How to ease holiday travel headaches

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The kids aren’t even back to school yet and we already have to talk about your holiday travel plans.

Now is the time to make a reservation before it’s too late.

The picture is not pretty. We have all seen the issues the airlines face. Well, there is no sign that it will suddenly improve in November and December.

Want to fly over the river and through the woods to see grandma for Thanksgiving?

“By then it’s a little late to plan during the holidays,” says Joe Weiler of Shadyside Travel.

“The longer you wait, the worse it gets,” Weiler added.

Marita Williams of AAA Travel agreed.

“If you’re just doing air, we’re good now,” Williams said.

Because we don’t have to approach the holidays to cause an issue.

“When those flights start selling out and they’re three-quarters to half-way full, the prices go up. They don’t go back,” Williams said.

And it’s hard to get to more popular destinations like Orlando in Pittsburgh.

“We used to have seven or eight flights a day; now we’re down to four or five flights a day,” Williams said.

How confident should you be even if you have a ticket?

“They should get you there, but it might not be in the time frame you want,” Williams said.

“I’m not at the point where I’m going to be leary because even with the high number of cancellations, there are still a lot of flights that are on time or with minimal delays,” Weiler said.

But the airlines are racing and Williams says don’t be surprised if the airline changes your schedule between now and your holiday flight.

So, are there ways to have a better chance of getting what you want this time?

It helps to be flexible in your travel dates and times and be careful about what you buy. It’s returnable, what defenses do you have?

Pumpkin spice lattes are coming, and Halloween candy is on store shelves, so it’s the perfect time to talk about Thanksgiving and Christmas travel.

In fact, if you don’t make vacation travel plans well in advance, you’ll be up against a deadline where seat availability is dwindling.

First and foremost, know that there are plenty of backpackers who want to go far beyond cramped airline seats to accommodate you all.

Holiday travel tip #1?

“If you’re going to travel over the holidays, do it tomorrow. Today, tomorrow, as soon as possible,” Weiler added.

To avoid issues with canceled or delayed flights, Williams said he plans to get up before the sun and take the first flight of the day.

Because, chances are, your flight won’t be delayed that much because it will already be there and ready. If you have a 6 a.m. flight, the earliest flight of the day is probably from somewhere else. ” said Williams.

But those flights fill up first, and Weiler said look for a midday or evening flight for a chance to get a better seat and possibly a cheaper price.

“If you can change your time, you have a better chance of getting what you want,” Weiler said.

Both Joe and Marita said they might consider traveling on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

“You get a lot less traffic on those days for obvious reasons. And you get better reach,” Williams added.

Plus, book your rental car now.

“They have to pay a lot more to rent a car than they did before,” Weiler said.

That price is going to go up because they still have a shortage of cars, Williams said.

And hotels are available a little more, the price will not be in the spirit of the holiday.

“They’re trying to make up for lost revenue like everybody else. And their prices are generally higher than they are now,” Weiler said.

And in the current climate, travel insurance is a smart investment, Williams said.

“When you think about what you spend on your vacation, it’s not that expensive. You want to protect that investment.”

If you make your own reservations, read everything carefully and use a professional to get the best deals and give you someone to call if there’s a problem.

With the recent cancellations and delays, even thinking about traveling with the family seems daunting.

Williams If your flight is canceled, go online to rebook, but call the airline at the same time. You have a good chance of getting an agent over the phone before you get your turn.