This summer has been particularly frustrating for travelers. Two Times travel experts answered reader questions about how we got here and how to make the most of your own trips.
Why are a lot of flights canceled?
The issues are a confluence. The demand is high. Summer travel is busy again after two years when people were unable to travel due to Covid. There is a shortage of labor. There haven't been enough baggage handlers, wheelchair agents, ramp agents, and pilots because both airlines and airports have been hard at work.
It is a problem that the airlines have created. The airlines encouraged a lot of employees to leave in the early days of the Pandemic. It looks like that has returned to bite them.
Is the travel problems over by October for my wedding?
Niraj thinks there is hope. New employees at major airlines should be trained in a few weeks. The fall is a less busy time for the industry. It is possible that fewer people will be flying because parts of the economy aren't doing so well.
Is the price of airline tickets going to go down? I need to take a vacation.
You can see what the prices will be at different times when you use Hopper, Kayak and Skyscanner. The Hopper app will tell you if you should book immediately or wait until prices go up or down.
If you can find a cheaper flight on another airline, you can change it and get a credit.
What rights do you have in the event of a flight being canceled?
You should get your money back if your flight is canceled or changed. People don't realize that airlines sometimes give people vouchers when they owe you money You might have to call the airline or fill out an online form if you don't get your money back immediately. You can get your money back if you tell your credit card company that the money hasn't shown up in your bank account.
When you are on vacation, what should you do to deal with Covid?
You should come up with a plan in advance, because it is tempting to push it out of our mind. Seven days of additional hotel costs as well as medical costs will be covered by travel insurance if you test positive. If you are over the age of 65 and medically compromised, you should check with your primary care doctor to see if he or she can prescribe Paxlovid.
It is up to you to determine if you have Covid before you fly home. If you test positive, you should be isolated for five days and wear a mask for five days. More tips for post-restrictions travel were given byHeather.
Kevin Morooney asked what he could do to reduce his carbon footprint.
Niraj says that the airlines he covers won't appreciate him saying this, but that they should fly less. If flying is important to you, you should consider how far you travel.
Is it a good idea to ship my luggage overseas?
If you need to travel with something that is so precious to you that it will ruin your life if you lose it, then carry it on. It is not bad to ship it if it is too large. I don't think it's time for people to stop checking their luggage
Does it make sense to use a travel agent for a big trip?
If you have the funds, travel agents are great. If you have a travel agent, you can be the one to wait on the phone for four hours if you have a problem with an airline.
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Some people contributed to The Morning. The team can be reached at the morning@ny Times.com.
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