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“We’re Not Out of the Woods Yet” — Holiday Travel Problems You Need to Prepare For in 2022

October 21, 2022 ,

I’ll (hopefully) be home for Christmas 🎶  You might be feeling all kinds of excitement at the idea of flying or driving home or to a specific vacation destination this holiday season, but it’s not all candy canes and sugar plums.

Orlando International Airport

Over the past several months, we’ve seen massive delays hit all kinds of airlines, and we’ve seen staffing shortages, fuel costs, and more cause big problems. But that was the summer. What about the fall and upcoming holidays? How stressful might travel be this holiday season? We’re breaking down what you need to know here.

The Good News

We’ve got good news and bad news, so we’ll start this article with the good stuff. The U.S. Department of Transportation has been working on a number of initiatives lately to help make things better in the travel industry, and some of those have started to “bear fruit.”

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg spoke with the Washington Post and shared that the three main things they’re focusing on are (1) enforcing rules, (2) improving rules, and (3) using tools to increase transparency.

Inside Terminal C

When it comes to enforcement, they’re working on enforcing rules with things like airlines failing to issue refunds passengers are entitled to for delays and cancelations.

In terms of “raising the floor,” they’re trying to improve the rules and make sure they’re “tough enough.”

And finally, for transparency, they’re trying to use tools to make airline policies more transparent. For example, earlier in 2022, the Department of Transportation introduced a customer service dashboard.

©Department of Transportation

This dashboard helps you see what airlines have committed to providing under certain circumstances. For example, if your flight is canceled due to circumstances under the airline’s control, ALL airlines have committed to rebooking you on the same airline at no additional cost, but Alaska Airlines (and some others) will also rebook you on a partner airline at no cost.

These things are incredibly helpful to know if you do find yourself in a difficult travel situation and need to know what your rights are.

Do you know your rights?

When building the website, the Department let airlines know the site was in the works and “encouraged them” to raise their standards for customer service ahead of its launch. Secretary Buttigieg shared that within just a 2-week period, they saw some big improvements.

He noted, “we went from zero to, I think, nine out of the top ten airlines committing that they would at least do hotels and meals and went from, I think, one to ten out of the top ten airlines, indicating that they were committed to rebooking you if you got stuck.”

Flying away

So they actually saw some improvements when it comes to those policies and Buttigieg has said that they’ll keep “driving more.”

All that could help your travels go easier, or at least help you better know your rights and potentially get better/smoother adjustments if your travel gets canceled/delayed.

Click here to learn more about this helpful tool!

The Bad News

Unfortunately, it’s not all good news though. Secretary Buttigieg shared, “on the operational side, we’re not out of the woods yet.” So let’s go through some of the complications you might need to be prepared for when you travel this holiday season.

Staffing Problems

Staffing has been an issue for airlines and many other businesses since the pandemic began. And unfortunately, this issue continues to plague airlines. Secretary Buttigieg said that there is still “more work to do” with airlines in terms of staffing. And they need to work to get air traffic control staffing at the levels where they want and need it to be.

There Are Still Staffing Problems

If an airline experiences a serious staffing issue at any one point in time, it could lead to cancelations and delays that could impact your travels. And staffing problems with air traffic control could also lead to delays and cause some rippling effects.

In other words, the staffing issues could still mean you may not get to where you want to go as quickly or smoothly as you might want.

Click here to read about how a pilot shortage caused major flight cancelations earlier in 2022

Some U.S. Refunds Might Not Be as Big as You’d Like

While Secretary Buttigieg discussed how some airlines really stepped up their game in terms of providing recovery in the case of cancelations and delays, there’s still a ways to go.

The interviewer from the Washington Post noted that when flying in Europe, the compensation that is given to travelers when airlines don’t deliver on what they’ve promised is “typically hundreds of dollars paid back to you in compensation.” They asked why traveling through Europe can seemingly provide “better” protection.

Spirit Airlines Safety Documents

Buttigieg said that there is no easy apples-to-apples comparison between the U.S. and Europe, but that doesn’t mean the U.S. isn’t trying to change things. He specifically noted that there are additional consumer protections provided in other countries and the U.S. is looking at those now.

