Tag: Avoid

  • These Are The Top Cities You Should Avoid As A Budget Traveler

    These Are The Top Cities You Should Avoid As A Budget Traveler

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    With a travel industry more geared toward big spenders and the luxury segment, Americans are looking for cheaper destinations that will not be too hard on their wallets. The average cost of vacations has increased across the board, but the situation is particularly dire in eleven cities that are, in a way, a budget traveler’s worst nightmare.

    Modern Marina Of The City State Of Singapore Lit Up At Night, Asia

    After restrictions were eased and normal tourism resumed, demand for international travel went through the roof, and prices soon followed in an upward trend. There are still some pretty decent deals to be found, especially when expert advice is considered, but it’s a well-established fact the era of low-cost travel is nearing its end.

    For young backpackers, digital nomads starting a business, or simply big savers, this means picking their next destination carefully:

    Three U.S. Cities Among The World’s Most Expensive To Live

    Aerial View Of The Skyscraper Filled Skyline Of New York City, United States

    As customary, The Economist has just revealed the world’s top ten most expensive cities to live (and visit) right now, and a few of America’s favorite holiday escapes have made the list. Looking at the available data between August 16th and September 16th, researchers tracked prices of ‘over 200 goods and services’ across 172 cities.

    This year, the ‘most expensive’ of those surveyed were:

    1. Singapore (Rank: 1, Index: 100)
    2. New York, USA (Rank: 1, Index: 100)
    3. Tel Aviv, Israel (Rank: 3, Index: 99)
    4. Hong Kong (Rank: 4, Index: 98)
    5. Los Angeles, USA (Rank: 4, Index: 98)
    6. Zurich, Switzerland (Rank: 6, Index: 94)
    7. Geneva, Switzerland (Rank: 7, Index: 91)
    8. San Francisco, USA (Rank: 8, Index: 85)
    9. Paris, France (Rank: 9, Index: 84)
    10. Copenhagen, Denmark (Rank: 10, Index: 83)
    11. Sydney, Australia (Rank: 10, Index: 83)

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    Aerial View Of Tel Aviv Yafo, The Metropolitan Financial Center Of Israel In The Middle East

    The list above comprises the ‘top ten positions’ for the most expensive destinations, though it features eleven entries. In other words, different cities may share the same podium, such as Singapore and New York, which rank together at number one with an index of 100. Similarly, Hong Kong and Los Angeles both chart at number 4 due to their identical index of 98.

    The higher the index, the more prohibitive prices are.

    Why Is New York The World’s Most Expensive Destination Right Now?

    The Statue Of Liberty Pictured Against The Backdrop Of The Manhattan Skyline In New York City, United States

    In calculating the index, the Economist Intelligence Unit analyzed prices for more than 200 ‘specified products and services’, including food, drink, transportation, and recreational activities during a six-month interval. Data was gathered from a ‘range of stores’, from mid-priced to higher-priced, in order to obtain the most accurate results.

    Then, economists convert local prices into U.S. dollars in order to achieve a ‘comparative index’, using the highest-scoring cities (in this case, Singapore and New York) as reference points. Thus, results are influenced not only by higher inflation rates but the strength of any individual currency against the dollar and exchange rates at the time of conversion.

    Busy Thoroughfare In New York, Times Square, United States

    Naturally, New York rose to the top of the list as the dollar reached an all-time high in October, knocking Tel Aviv off the number one spot it occupied in last year’s ranking. Israel’s leading metropolitan hub and the most liberal city in the Middle East, Tel Aviv, is expected to see hotel prices skyrocket in 2023, alongside a number of tourist hotspots.

    Out of all the major destinations eligible to feature, only Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, was not included due to the ongoing war against Russia. The Worldwide Cost of Living Survey (WCOL) concluded prices have risen up to 8.1% overall this year, in ‘local-currency terms’, while inflation has reached a 20-year high since the original study was published.

    Traveler Holding Up US Dollars At The Airport, International Travel

    Helped by the dollar, other cities in the U.S. account for ‘six out of the ten’ of the ‘biggest movers up’ in the past 12 months:

    • Atlanta (Index: 70, Rank move: 42)
    • Charlotte (Index: 69, Rank move: 39)
    • Indianapolis (Index: 69, Rank move: 39)
    • San Diego (Index: 70, Rank move: 33)
    • Portland (Index: 70, Rank move: 30)
    • Boston (Index: 78, Rank move: 29)

    Interestingly, the Mexican capital of Mexico City also hiked 33 spots in a single year, propelled by Mexico’s interest-rate hikes, known to have supported the Mexican peso (as attested by The Economist) and the fading demand for budget travel in Mexico. This year, it has a price index of 71, higher than five of the six U.S. cities featured on the ‘climbers’ list.

