Will Labor Day Air Travel be the Nightmare that the Start of Summer Was

Summer started with flight delays and cancellation chaos when thousands of air travelers hit turbulence before they ever left the ground.

The problems continued through the middle of July before the volume of delayed and canceled flights dropped.

The Federal Aviation Administration predicts Labor Day weekend to be the third-busiest travel weekend this year, with Friday expected to be the peak travel day with 49,111 flights forecasted. Locally, Port Authority officials expect 2.3 million plus passengers to use its airports, including Newark.

Some travelers are still coping with their bad experiences earlier this summer, including a Wall Township man who booked direct flights in June between Newark Airport to Las Vegas for his bachelor party. His United Airlines flights to and from Vegas were canceled before he arrived at the airport. NJ Advance Media is withholding his name because he works in law enforcement.

After arguing with employees, he was booked on an indirect flight to Vegas with a layover in Houston. His later than planned 11 p.m. arrival in Vegas cost him a prepaid reservations, said his fiancé. Other member of the bachelor party flying United also were delayed, she said. His 9 a.m. flight to back to Newark was canceled and he spent over five hours on standby before finally put on a flight schedule for an 11 p.m. departure.

That flight didn’t leave until 12:45 a.m., and he didn’t arrive home until almost 9 a.m., costing him a hotel stay and two days off without pay. His fiancé estimates the problems cost him about $1,300 and he wanted some of that cost covered, beyond the extra miles United offered to cover those costs.

A United spokeswoman blamed the issues on bad weather and said the airline did what it could.

“Recurring severe weather across the East Coast made for a challenging operation during this customer’s travel and we did our best to provide alternate ways to get him to his destination as quickly as possible,” said a United spokesperson. “We understand this was a frustrating experience for (him) and have provided travel credits as a gesture of goodwill.”

Since the early summer meltdown, air travel has recovered since those early summer meltdowns, said Eric Jones, co-founder of The Vacationer travel site and a Rowan University math professor.

“Poor weather, FAA staffing shortages, and airline over-scheduling all contributed to the problem,” he said. “While cancellations and delays are still happening due to uncontrollable factors like poor weather, airlines are better equipped to get back on track before things get too bad.”

United officials said conditions improved during the rest of the summer due to a lack of bad weather and steps the Federal Aviation Administration took in August.

Hurricane Idalia could affect that. After making landfall in Florida on Wednesday morning, the now downgraded hurricane moved past the Carolinas and is predicted by the National Weather Service to go out to sea by Friday.

The FAA made a significant change on Aug. 9, announcing it would allow New York region airlines to reduce the number of scheduled flights in metro area airports, including Newark, without risking loss of a slot at that airport. It also encouraged use of larger aircraft.

That move was requested on Aug. 7 by Airlines for America, an industry group which asked for that waiver through Oct. 28, citing staffing shortages of New York region air traffic controllers that was below FAA minimum staffing levels.

An FAA spokeswoman referred questions about if that reduced delays and cancellations to airlines.

“Our ability to reduce our schedule without the threat of losing slots combined with excellent operational execution among our team and less disruptive extreme weather has allowed us to perform more reliably for our customers,” said Anthony Fleet, a United Airlines spokesperson.

United counts Newark Airport as a hub and has the largest presence at the airport.

“Carriers continue working diligently to improve operational reliability,” said Marli Collier, an Airlines for America spokesperson. “This includes launching aggressive, successful hiring campaigns for positions across the industry and reducing schedules in response to the FAA’s staffing shortages.”

Jones agreed that reducing flights at Newark Liberty and other airports has “helped tremendously.” Despite slightly increasing tickets costs for passengers, it had the effect of likely preventing additional delays and cancellations, he said.

That doesn’t mean the skies are tranquil and trouble free.

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., who wrote to the Federal Aviation Administration in July after hearing from angry constituents about flight delays and cancellations, said he still hears from frustrated travelers. He has not heard from the FAA with answers to his concerns.

“Every week I hear from Jersey families and workers about flights delays and cancellations. It’s been more than a month with no answer since I asked the FAA and Department of Transportation to share their plans to address delays, cancellations, and the air traffic controller shortage,” he said. “The FAA is so delayed that they can’t even answer a letter on time.”

FAA officials said on Aug. 24 it reached a 2023 goal of hiring 1,500 air traffic controllers.

Those controllers will undergo 18 to 24 months of training for the air space they will cover. Earlier in the year the FAA was criticized for air traffic controller under staffing, both in a GAO report and by United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby.

“I agree with United Airlines’ assessment. The FAA has been understaffed for a while now, and it has been a catalyst for delays and cancellations,” Jones said.

How can travelers avoid the Wall Township traveler’s nightmare? Despite the outcome, he did the right thing by booking a direct flight with the airline instead of using third parties, Jones said.

“In the event of a delay or cancellation, it is much easier to deal with the airline instead of the third-party booking agency’s customer service,” Jones said.

If your flight is canceled, Jones recommends searching for alternate flights yourself, including on other airlines, and asking your carrier to rebook you on that flight. The US Department of Transportation only guarantees travelers a cash refund if their flights are canceled or “significantly delayed and they decide not to travel, he said.

“Unfortunately, airlines are not required by law to do much else,” he said.

Domestic airlines list what they offer in the event of controllable delays and cancellations on a USDOT website.

Travelers should download their airlines app and sign up for text push notifications after booking, to immediately learn of delays and cancellations and book another flight, Jones said.

Jones said he had a similar experience this summer when returning from Cartagena, Columbia, on American Airlines. His flight from Colombia to Miami kept getting delayed and he had to make a connecting flight to Philadelphia.

“After the fourth delay, I knew we were in trouble,” Jones said.

While on the flight to Miami, Jones said the American Airlines app “automatically rebooked us on a flight the next morning.”

If that doesn’t happen, he recommends to immediately look for alternate flights, on your airline, and other airlines, he said. Your airline may only check its next available flights, he said.

“Many airlines have agreements, which allow them to book you on another airline,” Jones said. “In some cases, the next best flight may be with another airline.”

After that, contact airline customer service, either at customer service counter if you’re in the airport, through social media like Twitter, through chat features in the airline app, and over the phone, he said.

“Your goal is to talk to someone as quickly as possible,” he said.

Jones went to the American Airlines customer service desk at the Miami airport after landing. He fared better than the Wall man did in June.

“They offered us a free hotel room, a free shuttle to and from the airport, and food vouchers,” he said. “I pressed American Airlines when we finally got home. They provided my traveling companion and me with 5,000 American Airlines miles.”

Finally, check whether the credit card you’re paying with (or paid with) offers travel insurance benefits.

“Many travel-focused credit cards offer insurance benefits like reimbursement for lodging, meals, and other things in the event your trip is delayed or canceled,” Jones said.

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Larry Higgs may be reached at [email protected].

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