Flying this summer

It's shaping up to be a pretty chaotic summer for the airline industry. Want to make your travels go as smoothly as possible? Take this advice from our travel agent buddy Angela Richards, owner of ADR Vacations. 

Air travel is going to be nuts this Summer! There are pilot shortages, plane shortages, crew shortages, etc. hitting the airline industry hard just as travel enters its busy season. Here are a few tips to help navigate what is gearing up to be a very not fun time in travel.
✅ ALLOW EXTRA TIME AT THE AIRPORT. It's gonna be super busy this summer so give yourself plenty of time. Look, I get it. No one likes spending more time than they have to waiting in an airport but trust me. Making a mad dash to your gate only to arrive just as they've closed the doors to the jet bridge ain't no picnic either.
✅ DON'T BOOK THE LAST FLIGHT OF THE NIGHT. With all of the shortages, flights have been canceling like crazy. You don't want to put yourself in a situation where if your flight cancels you'd have to spend the night on a cold, concrete floor using your backpack as a pillow and your jacket as a blanket. It's not as comfy as it sounds.
✅ BOOK THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY. If you can stand getting up well before the crack of dawn, I recommend flying out on the first flight of the morning, which is almost guaranteed to be on time.
✅ PREPARE FOR THE WORST. If you are checking your bags, be sure to have a carry-on that contains a change of clothes, a clean pair of underwear, pajamas, and any medications you might need just in case the airline decides to put you and your luggage on different flights.

While of course things can still go wrong, following Angela's advice will give you a much better chance for smooth travels. Another tip from us: make sure you have travel insurance. Travel insurance isn't just useful if you need to cancel due to illness or get care while in-destination. It also typically includes "trip delay" coverage, which gives you money for reimbursement for meals, hotels, and other things when your flight has been delayed by a certain number of hours. One last tip? Use a travel agent. Then if there are issues, you have someone to reach directly, someone on hand and ready to help however they can.

Want help booking your summer travels? Reach out to us (or to Angela 😁, #travelagentssupportingeachother) and we'll get you set up for a great trip in no time!