US summer air travel forecast

Travelers in the United States are taking to the skies again this summer in record numbers. And when they do, they’ll have to deal with flight delays, staff shortages, price hikes, security delays and other frustrations again during the 2022 summer travel wave.

Like Europe, expect the United States to see its own travel disruptions and disruptions during the summer. Here’s what you need to know as you head into the summer travel season.

Expect high demand, prices

Expedia’s latest travel forecast showed a 25% increase in flight searches for trips between June and August, compared to the same period last year, and triple-digit growth for international destinations across Europe and Asia. And those flight searches are turning into airline ticket purchases. In its recent earnings report, for example, US carrier Delta Air Lines reported advance bookings for summer.

But unless you can snag one of the high-priced international business class seats that All Nippon Airways (ANA) mistakenly sold for as little as $300 in April, it can be difficult to find a good airfare deal for summer travel.

Air fares for domestic summer trips are currently trending slightly below 2022 levels, but 16 percent higher than before the pandemic, according to online travel agency Hopper. And because of “low seat availability, high demand and overall higher costs, including higher jet fuel prices,” international air travel is much higher than it was before the pandemic, said Hayley Berg, Hopper’s lead economist.

Challenges for winter travel in the US

For those summer flights, spring travelers will find plenty of challenges at airports and in the air. The U.S. has already experienced a rocky winter holiday travel season, with winter weather coupled with technology failures forcing Southwest Airlines to cancel more than 16,000 flights in late December.

The number of passengers at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints is regularly higher than before the outbreak and is expected to increase in the summer, especially at airports with high spring break numbers. That means even TSA Precheck lines can be longer than you expect and you’ll need to make sure you arrive at the airport early.

Labor shortages, from airport bartenders and baristas to TSA officers, airline pilots and air traffic controllers, can cause long waiting lines and flight delays at many airports.

Add to the mix the inevitable summer weather delays, flights delayed or diverted by unruly passengers or mechanical issues and technology breakdowns, and you have all the ingredients for a summer travel crisis.

How to navigate air travel in the United States this summer

While many travel challenges are out of your control, there are strategies that can make your trip easier.

Still buying tickets? Many airlines and online travel sites, including Google Flights, Hopper, Expedia, and others, offer some form of price reduction or price reduction protection to make it easier to lock in a good (or reasonable) fare.

Check your passport, renew it early. The U.S. State Department has increased passport renewal processing times, averaging 10 to 13 weeks, not including the time it takes for the documents to travel through the mail.

Pack light and pack smart. Avoid checking bags if you can, and if you must check a bag, put a tracker in it. Still learning your packaging techniques? “What shall I bring?” Consult the TSA. It’s a tool to make sure you don’t unwittingly pack a baseball bat, bear spray, or other contraband.

Make a list. Keep and print the reservation confirmation numbers and phone numbers for all components of your trip (airline, car rental, hotel, cruise, etc.) in one place – so if you need to scratch and re-book or adjust the information, the information is easily accessible due to flight delays or cancellations in your schedule. .

Use the airport facilities. TSA Precheck and airline lounge access are great. If you don’t have those perks, note that many airports now have mobile food ordering and door food delivery. And at nearly a dozen airports in North America, including Seattle, Phoenix, Orlando and Vancouver, BC travelers can book a limited time slot to go through airport security screening.