The July 4th weekend is almost here, and 47.9 million people are expected to travel, but judging by the past few weeks, it certainly won’t be easy. With airlines canceling flights, and high costs of gas, there will be a lot of challenges to go with your holiday getaway, but things could go a bit smoother if you are prepared for what to expect.
With that in mind, here are five important tips to know before you head out on your July 4th vacation:
- Arrive at the airport even earlier than usual – While the TSA recommends folks get to the airport two hours ahead for domestic travel, and four for international flights, you’ll want to give yourself even more time to get through the airport these days. You are definitely likely to see more travelers than ever since many “revenge traveler,” who haven't traveled because of the pandemic are back.
- Know rights and benefits when flights are canceled or delayed – These days we are constantly hearing about delayed or canceled flights, so be sure to check your flight status before leaving for the airport. If you wind up with a canceled flight, or one with a huge delay, customers are entitled to full refunds if they choose not to take a different flight. If they do take an alternative flight, airlines are not required to refund you for incidental expenses, although some may offer a meal voucher or hotel stay. Also check with your credit card company to see if you have any trip protection benefits.
- Pack essentials in your carry-on – Extensive delays or cancelations often leads to lost luggage so make sure you have essentials, like medications, phone chargers and more, (maybe even some extra undies) in your carry-on.
- Plan to spend more money, especially on gas – If you are one of the 42 million expected to hit the road this weekend, just accept it, you’re going to be shelling out a lot for gas. And thanks to inflation, you’ll probably be spending more in a lot of other areas as well.
- Hit the road early – Again, with 42 million getting in their cars to get away there’s going to be a lot of traffic on the roads, so your best bet for a smooth trip is to leave as early as possible. If you want to beat traffic do not leave in the afternoon and evenings tomorrow, Friday and Saturday.
Source: USA Today