chaos. What to do during an airline meltdown

Another airline service meltdown is about to happen. It’s a question of “when”, not “if”. And this could make last year’s vacation airline problems look like minor delays.

who said experts say. says the Federal Aviation Administration.To tell everyone.

“For summer travelers, it could be a bit of a pain going forward,” said managing director Mike Taylor. JD Powerwarned. “Despite the precautionary measures taken by airlines, the industry’s basic infrastructure has not recovered from the pandemic. Pilots are in short supply and everyone wants to fly.”

The FAA is also sounding the alarm.This spring, the agency updated exemption For slots at the busiest East Coast airports, it forecast delays at New York-area airports this summer to increase by 45% compared to the same period last year. It sounds like a summer’s worth of meltdowns to me.

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The American Travel Association predicts this summer will be a “stress test” for the air travel system.a Recent research A survey commissioned by the group found that 35% of Americans reported delays or cancellations in the past 12 months, suggesting they’ve already had a preview. So it’s no wonder that only about a third (32%) of modern air travelers are ‘extremely satisfied’ with their air travel experience.

Even airlines say things could get worse. Many are adjusting their schedules out of fear that they will not be able to operate all scheduled flights.

“All the major airlines are warning of problems with travel this summer, citing staffing, weather and possible shortages of traffic controllers,” said Travel Advisor Andrew Steinberg. ovation networkSaid.

Oh, did I forget to mention the air traffic controller shortage? Yes, there is one too.there is 10% fewer fully certified controllers than 10 years ago.

But what are the odds that the system will collapse completely? What are air travelers doing about this problem, and what should you do about it?

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How likely is it that another air travel meltdown will occur this summer?

It is very possible. None of the experts I spoke with could give me the odds, but you don’t want to scare customers away now, do you? – They know all the key ingredients needed for a meltdown are present.

Demand is growing, according to Expedia, with searches for summer flights up 25% from this time last year.

“Airlines are still operating fewer flights than they did pre-pandemic, which means flights will be fully booked this summer,” Expedia spokeswoman Christy Hudson said.

Add to that staffing issues and other potential technical issues that caused air travel problems last year. Airlines continue to use outdated technology that is prone to failure. US Pilot Shortage Is About to Worse Dramatically There is currently a shortage of 8,000 pilots worldwide, but by 2032 the shortage will grow to nearly 30,000. Recent Quote. And then there’s the air traffic control problem that was already mentioned.

All you have to do is add a big thunderstorm or hurricane to the mix and Dawn! You’ll wish you had driven instead.

What airline passengers are doing ahead of the summer travel season

Do you mean other than panic?

I asked our customer service expert how he plans to fly this summer. Professional speaker and author Chip Bell said he reluctantly booked a midsummer flight from Atlanta to New York for a week-long cultural vacation of theater, concerts, and museums.

Yes, even in New York, delays increase by 45%.

“But I took precautions,” he added. “I leave early in the morning, work with experienced travel agents who are available 24/7 and find alternative flights quickly.”

And he has a plan B, Amtrak, just in case the plane doesn’t take off. The train journey takes approximately 18 hours. Come to think of it, it might be faster than an airplane.

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So what should we do about the summer travel meltdown?

There are ways to avoid long delays and disruptions caused by airline meltdowns.

Avoid airports and routes with a history of delays

Of course? But before you ignore this advice, ask yourself: Which Which airports and routes are the slowest? According to Department of Transportation data, air advisorLast summer, Midway in Chicago, JFK in New York and Denver had the highest rates of flight delays (all around 60%).). The slowest routes were JFK to Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale to Newark, and Charleston to LaGuardia. All average latencies are 65-70 minutes.

“It makes sense to rely on summer 2022 data as a means of making predictions for summer 2023,” said Anton Radchenko, founder of Air Advisor.

Analysis of USA TODAY:Here are the 10 airports with the most cancellations around the holidays:

use a real travel agency

A qualified human travel advisor can help you avoid the worst consequences of a meltdown. In the unlikely event that you become stranded inside the terminal, you can take it home in no time. “Trip advisor can change flights on the fly,” says luxury travel advisor Ashley Leth. postcards from, Said. “This ensures that even if problems arise, I never have Travel agents also have the inside knowledge to avoid wasting time waiting in long lines or sleeping in terminals.

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redoIf my trip doesn’t go well, can I redo my vacation?

take out travel insurance

Most travelers do not consider travel insurance necessary for short domestic trips. But the upcoming airline meltdown may make people reconsider that conventional wisdom. “With proper travel insurance, you can cover additional meals, transportation and lodging costs in the event of significant delays,” said spokesperson Daniel Durazo. Allianz Partners USASaid.

It also has some mechanics to deal with meltdowns. This includes booking the first flight of the day (thanks, tip). Also, check the airline’s refund policy. DOT Flight Rights Page I bookmarked it in my browser. We book direct flights whenever possible to reduce the chance of delays and disruptions.

as a public service Airline executive name, number and email address On my consumer advocacy site Elliott.org. If something goes wrong, it’s a good idea to send a complaint email. They may be able to fix the problem quickly.

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