Summer travel this year has not been particularly smooth, with delayed and cancelled flights, lost luggage, and general airport chaos. We checked in with our Flight Team at Hayes & Jarvis to get their expert insights on the root cause of the issues, tips on how to avoid getting stuck at an airport, and what they see coming for your future travel plans.
Why are flights getting cancelled?
The UK has been facing some of the biggest disruptions in flight services this summer, with British Airways cutting down on its scheduled flights to Africa, especially. Heathrow has limited the number of passengers in the airport to 100,000 per day, to manage the situation, and airlines have been requested to cancel or reduce the number of flights. According to our Senior Trip Execution Coordinator Gokul, “Around 8 to 11% of cancellations are happening now and it is likely to increase out of Heathrow (LHR).”
Why is this happening? As Niraj Chokshi and Heather Murphy who cover transportation and travel for New York Times, point out in this article, it is a confluence of high (pent-up) demand, labour crunch and the pandemic:
“After two years when people were not able to travel or did not feel safe doing so because of COVID-19, summer travel is busy again. Besides, labour is in short supply. Both airlines and airports have been struggling to hire, which means that there haven’t been enough baggage handlers, wheelchair agents, ramp agents — all the way up to pilots.” They believe that, to some extent, it is a problem of the airlines’ own creation. Early in the pandemic, when they were looking to trim costs, the airlines encouraged a lot of employees to leave through buyouts or early retirements.
“Many people in the travel industry – not only pilots – have changed their occupations and don’t want to risk another layoff. So most of the airlines are struggling to make routes work with the existing crew. Pilots across the world are calling strikes because of low pay and longer working hours.“
Abu, Senior Flight Operations Executive at Hayes & Jarvis
Lost luggage, spiralling fuel prices
Never-ending lines at security, lost luggage and technical snags. Heathrow, the world’s busiest airport, has been facing a slew of challenges this summer. Flight Operations Manager Steven says, “Lost luggage has legitimately become a real problem. I could count on one hand how many times guests’ luggage has been lost in my 25 years of working in the industry. In the past month, though, this has happened innumerable times.”
Rising fuel prices have added to the woes of travellers this season. While it has, surprisingly, not impacted demand, the cost of air tickets has shot up, and will continue to stay that way until the situation stabilises.
“We have seen airlines increase prices substantially, both to recoup costs from COVID-19 and increased ‘fuel surcharges’. While we don’t see a decrease in the number of flights operating, we see a decrease in the number of seats available. Many legacy carries have retired their older fleets of inefficient Boeing 747 and Airbus A830 models in favour of the newer, more fuel efficient Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which hold a lot less passengers than their bigger sisters.”
Steven, Flight Operations Manager at Hayes & Jarvis
Expert advice on flying during these times
Despite the current turmoil, there’s reason to be hopeful about future travel. The situation is expected to get better soon as airlines have been hiring and training their staff aggressively to meet the demand. Besides, with fall approaching, airlines can breathe easy, as it is traditionally not considered a busy travel season. If you are travelling soon, here are some expert tips to help you deal with delays and cancellations:
- Always ensure you reach the airport as early as you can, so it gives you time to settle and be better prepared.
- If you are carrying valuables, important documents and things that are dear to you or your family, consider packing it in a carry on, so you don’t have to deal with lost luggage.
- Look for direct flights wherever possible so you don’t have to worry about missing your connecting flight. If you can’t fly directly, always ensure you have at least three hours in between flights.
- Try to take the first flight out early in the morning, as the chances of it getting cancelled are low. Even if it does get cancelled, you will still have other options through the day.
Did you know?
“If your airline cancels your flight or significantly changes it, you are supposed to get your money back. It’s something that people don’t realise, and airlines sometimes instead offer people vouchers when they actually owe you that money. If you aren’t refunded automatically, you may have to call the airline or fill out an online form. If the money has not shown up in your bank account within several weeks of your request, you should tell your credit card company, and it can help you get your money back.”
– Heather Murphy, New York Times
The Hayes & Jarvis Advantage
Dealing with flight delays and cancellations? Rest easy in the knowledge that you’re not alone. If you’ve booked a trip with us, you can always lean on your personal trip coordinator, who is available throughout the duration of your travel, until you get back home.
If you are checked in for your flight, the airline is best placed to support you in case of cancellations or delays. Do remember that it is also their responsibility to offer assistance when such a situation arises. You will find that each airline that operates out of the airport has a desk with a representative, and they should be your first point of contact in such cases.
In addition, our trip execution team is just a call away if you need help with logistics, alternative hotel arrangements or if you just need a friendly ear to talk through the situation. We are here at every step of your journey.
As Steven sums up: “Our guests will always be supported by Trip Execution 24/7 with us taking as much of the stress out of the disruption as possible. If guests are affected by any changes, we will work with them to rearrange their trip, saving them from having to sit on hold for hours to speak to airlines, and other suppliers to rearrange their trip.”
Are you ready for your next holiday? Reach out to us, and our travel team will curate the perfect itinerary for you, and once your trip begins, your trip coordinator will be there with you at every step of the way to ensure your holiday goes smoothly.
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