Travel experts warn Michiganders of "flightmare," starting on Memorial Day
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Travel experts are warning Michiganders against "flightmare" amid flight delays expected to start by end of May.
With affordable flight costs, it means Michigan is expected to see increased air traffic and more passengers passing through.
“While it is great news that travel has fully opened up and families can finally have proper vacations, the combination of increased demand and staff shortages have the potential to cause significant delays and an overall sub-par travel experience," Rose Ackermann, Executive Editor at Family Destinations Guide said.
Air passenger traffic is expected to be busier over peak periods and is anticipated to be busier than previous years, according to the TSA.
Increased air travel is expected to spike during Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to summer, according to travel experts.
According to a statement released by Airports Council International, 7 of the 2021 rankings of busiest airports across the world were located in the U.S.
- Atlanta (ATL): 75.7 million passengers, a 76% increase from 2020
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW): 62.5 million passengers, a 59% increase from 2020
- Denver (DEN): 58.8 million passengers, a 74% increase from 2020
- Chicago O’Hare (ORD): 54 million passengers, a 75% increase from 2020
- Los Angeles (LAX): 48 million passengers, a 67% increase from 2020
- Charlotte (CLT): 43.3 million passengers, a 59% increase from 2020
- Orlando (MCO): 40.4 million passengers, a 87% increase from 2020
Due to the expected influx, Family Destinations Guide has given tips for vacationers to help ease travel.
- Aim for flights that depart early in the day: If there is a potential last minute flight cancellation, it may increase your chances of being rebooked on another flight the same day. This is expected to help reduce the risk of larger scale impacts on the rest of your travel plans.
- Anticipate delays and plan your time accordingly: Arriving early is expected to help reduce severity of delays due to longer waiting times at travel checkpoints and airline counters can emerge without warning.
- Review your travel insurance policy: There are different options of insurance and taking out a travel insurance policy ahead of time is expected to help minimize financial stress and further delays caused by potential flight, transport, or accommodation cancelations.
- Patience is beneficial when dealing with airport and airline staff: Travel processes may be slower due to industries that are attempting to recover economically.