3 ways to avoid summer travel issues

Headlines are filled with summer travel delays, lost luggage and strikes at airports. However, there is hope. This year, the formula for a successful European summer vacation isn’t working any smarter. And luckily for Bostonians, we have options. With nearly 50 international destinations at Logan Airport, there are ways to have a stress-free summer vacation, and here are three ways to avoid summer travel hassles right now.

1) Connect through Iceland

With the Heathrow strike, Schiphol gate outages and unprecedented delays across the board, avoiding connecting flights in continental Europe is a great way to save a ruined vacation. For Bostonians, an easy solution to that is to connect through Iceland. With Icelandair flying daily from Logan to Reykjavík, this is a great option when trying to reach continental Europe. Avoid the crowds in the other major hubs and fly through Iceland for a more relaxed experience. While Icelandair has more affordable routes than other major carriers, it also offers a premium cabin option. So, Iceland Air is a great option for travelers who want to walk and get from point A to point B this summer. The premium cabin is called the “Saga Room”. Saga guests enjoy complimentary checked bags, premium food and beverages on board, priority boarding, check-in and lounge access.

2) Skip checked bags

One of the biggest issues at many airports these days is lost or checked bags. So, even if you’re flying to Iceland, consider skipping the checked bag because when you land in Europe at your final destination, you may find your bag is missing or you’ll have to wait at baggage claim due to staff shortages.

3) Consider adding a reservation date to your trip

This winter is not the time for razor sharp road trips. If you’re delayed and don’t arrive right away, consider adding a backup date to the beginning of your trip. The best way to do this is to not plan anything that is non-refundable on the first day, ie, any tours or dinners that require payment in advance, in case you don’t arrive on time. And of course just attacking this summer trip with a different perspective, we’re so glad everyone’s back out there again and we’re all dealing with the same problems.