FEARS that normally loom large over summer travel season due to massive flight delays occasioned by air traffic controller furloughs and skyrocketing gas prices may have vanished, leaving predictions of relatively smooth sailing, flying and driving ahead.
The summer travel season is already underway, and so many planes are expected to be full that, if you are bumped, you could end up waiting days for a seat on another flight to the same destination.
The number of fliers that would be bumped against their will is expected to reach a record high for the decade this year.
Travel is a broad and diverse industry employing a vast work force, from hotel employees to restaurant, attraction and retail workers.
Travel and tourism further support employees in other industry sectors, such as construction, manufacturing and finance.
This summer, high rollers are flying to lavish hot spots for their vacations. The rest are driving to less luxurious places like nearby campgrounds.
Rising home prices and a soaring stock market are encouraging those at the top of the income ladder to take more extravagant trips.
But large segments of the population are staying close to home because wages are stagnant, rents are high and the end of the payroll tax holiday has shrunk their take-home pay.
For a travel industry still stinging from the Great Recession that likely means another summer of steady, but slow, recovery.
As the economy in Europe, United States, Asia, part of Africa continues to recover and consumers are more comfortable spending rather than saving, experts believe that spells good news for the travel season that has kicked kicks off.
The holiday weekend itself is not expected to set any records. Many are forecasting numbers similar to last year, with 34.8 million Americans expected to travel between this week.
But for the summer season, surveys show more people are expected to take a vacation on the road and in the air this year than last, and fuel prices are projected to be about 16 cents a gallon less than a year ago.
Even airfare to many top summer destinations has dropped compared to 2012, though airlines continue to tack on extra fees and hotels are charging more for rooms.
A travel expert warned that some travellers might be taken aback by extra fees that airlines are charging for everything from carry-on bags to seats with more legroom.
Still, surveys show travellers are willing to part with more cash this year. A survey from travel site TripAdvisor said 25 per cent of summer travelers expect to spend more on vacation this year, while 53 percent will spend the same.
“For so many years, we’ve been saying ‘the economy, the economy,’?” said Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com. “I don’t know if that matters as much anymore. People are making it work.”
Airlines for America, an industry trade organisation, said U.S. airlines are expected to carry nearly 209 million passengers between June and August. That’s up one per cent; the group believes higher household net worth, increased corporate profits and a break in the price of fuel are factors in the increase.
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