you may visit, but also keep an eye out for severe weather at your airline's regional hubs.
It can provide you with a forewarning if your schedule is in peril.
Understand how to use your airline's app.
My airline's app came in helpful when I encountered cancellations and delays much too often this summer.
But I never waited in one of those excruciatingly lengthy lines at the airport to speak with a customer care agent, and I never contacted customer service.
You may frequently rebook yourself on a new flight in a matter of seconds by utilizing the airline's mobile app.
If the initial flight you locate isn't suitable, you might even be able to make many modifications.
(However, you should strive to reserve the first option that at least slightly fits your timetable because even that could disappear soon.)
The app can save you a lot of time sitting on hold or in line, even if it's difficult to find a new flight that's convenient when there are widespread flight problems.
The airline's app can also be used to detect early warning signals of issues, such as when the arriving plane for your journey is experiencing delays that could have an impact on your flight later on.
Have a backup lounge
The lounge overcrowding problems that started to arise before the epidemic most definitely did not go away in 2022.
These problems can be especially problematic on days when widespread flight cancellations leave a large number of passengers stuck in airports.
Because of this, you could have to wait to enter a lounge throughout your trip, which, depending on how long your stopover is or when you leave, may make it impossible or generally not worthwhile to wait.
This might require you to brave the airport concourse with the majority of other passengers to have a meal or beverage before takeoff.
Remember that you might have other options for lounge admission with some credit cards.
For instance, holders of American Express' The Business Platinum Card® get access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and – if they're flying Delta Air Lines – Delta Sky Clubs.
Having a backup plan is important in 2022, just like in many other elements of travel.
Consider AirTags or try not to check a bag
The turbulent summer for air travel presented nightmare circumstances for many travelers when it came to luggage, from piles of luggage in Europe to misplaced bags during delays at local airports.
The luggage situation might start to become chaotic, and your suitcase might end up being left behind, especially when cascading delays and cancellations affect numerous aircraft.
When your travel plans change, this is especially true.
Packing all of your belongings into a carry-on bag is the easiest method to guarantee that your bag will be with you when you arrive.
You must therefore confirm that your bag's contents and size comply with TSA 3-1-1 regulations and that your ticket permits a full-size carry-on in addition to making sure that your bag complies with airline carry-on requirements.
AirTags' value in helping you find your backpack if it disappears has also been demonstrated.
However, some visitors have discovered the hard way that being able to find your suitcase and having it back can be two very different things.
(For his family's bags, one passenger had to make a second flight back to Europe.)
The location of your bag's disappearance is still helpful to know.
Prepare in advance for airport car rentals
Things are still not totally back to normal on the automobile rental front, despite the fact that car rental companies are still attempting to increase their inventory after many businesses sold their cars during the pandemic.
Long queues are still common at automobile rental outlets, which may be caused by factors like low inventory, a lack of staff, or strong demand.
After a flight, standing in a long line is not exactly fun.
To take advantage of skip-the-line benefits, plan ahead by enrolling in your car rental company's loyalty program. You may also use credit card elite status benefits with rental car businesses to ensure you won't have to wait in line with the majority of other customers who are ready to check out.
In conclusion
If this summer's numerous airline delays have taught us anything, it's that travelers should always pack a variety of tactics in case something goes wrong on a vacation.
Be aware that some preparation could go a long way toward making your holiday air travel as painless as possible, as it might not be until 2023 before things completely return to "normal."
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