Hugh: Experts Offer Tips to Make Your Summer Travel Experience Smoother

It’s no secret that travelers have been seeing more turbulence than usual at airports this year. As the demand for travel has skyrocketed, some airlines have barely been able to keep up, largely due to staffing issues. Amid the chaos that some travelers have reported, travel industry experts have been offering a few tips to make your experience a little smoother.

• Buy a non-stop ticket to your destination, if possible – it may cost a little more, but if you want to give yourself a better chance of avoiding disruptions, book a direct flight so you don’t have to worry about airport delays resulting in you missing your connecting flight.
• Travel as early in the day as possible – planes are usually already at the airport for the first flights of the day, and even if yours gets delayed or cancelled, there are more chances to get into the air that day.
• Consider travel insurance – we know now more than ever that unexpected things happen. Rules change, people get sick, problems with work or family arise. At least with travel insurance you’ll be able to recoup most of your money if something unfortunate happens.
• Arrive at the airport early – staffing shortages are affecting most parts of the travel experience, so if you give yourself a lot of extra time at the airport, those long lines won’t leave you panicking as much.
• Be flexible with your dates – it’s not always possible, but being flexible with your travel dates can reduce stress and save you money. Flight and hotel rates are generally cheaper during the week than the weekend, and if a flight unexpectedly gets cancelled, you’ll be better prepared.
• Avoid checking luggage – if you’re going on a longer vacation I totally understand checking a suitcase, but if you can get away with just a carry-on and a personal item, do that. Many of the headaches travelers have been complaining about revolve around lost luggage, so it’s best to take that potential problem out of the equation. Just make sure the dimensions of your bag meet your airline’s measurements for a carry-on.
• Take a picture of your passport – if you end up losing your identification while traveling, figuring out a way home can be tricky. Things can reportedly be smoother if you’ve got some proof of international travel documents. Just make sure you have your phone password-protected so the information stays with you.