Air travel...Anyone tried it recently?

[Beandip478]

So I've been hearing the stories about canceled flights, people sleeping on the floor in airports, airlines not having enough crew members, etc. The thing is, I've been couped up for too long due to Covid, and I really want to get out of here and travel somewhere. So, has anyone here successfully flown somewhere recently and what can you tell me about it?

 

[JohnEBbad]

No.

But if you have the ken to travel, do so.

Don't live life in fear. If you need a COVID prophylactic placebo, take a mask.

 

[writerzblok92]

So I've been hearing the stories about canceled flights, people sleeping on the floor in airports, airlines not having enough crew members, etc. The thing is, I've been couped up for too long due to Covid, and I really want to get out of here and travel somewhere. So, has anyone here successfully flown somewhere recently and what can you tell me about it?

I've flown consistently immediately following COVID and haven't had a single issue

 

[jehoram]

Well, there seem to be more delays than usual on the flights I've been on. And almost all the planes are fully loaded. It's the result of air travel volume coming back to normal and the airlines still running the smaller number of flights that they had to implement during the pandemic. The airline spokespeople say they're trying to bring their number of pilots and attendants back up, but many of them took early retirement and aren't going to go back into the workforce.

 

[Bookaddict72]

I've traveled for business and for pleasure this year, and will travel in a week again for business. I've found fewer flights, higher prices for those flights, and needing more connections as there are staffing shortages. If you go into your trip knowing that delays are possible, then you're not going to be as stressed.

 

[Ingenue844]

I haven’t flown since August but both flights experienced delays of 1+ hours.

Last month my husband did round trips to both Manila and Denver; 3/4 flights had delays. One delay was especially long.

 

[Kennna]

I travelled in September.

 

[KatieDoes]

I’ve flown domestically quite a few times with very little issue. Flights are full, but that’s to be expected. I take only a carry on, avoid holidays, arrive early, and try to be extra pleasant to the people working. If i have to make a connection, I try to avoid short ones with just enough time if everything goes right. I’d rather sit around for an extra hour or so than be super stressed that if my initial flight gets delayed by 20 minutes I’m stranded somewhere trying to find room on the next flight that may be full anyway. So far, so good.

 

[FL30]

So I've been hearing the stories about canceled flights, people sleeping on the floor in airports, airlines not having enough crew members, etc. The thing is, I've been couped up for too long due to Covid, and I really want to get out of here and travel somewhere. So, has anyone here successfully flown somewhere recently and what can you tell me about it?

Almost everything that you're afraid of was happening during the summer as the executives tried to get back to 100% flight schedules without adequate staffing.

All of the airlines have cut their flights to address these issues and are now running a much better operation. However, weather ALWAYS affects flights, regardless of the staffing issues so always know about weather conditions on both ends of your trip.

Flights have been full for 1 1/2 years so always know that every flight to every destination is 100% full. Even to places you never thought anyone would want to go, they're full.

Always bring some snacks with you onto your flight in case there are some delays as no airlines except long haul international flights have food served on them. You can bring an empty water bottle through security and then fill it up at any water fountain in the airport, that way you won't have to spend $2 for a bottle of water. All restaurants (fast food or otherwise) will have a long line and wait time for service due to all of the flights/airports being full. So, bring plenty of patience.

Book early morning flights and try to make a connection longer than what the airline suggests. That way, if your first flight is late, you won't be running to make your connection. The outbound will NOT wait for you to make it. The DOT penalizes them for being late, so they try to leave and arrive on time as much as possible.

 

[Scareltt]

We flew over the weekend for a dance competition. It was a direct flight so we really didn’t have any issues.

I didn’t check our daughters competition dresses or her makeup, just to be safe.

 

[MrMikelobe1952]

Almost everything that you're afraid of was happening during the summer as the executives tried to get back to 100% flight schedules without adequate staffing.

All of the airlines have cut their flights to address these issues and are now running a much better operation. However, weather ALWAYS affects flights, regardless of the staffing issues so always know about weather conditions on both ends of your trip.

Flights have been full for 1 1/2 years so always know that every flight to every destination is 100% full. Even to places you never thought anyone would want to go, they're full.

Always bring some snacks with you onto your flight in case there are some delays as no airlines except long haul international flights have food served on them. You can bring an empty water bottle through security and then fill it up at any water fountain in the airport, that way you won't have to spend $2 for a bottle of water. All restaurants (fast food or otherwise) will have a long line and wait time for service due to all of the flights/airports being full. So, bring plenty of patience.

Book early morning flights and try to make a connection longer than what the airline suggests. That way, if your first flight is late, you won't be running to make your connection. The outbound will NOT wait for you to make it. The DOT penalizes them for being late, so they try to leave and arrive on time as much as possible.

If you are flying from an airport that is near the end of a line, not a hub, and you need to make a connection, my experience says that you will continue to have trouble. The biggest issue I am seeing is flight changes. These used to be a matter of minutes. Now, am getting these emails saying that the flight I booked has been changed to one flying hours earlier. This leads to hours long layovers. Ended up spending more than 5 hours in Midway. (But this is not just an issue with Southwest. Has happened with three airlines. At least Southwest makes it easier to cancel).

I did take one trip that was a direct flight, and there was not problem. But flying from Hartford does not offer a ton of options for direct flights. And many less than in the before times.

 

[dagdag]

I would recommend flying direct to your destination. Avoid stop overs, and you should be fine. Flew about 20000 miles in the last 4 months, and know of people who wer stuck at their connecting city up to 3 days!

 

[TarnishedPenny]

We have flown four or five different airlines in the past couple of month. The good news is that we got there. On the flip side, we’ve had one flight canceled/rescheduled about five times in one day (unplanned layover) and a second seriously delayed for mechanical issues. The airports seems seriously understaffed. We didn’t lose luggage (you cannot go somewhere for several weeks with just carry-on), but we had high-end trackers, just in case.

Frankly, I’d rather stay home.

 

[the_single_gal_unconfidential]

I am passionate about traveling.

me too. just got a ticket to Dublin, Ireland.
I've been there before, you?

 

[iso36]

I don't check baggage and fly nonstop on Star Alliance member airlines only, usually at the pointy end of the aircraft. No problems.

 

[lc69hunter]

I had A List status for 2023 (35000 miles) Southwest by midyear, plus a couple of trips on Air France, and it has been smooth.

 

[Maeven_quinn]

Traveled once for a wedding post covid, and everyone was still masked at the time.