In this emerging post-Covid world, there is still a lot of travel disruption happening, especially in terms of flights.
So, should you drop your summer vacation plans?
Mishandled Luggage Is a Big Problem at Present
The aviation chaos that is currently happening in the U.S. and many countries around the world does not just concern delayed and canceled flights and changing rules about entry requirements to different countries.
Mishandled luggage incidents are also causing disruption.
For instance, incidents of mishandled luggage were up by 60% from April 2021 to March 2022.
So, if you are looking at flying to a vacation destination this summer, be prepared for potential problems with your bags. Make sure you take all of your essentials in carry-on luggage.
Several Other Factors Are Contributing to Aviation Chaos
Unfortunately, thousands of flights are still being canceled around the world every day. According to Bloomberg, there are around 20,000 delayed and canceled flights each day at present.
On top of that, airports around the world are seeing long queues, longer times to get through security, travelers missing connections, and largely inflated prices for travel.
The reasons for such chaos are mostly to do with supply chain issues and labor shortages, as a result of the Covid and lockdown era of the last couple of years.
Furthermore, there is an unprecedented demand for international travel, which is contributing to airline and airport issues.
There Is a Silver Lining
It is not all doom and gloom. While, yes, the aviation industry is continuing to experience various problems, it is very good news that many people can now fly to various countries, unlike in the last couple of years.
Countries are continuing to reopen to international travelers. For instance, New Zealand has just reopened its borders to international travelers who are fully vaccinated.
While many countries still require people to be vaccinated or produce a negative Covid test to gain entry, many countries are starting to disband Covid entry requirements altogether.
Indeed, many governments around the world think disbanding all Covid requirements is the way forward, seeing as vaccination programs have now been rolled out.
In recent months, dozens of new countries have dropped Covid entry requirements. Other countries are remaining cautious, though.
For instance, Greece has suspended border rules for the summer, but if Covid rates become too high, restrictions may be put back into place in September.
In many countries, you no longer need to do pre- or post-arrival tests or quarantine.
If You Are Planning on Flying, Make Sure You Get the Latest News and Updates
At the end of the day, there is still no central hub to inform travelers of exactly what the requirements are for entering different countries.
That means if you are considering traveling abroad this summer, you will have to spend some time finding out what protocols are or are not in place for the particular country you are planning to visit.
You need to stay updated about the latest occurrences with international flights, too.
The good news is you can stay up-to-date with all the latest flight information about a United Airlines flight status, for instance, by using the flight tracker on iFly’s website. You can quickly and accurately discover whether a flight is canceled, delayed, or on time.
The Takeaway
Yes, the aviation industry is still in chaos in these post-Covid times. However, that does not mean you should drop your summer vacation plans.
Just make sure you are organized.
Check out the requirements for traveling to the country you are planning on visiting, put valuables and essentials in carry-on luggage, and use a flight tracker to find out the status of your flight.
Then, you can relax in the sun by the poolside on your vacation and forget all about the post-Covid world for a couple of weeks.
