Traveling over Labor Day weekend? Have a plan B in case of cancellations or delays, and be patient

(AP) — Many kids are back in school across the United States and the days are getting shorter, but there’s still one more excuse to use up swimsuits and beach towels before packing their bags: Labor Day.

Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed for the long holiday weekend, as many Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the unofficial start of the season: by traveling.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) plans to screen more than 17 million people between Thursday and Wednesday, a record for the Labor Day period.

AAA says domestic travel bookings are up 9% from last year for the holiday weekend, while international travel is down 4%.

American Airlines is planning its biggest Labor Day weekend ever and expects a 14% increase in passengers over last year.

If you’re traveling to enjoy one last bit of summer, here’s a look at what you need to know.

What are the prices?

Motorists are enjoying a discount on gasoline prices compared to last year. According to AAA, the national average price was recently $3.44 per gallon, down from $3.86 a year ago.

For electric vehicles, the average price of a kilowatt of electricity at a commercial L2 charging station is about 34 cents. The average is less than 25 cents in Kansas and Missouri, but exceeds 40 cents in several states, including New Hampshire, Tennessee and Kentucky. Hawaii is the most expensive state, at 56 cents.

According to the government’s consumer price index, average airfares fell 7.1% in July from June and 2.8% from July 2023. The trend appears to be accelerating as the peak summer vacation season draws to a close.

“We’re now entering that traditional fall season where demand drops, and you can see that in airfares,” said Steve Hafner, CEO of travel metasearch site Kayak. “Airfares are already down about 26% from the summer, and they’re down about 4% from the previous fall.”

When is the best time to hit the road?

According to transportation data provider INRIX, the worst time to drive on Thursday will be between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and on Friday between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. On Saturday, avoid driving between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

For the return trip, most of Monday — from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. — will be a slog, according to INRIX.

And watch out for risky drivers. New data from Arity, a subsidiary of insurance giant Allstate, shows that speeding tickets over 80 mph are up 83 percent, and “extreme speeding tickets” (over 100 mph) are up more than 50 percent.

However, in a surprising turnaround, Arity says distracted driving has decreased over the last three days of Labor.

When will airports be 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. The record of 3.01 million people in a single day was set on July 7, the Sunday after Independence Day.

The TSA says it has enough screeners to limit the time it takes to get through regular lines to 30 minutes or less and to 10 minutes or less for 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 carrier has 6,300 flights scheduled.

What should I do if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

Check your itinerary first before leaving for the airport. It’s better to be stuck at home than to be stuck at the airport.

If your flight is cancelled, the airline may automatically offer you a new booking. This may not be the best option.

“Call the airline’s help center, contact an agent, contact the airline via social media if necessary, but ask about other options,” says Julian Kheel, founder and CEO of Points Path, a browser extension that lets users compare fares with available deals using loyalty points. “You can almost always find another option that may be more effective than the one the airline is offering.”

Airport agents have more latitude to help, Kheel said, but they may be overwhelmed if many flights are canceled. It may be faster to rebook on the airline’s website or app, he added.

Phone Tip: Some experts recommend calling one of these if the airline has international support numbers to get a faster response than on the U.S. line.

What about refunds and reimbursements?

Airlines are required to refund passengers whose flights are canceled for any reason, including any additional fees. They are not required to provide cash compensation, however, and no major U.S. airline does so. Only Alaska, Southwest, and JetBlue even promise travel vouchers if the cancellation is their fault.

If you’re stuck overnight, ask the airline to cover the cost of your hotel, meals and ground transportation. All major U.S. airlines except Frontier promise to help cover all three costs for “controllable” disruptions, according to the Department of Transportation’s Airline Policy Dashboard . However, those commitments don’t apply to weather-related cancellations.

Keep receipts for all expenses incurred in case you may file a claim later.

Some final advice

Leave early. Everything will take longer than expected, including getting through airport security. If you plan to park at the airport, make sure there will be spaces available when you arrive. Many airports now publish this information online.
Monitor the weather. Even if the sky is clear where you are, there may be thunderstorms at your destination or along your route. Plan a backup route.
Be nice. Flight cancellations and traffic jams are frustrating, but you won’t be the only one stuck. Customer service agents are busy during peak periods, so it’s important to be patient and respectful when they try to help you.

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Koenig reported from Dallas. New York-based business reporter Wyatte Grantham-Philips contributed to this report.