He discussed how there are 2 regulations that are pending — one dealing with ancillary fees, and one about cancelations and delays. He said that they’re trying to enforce an “adequate floor” when it comes to compensation, but also encourage airlines to go “above and beyond that floor.” Transparency about commitments and compensation can help with that.

So only time will tell if a delay or cancelation might entitle you to MORE compensation in the future.

Click here to see 7 things you should NEVER pay for in airports, and 4 you totally should

Delays, Cancelations, and Trimmer Flight Schedules

According to Jana Tidwell from AAA, who spoke with NBC Philadelphia, “under the current circumstances, we all run the risk of having a flight canceled.” 

Tidwell noted that staffing and pilot shortages, along with other pandemic-related issues can still lead to complications with flight schedules this holiday season. These problems will reportedly continue to force airlines to cut routes and seats.

Boarding

In recent months, we have seen cancelations and delays impact many flights, including those at Orlando International Airport, and it looks like that won’t be going away just yet.

Earlier in 2022, we also saw some airlines announce huge cuts to their flight schedules during the fall and into the holidays. Additional flight cuts are possible as airlines evaluate what staff they’ll have ready and able to assist, so you’ll want to be prepared for that.

What to do if your flight to Disney World gets canceled

COVID-19

As if the lingering effects of the pandemic weren’t enough, a potential COVID-19 surge could complicate matters further. CNN has reported that a “flurry of new Covid-19 variants appear to be gaining traction globally, raising fears of a winter surge.”

Airplane seats

While COVID-19 cases continue to drop in the U.S., some experts have warned that things could change soon due to these newer variants.

The updated COVID-19 booster shots and antiviral drugs are expected to help protect against severe outcomes, but the new variants might be particularly impactful for individuals with weakened immune systems.

©New York Times

If several different variants (which have adapted well to human transmission) all circulate around the same time, that could cause some complications. Some experts have warned that we “have to remain vigilant.” 

While some experts don’t expect winter cases to be as bad as the Omicron wave when that really hit in January, some do expect that it’ll be bigger than the BA.5 wave. If cases do increase significantly, that could further complicate staffing issues and impact flights and airports in general, so it’s just something to be aware of.

Sanitizer

Couple that with flu season, which typically takes place in the fall and winter, and you could see some more problems. Usually, the season starts ramping up in December, so it’s something to be especially aware of ahead of Christmas and New Year’s.

According to NBC News, there have been higher-than-normal reports of flu and other respiratory illnesses, and some warn there could be a potentially severe season ahead.

Click here to learn more about the flu season

Travel Surge

On top of everything else, a travel surge is expected this holiday season. The Hopper Lead Economist, Hayley Berg, told Yahoo! Finance, “We’re expecting to see a huge surge in travel over this holiday season.”

Berg continued, “We know that travelers have pent-up demand for holiday travel traditions, visiting family, vacations, and we’re expecting to see a very busy holiday season.”

Orlando International Airport crowds

A surge in crowds can lead to all kinds of complications, but especially longer lines at airports, more traffic out on the roads, etc. So be sure to give yourself a LOT of time to get through airport security and past high-traffic areas if you’ll be on vacation this winter.

Click here to read: “I travel full-time, here are 8 surprising things I carry with me”

Price Increases

Higher demand for travel, along with jet fuel prices, flight cuts, and other factors, is also leading some to expect that big price increases are in store for holiday travel. Some of these prices might even be the highest seen in nearly 5 YEARS.

Airfare

In terms of airfare, Hopper expects that “most travelers will pay $350 per ticket for a good deal domestic Thanksgiving flight.” Overall, they expect Thanksgiving airfare to be 22% higher than 2019 and 43% higher than 2021.

For Christmas, Hopper expects that a “good deal” on airfare will be $463 per ticket. When this report was published by Hopper in September, they shared that airfare was averaging 31% higher than 2019 and 39% higher than 2021.

©Hopper

Considering that Hopper shows Orlando as one of the MOST booked holiday destinations for both Thanksgiving (#2) and Christmas (#4), your flight to the Most Magical Place on Earth (if that’s where you’re heading) could be more than you expect this year.

