For those of us brave enough to venture outside our homes during the coronavirus pandemic, there was an unexpected pleasure: Traveling, though technically restricted, had never been easier.
Airports were nearly empty, making it easy to breeze through the normally jam-packed security lines. The planes themselves remained relatively uninhabited, which meant most passengers had entire rows to themselves. And then, there were the prices. Round-trip flights to Hawaii were going for as little as $300 per person, and fees for canceling or rescheduling trips were waived. Suddenly, everyone was planning their next vacation. Coronavirus who?
Well, all of that has changed. The pandemic threat and its accompanying restrictions are gone, and so are the travel perks. The airlines are swamped, delays and schedule changes are becoming a frequent headache, and thanks to the traffic and high gas prices, driving isn’t a much better option.
Take it from Rebecca Reiss, who had booked a four-day vacation to the Caribbean over the Fourth of July weekend. She and her husband ended up missing a full day of their trip because of the Atlanta airport’s long lines, international coronavirus testing requirements, and a baggage mishap.
“It was a mess — a total mess,” she told the Wall Street Journal. “Everything just kept adding up.”
No airline has been immune to the setbacks accompanying this summer’s bustling travel season. Only 58% of JetBlue’s flights this summer have arrived on time. Allegiant and Southwest have had the worst cancellation rates, according to masFlight. American Airlines has had a difficult time rebooking customers because it set up too many flight lines this spring, giving its pilots very little wiggle room.
All of this makes for very unhappy travelers, especially those who experienced the simplicity of travel during the pandemic.
But don’t worry, you won’t have to put up with this for long: If the benevolent officials over at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have their way, you’ll never have to wait in long lines or pay exorbitant prices — because you’ll never be able to travel normally again!
