✈️🌞🛄 Plane Paukana, Delays, and Lost Luggage: How Fo’ Survive Air Travel Dis Summa
With Memorial Day on da horizon, we wen compile one guide fo’ help you cruise tru da busiest flying season of da year. As da summa heat starts rising, da experts stay saying dis goin’ be da busiest time fo’ fly ever! 🏖️🌴🌊
Dis burst of travelers comin’ at a time wea get plenty turbulence fo’ air passengers. Complaints against da airlines neva been higha. Strikes in Europe could cause plenny disruption. And, da guys in da know say dat da air traffic system in da United States not quite ready fo’ handle da high demand. 🛫🌍✈️🛬
To help out, we wen pull togetha dis guide fo’ help you identify da rough spots and give you da best advice fo’ keep you cruising, even wen da going gets tough. 📖👍🌪️
Airfares: Costs Going Up, So Be Flexible 💸📈🔑
Even though da cost of living showing signs of slowing down, airfares still stay high. Prices went up by almost 10% in April compared to da same time in 2019, says da Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fewer flights, not enough airline workers, and more expensive gas have helped push prices up. And da consumers, who like travel, haven’t protested enough fo’ get da airlines fo’ drop da prices. 👥✈️💰
But, da whole picture can be confusing — and can change real quick.
According to da travel booking app Hopper, right now, da prices for domestic flights stay well below last year, but are expected fo’ rise tru June wen summa airfares typically peak. Hopper predicts da peak fo’ a domestic round-trip booking will reach $328, better than da $400 last June but still 4% higha than da same period in 2019. 📱💹✈️
Flights to other countries, where available flights no can meet demand, get one more bleak story: Hopper thinks tickets abroad dis summa goin’ be at a five-year high, up 32% to Europe compared with last summa (or $1,188 on average). Flights to Asia are up 17% (averaging $1,890) compared to last summa; that’s 67% more than in 2019. 🌍✈️💸
So, what one traveler gotta do fo’ keep from getting ripped off? Keep an open mind. 👀💭🌈
Laura Lindsay, one global travel trends expert at Skyscanner, an airfare search site, wen say, “If you flexible on wen or where you like go, or even how you like go, maybe flying out of one airport and coming back to one different one, or on one different airline, get chance you might score one deal. If you rigid, you going get stuck with one more expensive fare.” ✈️🔄💰
Wen you like fly can be da easiest ting fo’ adjust. Skyscanner lets users look at prices for a route within a month’s time, letting them find the lowest fares. Google Flights sends price alerts for good fares on any dates on a specified route, and Kayak lets you search using flexible dates. 🕒🔍💰
Wen it comes to where fo’ go, consider 2023 a summa of spontaneity. 🌍🔄🎉
Ted Rossman, one senior industry analyst at Bankrate, a personal finance website, wen say, “Let da deal decide where you go if you can. Plenty times people get their hearts set on one place and that limits their options. If you no care which beach, shop around.” 🏝️💖💸
If you neva book your summa flights yet, do it now. Hopper generally recommends monitoring domestic fares three to four months in advance of travel — plenty search engines will track specified routes — and buying one to two months out. In summa, it says the best deals often available three to four months in advance. 📆🕒💰
One potential way fo’ save money, one practice called skiplagging, allows passengers fo’ book one ticket with one intermediate stop in their intended destination and then skip da final leg of their trip, which can sometimes be cheaper than flying direct. The website Skiplagged pulls togetha available deals based on your preferred airport. Fo’ example, it recently wen show one flight from San Francisco to Jacksonville, Fla., with a stop in Miami fo’ $134. One direct flight between San Francisco and Miami was $158. Da airlines no like this method, but it requires passengers fo’ book outbound and return tickets separately and no check bags. 🛫🔀💰
Alternatively, look fo’ airfare and hotel packages assembled fo’ less than the sum of their parts. The online travel agency Priceline said its packages save an average of $240 per booking. JetBlue Vacations, one branch of the airline, said its hotel and airfare deals are better than booking separately 90% of da time. Shoppers can use the “Best Vacation Finder” tool fo’ compare offers in a variety of beach destinations, mountain getaways, and cities. 🏨✈️💸
Lastly, no forget points you earn from flying or spending on credit cards. 🏦💳💸
“It’s all the more important now,” Mr. Rossman said, noting that many consumers wen stack up plenty points during da pandemic, which are at risk of devaluation by airlines, which can change da requirements whenever they like, charging 60,000 points for a flight that was 50,000 yesterday. “Providers are recovering from da pandemic, and they like paid customers, not freebies.” ✈️🎁💸
NOW IN ENGLISH
🌞✈️🛄 Strikes, Delays, and Lost Bags: Navigating Air Travel This Summer
With Memorial Day just around the corner, we’ve compiled a guide to help you through the year’s most chaotic flight season. As summer’s heat looms, experts are again sounding the annual alarm to brace for the busiest travel season of the year — predicting more passengers than ever to take to the skies. 🏖️🌴🌊
This influx comes amid a challenging backdrop for air travelers. Complaints against airlines are at an all-time high. Strikes threaten to disrupt several major European cities. Experts warn that the U.S. air traffic system is ill-equipped to handle the heavy consumer demand. 🛫🌍✈️🛬
To assist, we’ve put together this guide to pinpoint the headaches and offer the advice you need to navigate smoothly even when the skies get stormy. 📖👍🌪️
Airfares: With Rising Costs, Flexibility Is Key 💸📈🔑
Despite signs of inflation slowing, airfares remain high, up almost 10% in April compared to the same period in 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Reduced flights, a shortage of airline staff, and higher fuel costs have contributed to price hikes. Moreover, consumers, eager to travel, haven’t protested enough to persuade carriers to reduce their fares. 👥✈️💰
However, the situation can be confusing — and changeable.
