Summer Travel Woes: How to Make the Best Out of Your Airline Experience

If you’ve done any kind of traveling this summer–or talked with someone who has–you know that for many it has been a hellish summer in terms of travel. Initially dubbed the summer of revenge travel, for many, taking revenge on the fact that they have been cooped up by the pandemic has turned out to be an arduous chore. For others, they’re just rolling with the inconveniences of poor service, long lines, crazy high prices, nutty delays and disruptions and a whole litany of woes that require extra patience and coping skills. Let’s face it, even with all of the problems, there’s still a big thrill to traveling. So the next time you consider flying somewhere, consider the below tips.

Buffer Days

Anticipate that you might arrive a day (or two) late and leave a day (or two) later than your actual itinerary dictates. So if you want to be sure to attend your sister’s wedding, for example, plan on arriving a day or two before the festivities begin.

Travel Lightly

Travel lightly both figuratively and literally. This means that if you manage your expectations and take everything in stride, you’ll fare far better. Be light in spirit throughout from your first contact with an airline representative (or website) up through the moment when you learn that you have to spend the night in a hotel because you’ve missed the final leg of your itinerary due to airline delays. Pack lightly in terms of your luggage as well and if possible, try to avoid checking a bag, which can hold you up at check in, arrival and also if you do have an unexpected layover. Hey, it’s summer, so unless you’re going to the southern hemisphere, packing light should be doable for most.

Leave Early

You have a better chance of all flights and connections going smoothly if you book an early flight. Sometimes the idea of leaving at 6:30am, which might mean waking up before 4am, can seem like a dreaded chore. But if you go on later flights, there’s more of a chance of delays piling up due to weather, mechanical problems and other issues. Consider staying at an airport hotel on the front end; it could save you time, money and stress in the long run. Know also that these days, you really do have to be at an airport at least two hours before a flight (unless perhaps you are leaving from a small airport).

Snack Happy

Definitely arm yourself with all kinds of healthy snacks, including fruit, maybe a sandwich or two and chips (because you’ll likely need the salt after breaking out into a sweat at least once during your travels). With the lines so long at airport eateries and connections that often turn out to be tighter than you thought (due to delays), picking up food–even just fast food–can be a hassle, if not an impossibility. And, of course, always carry a water bottle that you can fill many times over.

Think Fast

If you’ve just landed in Miami and you know you’ve missed your flight for San Juan, Puerto Rico due to airport delays, try to make other arrangements ASAP. Don’t wait to talk to a customer service representative from the airlines inside the airport. Make the change from your phone as soon as you land, before you even leave your seat on the plane. (Most airlines send you a link that allow you to do that.) You can then stand in that long line later to confirm all, double check on the whereabouts of your baggage and see if there are any food and lodging vouchers available to you. (Note, however, that you may want to spring for your own night in a hotel because most airlines are still using rather shabby hotels. Know also that the measly food vouchers–typically about $12. for dinner and $12. for breakfast–they provide are pretty useless because few airport concessions and restaurants accept them and the ones that do, are often closed.) Yet more reasons to pack extra food and travel lightly!

For more good tips on how to fly happy, check out this Washington Post story.