If you want to try to save some cash, Hopper notes the following:

  • For Thanksgiving, consider flying the Monday of Thanksgiving week and not returning until a weekday of the following week
  • For Christmas, consider flying the Monday or Tuesday ahead of Christmas weekend
  • Plan your trip NOW

Hotels

But it’s not just airfare that you’ll have to worry about. Price increases are also expected to hit hotels/accommodations. For Thanksgiving, the average nightly rate is about $189 per night — that’s 13% more than 2021’s numbers.

For Christmas, the average rate was around $218 at the time of this September 2022 report. But even that number marked a 32% increase from 2021.

The Bed Area

Here are some tips to help you save:

  • Booking last minute might help you save over the holidays if you can be flexible in terms of where you stay. Hopper says, “Plan to book Thanksgiving hotel stays by the first week of November and Christmas hotel stays by the first week of December.”
  • BUT if you’re planning a getaway vacation over several nights, book at least 3 weeks in advance

Again, Orlando or the general Orlando area continues to be a popular pick for Thanksgiving and Christmas, so you’ll actually want to book a bit sooner since it is a “vacation destination.”

Rental Cars

Rental Car prices could be more expensive than you expect this holiday season too. About 65% of people are expected to drive this holiday season. Rental car prices are trending at around $60 per day for Thanksgiving (most looking to rent for about 5 days) and $53 per day for Christmas (most looking to rent for 7-day trips).

Looking to rent a car? That might cost you more too!

What can you do to help save some money with rental cars?

  • Usually, booking at the last minute can help you get a good deal. But, due to the current situation, you might end up being in a situation where there are NO cars left to book.
  • So, you’ll want to book that rental car at the same time as your flight to make sure you aren’t stuck without a ride
  • Also, Orlando is one of the most searched pick-up airports for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Be ready to book early if you’ll be heading there!

Gas Prices

Though gas prices within the U.S. have been going down, you’ll want to watch out for potential increases in the future, particularly if a large number of people drive for their holiday trips and cause a greater demand for gas in general.

©AAA

In terms of travel overall for the holiday season, Buttigieg shared, “I think it will be an improvement from the toughest moments we saw over the summer but not perfect as we go into next year and start to see some of these pandemic shockwaves fully work their way through the system.”

How Can YOU Prepare?

Okay, so you’re planning a trip for the holidays, seeing this info, and freaking out. What do you do?! Don’t panic. Here are some of our top tips:

  • Start planning NOW — Looking at your flights early can help you get a sense of what the prices are, when they might go up, etc. and you might get a great deal
  • Use trackers or apps to help you get the best deal — Use apps or websites like Google Flights, Hopper, and more to help you track flight costs, get estimates on future costs, and get a better idea of when to make that booking
  • Consider being flexible on travel dates — If you can leave or arrive a day or two earlier/later, that might give you the ability to really book the cheapest flights

Mickey and Minnie Showing Off the Plane

  • Be aware of your rights when it comes to cancelations, delays, etc. — You can check the Department of Transportation’s Customer Service Dashboard to see just what airlines have agreed to provide in terms of mitigation when something goes wrong and it’s within their control. Knowing what you could get can help things go smoother.
  • Give yourself lots of time between flights (just in case you encounter delays)
  • Avoid checking bags (so you don’t run the risk of losing any)
  • Use a travel agent or directly with airlines — third-party vendors can be a bit more delayed in issuing those refunds or you may encounter problems with rebookings in the event of a cancelation or delay

We’ll continue to keep you informed as we see major holiday travel developments.

If you want to do some planning before your flight (or even on the plane!), check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We’ve compiled all of our BEST tips and tricks from years of Disney World travel into one eBook that you can download to your tablet or smartphone and take with you! We’re offering our readers 25% off with code WDW2022.

Take the DFB Guide Wherever You Go

And stay tuned for more travel tips and tricks.

Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks

Are you planning to travel this holiday season? Tell us in the comments!

The post "We're Not Out of the Woods Yet" -- Holiday Travel Problems You Need to Prepare For in 2022 first appeared on the disney food blog.



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