When you book, how you book, and when you plan to fly matter more than ever.
ATLANTA — Traveling this year for Memorial Day weekend was evidently met with challenges.
Thousands of flights were canceled, airports were crowded, delays caused folks to scurry across airports to avoid missing a flight and further infringing on their trip. According to flight-tracking website FlightAware, nearly 5,000 flights were canceled between Friday and Sunday.
Staffing issues caused airlines to cancel flights. Those same staffing issues may persist into the summer, with the Bureau of Transportation reporting the airline industry is still down about 7,000 employees compared to February of 2020.
It may not be an issue that will resolve quickly, still, there are always lessons to be learned.
First, industry experts say book now if people plan to travel from June to September. Jet fuel prices may cause tickets to grow in cost as the summer wanes on, and flights are expected to book up weeks in advance.
Second, avoid flying on July 1st if you can. Fridays are notoriously more expensive and busier to fly on than normal days. This year, the price of a ticket on July 1st falls on a Friday and is expected to be 25 percent higher than the rest of the summer due to the Fourth of July holiday.
Third, consider August and even September. As of right now, August is the cheaper summer month to fly. For those willing to push travel dates back a little more, September flights are even better.
Fourth, book through the airline. As seen during Memorial Day, flights can be canceled last minute. But, by booking through the airline, travelers are protected by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
If you book a flight and cancel it within 24 hours, you’re entitled to a full refund too. Also, if an airline cancels a traveler’s flight, and they decide not to travel, the buyer is entitled to a full refund. For those with a non-refundable ticket who experience a cancellation, you can get a credit or travel voucher (although it’s up to the airline on non-refundable tickets.) However, the DOT states airlines must comply with promises they make to customers.
If an airline refuses to refund you, you can file a complaint online through the DOT’s website.
