So many industries are changing rapidly as we begin to see a shift in operations during the planet’s on-going pandemic. While theme parks have started to open up more entertainment, dining, and attractions to guests, the travel industry is starting to see more passengers than it has over the past year.

And now that more passengers are looking to fly, that means that changes are also coming to airports and airlines.

While change can be a good thing, you might want to consider the travel problems that you AREN’T thinking about ahead of your next trip!

Price Hikes

One of the most tedious parts of booking a vacation is looking for well-priced airfare. And in the midst of the pandemic, it’s been a bit easier to find cheap airfare with less people flying. Now that the travel industry has begun to open up more, however, the price to fly has started to trend upward as well.

We decided to compare flights to both Orlando and Los Angeles to travel to the Disney Parks on either coast, leaving from a central location in between the destinations (in this case, Dallas-Fort Worth). However, depending on where you are traveling from, what your destination may be, and what airline carrier you choose, flight prices can significantly change.

As Fall rolls around, so do some of the theme park’s biggest events of the year. Specifically, the Boo Bash in Disney World and Halloween Horror Nights in Universal Orlando bring in a considerable amount of guests. And Disney World will also begin to host its 50th anniversary celebrations starting October 1st. Compared to the low-cost airfare we have seen throughout the pandemic, the prices are started to somewhat return back to normal. A round-trip ticket can be purchased as low as $98 in a quiet season like September and as high as $246 in a busy season like October, according to the airports selected.

Yet the holiday season will most likely see a steady increase in flight prices with airfare only as low as $118 and $140 at the beginning of November and December, respectively. However, the cost actually jumps up to a whopping $544 roundtrip ticket during Thanksgiving Week and $515 after Christmas in Orlando.

California, on the other hand, has a pretty steady trend of airfare prices over the stretch of the fall. Flights range from $112 to $223 round-trip over the course September and October when Disneyland’s Oogie Boogie Bash will gather crowds during the season.

The holiday season, of course, picks up a bit when it comes to the cost of flying to California. November has a range of $169 to $374, while December has a range of $171 to $372. Surprisingly, the airfare is currently cheaper to head to the West Coast instead of the East Coast when it comes to your theme park destinations.

However, airfare can literally change within minutes! That’s why it is SO important to check flights regularly if you plan on traveling. We recommend downloading the Hopper app, where you can put in your desired travel dates and receive notifications about prices increases and decreases. Hopper will also tell you whether flight prices are predicted to drop or if you should buy them at that moment.

Major Flight Delays and Cancelations

We’ve all been there when we’ve worried that a flight might be delayed or canceled for various reasons. Yet as airports continue to welcome more passengers who are looking to travel, there has been an increase in these reported situations that could affect your trip!

Recently, I’ve even experienced issues with a short flight that would have taken only an hour an a half. But our flight was delayed an entire six hours because there were issues with the plane at first, and then there wasn’t an available crew when we switched to a different gate with a different plane. But I’m not the only one who has had these issues!

Multiple news outlets, like the California based KCRA Channel 3 News, has reported on a recent delay of an Allegiant flight from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Stockton, California, that was stretched into a 17-hour ordeal. Allegiant stated to the news outlet that this was “due to air traffic control’s automatic surface weather reporting system failing to provide visibility information required for landing.”

However, according to The Washington Post, there are three major issues that have been affecting flights. Bryan Del Monte, president of the Aviation Agency, notes that these problems majorly are caused by “bad weather, a labor shortage, and capacity problems.” This is important to note, since the airline industry is just beginning to see changes with more people taking flights even as the industry is also still making up for its losses during the pandemic. There are fewer crew members and a higher need for detailed training, on top of health and safety requirements still being in place.

How do you avoid this problem? Well, there’s bad news and good news. The bad news is that there’s no real way of knowing if your flight is going to be delayed. However, the good news is that you CAN prepare for it! When you’re booking your flight, you should consider the fact that there could be delays or even cancelations in some cases. While travel insurance may have not seemed necessary to you before, it might be something to consider adding to your flight costs now.

As you head to the airport, we also recommend getting there early so you have plenty of time to either grab a meal or snack (just to be on the safe side). Also, be sure to download your airline carrier’s mobile app, so you can quickly take a look at flight updated without having to be at the gate. Again, though, you might want to get to your gate early so you can listen to any overhead announcements and ask questions, if need be.

How to Pack

There are plenty of ways to pack specifically for theme parks, but what about packing for travel in general? Now that you might have to consider delays or cancelations as factors in your experience, it may even change the way you pack, too! Carry-on bags could be the best option for your own travel needs, as you pack just the amount of clothes you will need and limit yourself to travel-sized toiletries. Many airlines will also allow you to bring a personal item, so you can pack your laptop, Minnie ears, and any other necessities in a backpack or bag to bring on board as well.

But if you need to also bring a checked bag, you may want to consider putting your essentials in your carry-on and additional items in the checked bag. If there is an issue with your flight, there is the possibility that something may go wrong with your luggage. And it’s better to have the essentials on-board, rather than risk your luggage getting lost with all your necessities inside!

Of course, as the travel industry continues to adapt and change now that more flights and destinations are opening up. We could see even MORE updates to situations you may not be considering when it comes to your trips! But, you can count on us to update you with everything you need to know before you explore the theme parks and beyond. And, you can stay tuned with All Ears for the latest Disney entertainment and news coming soon!

Why you should NEVER pay full price on a Disney World vacation

Do you have any trips planned for this year? Let us know in the comments below!

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