The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States predicts a record number of passengers during the July 4th Independence Day holiday period.
To ensure smooth travels, passengers need to be informed in advance about flight schedules, weather conditions, as well as cancellation and delay policies to cope with the busy summer travel season.
TSA anticipates providing security screening for over 32 million passengers from June 28 (Friday) to July 8 (next Monday), marking a 5.4% increase from the same period last year.
Meanwhile, airlines are facing various challenges such as supply chain delays, strict regulations, Boeing safety crisis limiting new aircraft launches, “fatigue” among air traffic controllers, delays due to extreme weather, and continuously rising operational costs.
Moreover, airports are not entirely prepared to handle the surge in summer travelers. On Friday, May 24, the East Coast alone saw over 6,000 flight delays.
Although there are travel anxieties and uncertainties, travel expert Clint Henderson of “The Points Guy” told CNBC that airlines and airports are showing more preparedness compared to the past few years.
During the record-breaking summer travel of 2023, coordination issues led to air traffic congestion and multiple flight incidents. New York City and Florida face the highest risks based on air traffic patterns and airport density.
Extreme weather, such as heatwaves, can also lead to travel issues. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts severe weather during the holiday week, including storms on the Midwest and East Coast, as well as persistent high temperatures in the Southwest and Northeast inland areas.
Extreme temperatures can lead to technical malfunctions, resulting in flight delays. Very high temperatures increase the risk of flight cancellations.
High temperatures thin the air, affecting aircraft takeoff and climb thrust. This means planes may need longer runways for takeoff or reduce aircraft weight by removing luggage or passengers.
To avoid such risks, it’s best for passengers to choose morning and late-night flights.
After aviation industry problems in May, the overall situation is improving. Whether airlines or airports, from Uber to car rental companies, all are increasing staff for the holiday rush.
United Airlines expects a 7% increase in passenger numbers starting from Independence Day week back in 2023, with new staff undergoing training. American Airlines projects a 10% increase in summer flights compared to last year.
Henderson warns that under adverse weather conditions, air traffic control shortages could exacerbate passenger delays. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there may be up to 3,000 air traffic control shortages currently.
Due to lower-than-expected ticket prices, more non-frequent travelers are expected this summer. CNBC suggests passengers start by registering with airline apps that may offer introductory benefits like miles or free WiFi on certain flights.
Henderson suggests the simplest way for passengers to save hours of waiting time is to enroll in TSA PreCheck and Clear, which provide faster security check-ins. Additionally, signing up for no-application-required mobile passport control apps allows users to pass through customs quickly.
He also recommends using flight tracking apps like “Flighty” or similar ones to stay informed of flight status changes.
Passengers should also stay informed about alternative airport options in case of flight cancellations, which could eventually lead to widespread cancelations.
Henderson advises that in case of flight cancellations, those who arrive first for the next flight will get priority. Being “first” means having access to flight information first.
Many factors can influence ticket prices, from specific destinations, the timing of ticket purchases, weekdays or weekends traveling, to additional fees (such as baggage fees), all of which can significantly increase travel costs.
Furthermore, due to FAA restrictions on Boeing aircraft production and Airbus facing supply chain disruptions, recent ticket price decreases may not last long.
Henderson expects airlines to raise prices due to increased maintenance costs and reduced fleet capacity.
Over the past year, labor and fuel costs for each flight have skyrocketed. Due to production delays, airlines have had to spend billions of dollars operating less fuel-efficient, higher-cost, and older aircraft.
However, at present, even with rising costs, ticket prices have not rebounded to the peak of the summer of 2023. Henderson states that many last-minute deals offered by airlines this summer can still be taken advantage of.