8 tips to help you beat the airport crowds. It’s summer flying season
8 tips to help you cope with crowds
Air travelers, don’t underestimate summer.
The cold-weather holidays around Thanksgiving and Christmas may get most of the “pack your patience” attention, but most of the year’s busiest airtravel days happen during the summer travel season.
More than 246 million passengers will fly with U.S. airlines between June 1 and Aug. 31, a record total, trade group Airlines for America (A4A) says.
TSA officials also have said they expect a busy summer, one that may set records for the number of passengers screened. The agency typically screens
2.2 to 2.3 million passengers per day but anticipates larger crowds that could approach 2.7 million passengers during peak days in June, July and August.
Here are eight tips to help you survive your trip through the airport:
❚ What’s new? (security): Pay extra attention to powders in your carry-on bags. The TSA has stepped up scrutiny of powders such as cosmetics, spices and protein or energy powder mixes, among others.
The focus is on containers holding at least 350 milliliters of powder, which is about the size of a can of soda. The TSA is now urging passengers to pack larger containers in checked luggage and remove smaller containers from carry-on bags for separate screening, similar to small containers of liquids.
There are exceptions. Powered baby formula, medically necessary powders and human remains traveling in approved containers will be allowed. Gun powder, however, remains prohibited from all checked or carry-on luggage.
❚ What’s new? (airlines): Basic Economy. These no-frills fares on American, Delta and United aren’t new either, but their scope has expanded dramatically since last summer. In short, customers flying on these “Basic Economy” tickets get few perks. They’ll be the last to board, and they won’t be able to select seats in advance. The carriers say Basic Economy customers arriving to the gate with a bag that’s too big to fit under the seat will have to check it for the regular checked-bag fee plus a $25 “gate handling charge.”
❚ Busiest days: Unsurprisingly, the summer’s big holidays around July 4 and Labor Day will be especially busy. Brace for busy airports and full planes all week, though the Sunday following July 4 likely will be the big return day for many travelers. There will be a more tried-and-true pattern for the USA’s Labor Day holiday. This year, the date is Sept. 3. Expect that Friday (Aug. 31) and Labor Day itself to be the busiest days.
❚ Arrive early: This isn’t the time of year to test how close you can cut it. Check with your airport for suggestions on how early to arrive.
❚ Pack smart: Pack your carry-ons with security lines in mind. Remember that unless you’re eligible for the TSA’s Precheck lines, laptops, liquids – and now some powders and other electronics – must come out separately to go through the screening checkpoints.
For the infrequent fliers, remember that most liquids are prohibited from carry-ons unless they are in containers of 3.4 ounces or less and are held in a clear, quart-size plastic bag. (See the TSA’s full “3-1-1” rules on liquids). Some exceptions are made for liquids related to medical or childcare needs.
If you check a bag – either in advance or at the gate after your plane runs out of overhead bin space – remember to keep all of your important medicines and valuable items in your carry-on.
❚ Watch the weather: Watch the weather starting as early as 72 hours leading up to your flight. It may be sunny and warm where you are, but there could be problems between you and your destination. In some cases, airlines will issue weather waivers that may allow you to move your flight at no cost to avoid weather-related disruptions.
❚ Keep your phones and laptops handy: You can call the airline’s reservation number to ask for help in getting a new flight, perhaps beating those in line to a seat. Also, many airlines have added rebooking features on their mobile apps that allow customers to select new flights during so-called “irregular” operations.
❚ Pack your patience: Perhaps the golden rule of travel.
And never take out your frustrations on airline employees, most of whom are conscientious workers doing their best to get everyone on their way during an intensely busy time.