Battling Summer Travel

Short of an Act of Congress, what can be done to avoid summer air travel headaches in the coming months? That's the subject of this week's cover story in U.S. News and World Report which includes a comprehensive summer airport "survival guide". Rick Newman, Deputy Business Editor for U.S. News and World Report, talked to us about the article.

Airlines are finally making money again however that's bad news for the traveler. Airlines are using their bigger airplanes for international flights. In turn they are saving their smaller plans for their domestic flights and filling up these smaller planes. "We are all just flying on more crowded planes," Newman explains.

In the article, U.S. News ranks the best and the worst domestic airports. The two factors considered in the ranking are on time performance of the flights leaving the airports and the load being carried. At the top of the most miserable airports list is Detroit, followed by Chicago O'Hare, Charlotte, North Carolina, New York's Kennedy, and Newark, New Jersey. "People who fly often won't be surprised to see Chicago O'Hare bottoms our list," Newman says. "It's the most miserable airport by our rankings."

At the top of the least miserable airports is Oakland, California. Houston Hobby, San Jose, California, Dallas Love Field, and St. Louis follow in the top five. "These are generally smaller airports but still handle a lot of larger flights," explains Newman. Regional airports are easier to manage, but they do have a limitation of not having a lot of direct flights. You may still have to go through one of the larger hub airports to get to your destination.

It's going to be a tough summer for flyers. The best insider tip Newman could offer for those who have to fly this summer is have a contingency plan. "Arrive with a plan for what you are going to do if something goes wrong. If you have a travel agent use your travel agent. Call from the airport instead of waiting in line."

For more information and to see the U.S. News and World Report article, click here.
by Jenn Eaker