According to the travel booking app Hopper, current prices on domestic airfares are considerably below last year’s at this time, but they’re expected to rise through June when summer airfares usually peak. Hopper predicts the peak for a domestic round-trip booking will hit $328, an improvement from the $400 last June but still 4% higher than the same period in 2019. 📱💹✈️
International fares, where available flights lag behind demand, paint a more dismal picture: Hopper anticipates tickets overseas this summer will reach a five-year high, up 32% to Europe compared with last summer (averaging $1,188). Flights to Asia are up 17% (averaging $1,890) compared to last summer, which is 67% more than in 2019. 🌍✈️💸
So, what should a traveler do to avoid being overcharged? Keep an open mind. 👀💭🌈
Laura Lindsay, a global travel trends expert at Skyscanner, an airfare search site, advises, “Being flexible on one of the booking parameters can make a difference. If you’re flexible on when or where you want to go, and even how you want to get there – perhaps flying out of one airport and returning to another one, or on a different carrier, you might find a deal. If you’re rigid, you’re likely to be boxed into a more expensive fare.” ✈️🔄💰
When you choose to fly can be the easiest thing to adjust. Skyscanner lets users view prices for a route within a month’s span, helping them find the lowest fares. Google Flights sends price alerts for good fares on any dates on a specified route, and Kayak allows searches using flexible dates. 🕒🔍💰
When deciding where to go, consider 2023 the summer of spontaneity.
Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate, a personal finance website, suggests, “Let the deal determine your destination if you can. People often fixate on a particular place, limiting their options. If you’re not fussy about which beach, shop around.” 🏖️💸🔄
If you haven’t booked your summer flights yet, do so now. Hopper generally advises monitoring domestic fares three to four months ahead of travel — many search engines will track specific routes — and purchasing one to two months out. In summer, the best deals are usually available three to four months in advance. 🗓️👀💰
One possible money-saving strategy, known as skiplagging, allows passengers to book a ticket with an intermediate stop at their intended destination, then skip the final leg of the trip. This can sometimes be cheaper than flying direct. The website Skiplagged compiles available deals based on your preferred airport. For instance, it recently highlighted a flight from San Francisco to Jacksonville, Fla., with a stop in Miami for $134. A direct flight between San Francisco and Miami was $158. The airlines disapprove of this method, as it requires passengers to book outbound and return tickets separately and to forgo checking bags. 🛫🔀💰
Alternatively, consider airfare and hotel packages that cost less than their components separately. The online travel agency Priceline says its packages save an average of $240 per booking. JetBlue Vacations, a subsidiary of the airline, claims that its hotel and airfare deals are more cost-effective than booking separately 90% of the time. Shoppers can use the “Best Vacation Finder” tool to compare offers in various beach destinations, mountain retreats, and cities. 🏨✈️💸
Finally, don’t overlook points earned by flying or spending on credit cards as a form of payment.
“It’s all the more important now,” notes Mr. Rossman, adding that many consumers accumulated significant points during the pandemic, amounts at risk of devaluation by airlines, who can change the rules as they please, charging 60,000 points for a flight that cost 50,000 yesterday. “Providers are recovering from the pandemic, and they want paying customers, not freebies.” ✈️🎁💸
