In the US, many children are going back to school and the days are getting shorter. But there’s another reason to unpack your swimsuits and beach towels before you pack them: Labor Day.
Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be crowded over the long holiday weekend as many Americans celebrate the unofficial end of summer. in the same way They celebrated the unofficial start of the season: through travel.
The Transportation Safety Administration expects to test more than 17 million people between Thursday and next Wednesday – a record for the Labor Day period.
AAA cancels bookings for Domestic travel For the holiday weekend, the cost of overseas travel is 9% higher than last year, while the number of overseas trips has decreased by 4%.
American Airlines plans its largest Labor Day weekend operation ever, expecting a 14% increase Passengers compared to last year.
If you’re traveling to enjoy the last moments of summer, here’s an overview of everything you need to know.
What are the prices?
Drivers get a Break from petrol compared to last year. The national average was recently $3.44 per gallon, according to AAA, compared to $3.86 a year ago.
For electric vehicles, the average price for a kilowatt-hour of electricity at a Level L2 commercial charging station is about 34 cents. In Kansas and Missouri, the average price is less than 25 cents, but in several states, including New Hampshire, Tennessee and Kentucky, it is more than 40 cents. Hawaii is the most expensive at 56 cents.
Average flight prices in July were 7.1% lower compared to June and 2.8% lower compared to July 2023, according to the government’s consumer price index. The trend appears to be accelerating as the peak summer holiday season comes to an end.
“We are now in the traditional fall season when demand collapses, and you can see that in the airfares,” said Steve HafnerCEO of travel metasearch engine Kayak. “Airfares have already fallen by about 26 percent since the summer, and even since last fall they have fallen by about 4 percent.”
When is the best time to set off?
If you plan to start your trip on the Thursday or Friday before Labor Day, you’ll be sharing the road with commuters. To avoid traffic jams, set off before the morning rush hour or even in the evening.
According to traffic data provider INRIX, the worst time to drive is on Thursday between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and on Friday between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. On Saturday, it’s the other way around: you’d better not drive between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.
According to INRIX, the return flight will be a laborious process for most of Monday – from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
And watch out for risky drivers. New data from Arity, part of the insurance giant Allstateshows that speeding offences exceeding 80 miles per hour have increased by 83% and “very high speeding offences” – exceeding 100 miles per hour – have increased by over 50%.
Surprisingly, however, according to Arity, the number of inattentive drivers has decreased over the past three Labor Days.
When are airports busiest?
Friday, according to the TSA. The agency expects to screen 2.86 million people that day. While that’s an impressive number, it wouldn’t even rank among the 15 busiest days in TSA history. Daily record of 3.01 million was set on July 7, the Sunday after Independence Day.
The TSA says it has enough screeners to limit the time to go through regular lines to 30 minutes or less and to 10 minutes or less in PreCheck lines.
American Airlines says Thursday and Friday will be its busiest days, with 6,400 flights per day, followed by Labor Day itself, when the airline will have 6,300 scheduled flights.
What should I do if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
First, check your itinerary before heading to the airport. It’s better to be stuck at home than stuck at the airport.
If your flight is cancelled, the airline may automatically rebook it. This may not be the best option.
“Call (the airline’s help center), speak to an agent, contact the airline on social media if necessary, but educate yourself on the other options,” advises Julian Kheel, founder and CEO of Points Path, a browser extension that allows users to compare fares with deals available with frequent flyer points. “You can almost always find another option that is better than the one offered by the airline.”
Kheel said airport staff have more leeway to help, but they could be overwhelmed if many flights are canceled. Rebooking on your own through the airline’s website or app could be quicker, he said.
Phone tip: Some experts recommend that if the airline has international help numbers, calling one of those numbers will get you through faster than using the US number.
What about refunds and reimbursements?
Airlines are obliged to make refunds — including any additional fees paid — to passengers whose flights are canceled for any reason. However, they are not obligated to pay financial compensation, and none of the major U.S. airlines do so. Only Alaska, Southwest, and JetBlue even promise travel vouchers if the cancellation is their fault.
If you’re stranded overnight, ask the airline if it will cover hotel, meals and ground transportation costs. All major U.S. airlines except Frontier promise to help with all three problems during “controllable” disruptions, according to the Department of Transportation. Airline Policy DashboardHowever, these obligations do not apply in the event of cancellations due to weather conditions.
Keep receipts for all expenses in case you want to make a claim later.
A few final tips
— Leave early. Everything will take longer than expected, including airport security. If you plan to park at the airport, make sure there are spaces available when you arrive—many airports now publish this information online.
— Be aware of the weather. Even if the skies are clear at home, storms may be present at your flight destination or on your route. Plan an alternative route.
— Be nice. Flight cancellations and traffic jams are frustrating, but you’re not the only one stuck. Customer service representatives are busy during peak travel times, so it’s important to be patient and respectful while they try to help you.
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Koenig reported from Dallas. Business writer Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York contributed to this report.