    Flagpole With Mexican Flag Flying Before Metropolitan Cathedral In Mexico City, Mexico

    The 12 Cheapest Destinations

    Conversely, the twelve cities in the ‘bottom top ten’ positions were the following:

    1. Damascus, Syria (Rank: 172, Index: 11)
    2. Tripoli, Libya (Rank: 171, Index: 22)
    3. Tehran, Iran (Rank: 170, Index: 23)
    4. Tunis, Tunisia (Rank: 169, Index: 30)
    5. Tashkent, Uzbekistan (Rank: 168, Index: 31)
    6. Karachi, Pakistan (Rank: 167, Index: 32)
    7. Almaty, Kazakhstan (Rank: 166, Index: 34)
    8. Ahmedabad, India (Rank: 165, Index: 35)
    9. Chennai, India (Rank: 164, Index: 37)
    10. Algiers, Algeria (Rank: 161, Index: 38)
    11. Bangalore, India (Rank: 161, Index: 38)
    12. Colombo, Sri Lanka (Rank: 161, Index: 38)
    Skyline Of Colombo, Sri Lanka

    Damascus, Tripoli, and Tehran are this year’s cheapest destinations, resulting from their respective countries’ weak currencies and unstable economies. The U.S. strongly discourages travel to these three cities in light of their ongoing political turmoils, notably Tehran, where widespread protests have erupted recently.

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  • Americans’ 5 Worst Travel Fears And How To Avoid Them

    Americans’ 5 Worst Travel Fears And How To Avoid Them

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    Travel is fun, scary, exhilarating, freeing, and intimidating all at once. It’s no wonder Americans have a list of commonly held fears when it comes to traveling! In particular, 5 specific fears capture the imaginations of Americans, and we’ve broken them down below.

    According to a recent study, the fears below plague the minds of would-be American travelers more than any others. To help alleviate your worries, Travel Off Path has come up with tips to combat each of them. Thus, ensuring your next trip goes as smoothly as possible.

    man walking next to baggage claim area

    Having To Stay In A Poor Hotel/Accommodation

    Travelers From Study Concerned: 62%

    We’ve all been there. Planning the perfect vacation requires looking at hundreds of hotels, scouring the reviews for any red flags, and ensuring it fits the trip budget. It’s high stakes when searching for accommodations because none of us want to spend a large sum of money on a sub-par stay.

    However, there are ways to avoid the gloom of poor accommodation. Here are a few tips to make sure your next hotel or vacation rental is a winner:

    a hotel worker makes the bed
    • Stick With What You Know – Do you have a hotel brand you regularly stay with that has consistently lived up to expectations? If so, it may be a good idea to stick with that brand if you are unsure about comparable accommodations. Also, check reviews on multiple sites to make sure they all match up, like booking.com, hotels.com, etc.
    • Ask Around – There is no better resource than the ones you already have. Asking friends and family for their recommendations is a great way to ensure you end up in a good hotel or vacation rental. Friends and family won’t lie to you; if they say it’s a good stay, it probably is.
    • Saving Money Isn’t Always Worth It – Don’t always opt for the cheapest hotel; it often won’t be worth it in the end. A few extra dollars in your pocket isn’t always worth the hassle of staying in a place that isn’t up to your standards.

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    Dirty Bathtub

    Getting Separated From Travel Companion

    Travelers From Study Concerned: 66%

    Have you ever been in an unfamiliar place with a friend or partner and suddenly realized you don’t know where they are? It can be quite a shock and is one of travelers’ most significant worries. Often, your companion hasn’t wandered off too far, but it can still be disconcerting. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to make sure you don’t wind up in this situation.

    Attractive,Asian,Woman,With,Travel,Baggage,Have,Using,Smartphone,Booking
    • Book Together – Even if you are traveling with a friend and want to keep the financial aspects of the trip separate, it can be helpful to book your airline tickets and tours together. This ensures that one of you won’t get bumped from a flight or have their spot in the tour canceled since you booked as a group.
    • Stay Away From Basic Economy – Travel Off Path recently listed many reasons why an economy ticket may not be worth it. Here is another one: there is no rule stating that an airline must seat you with others on your booking if you opt for the basic economy fare. You could wind up on opposite sides of the plane, making it easier to lose track of each other in the chaos of customs and immigration.
    • Buy A Local Sim Card – Depending on your phone plan, you may not have reliable service when you land. Getting a local sim card with voice and data included will ensure that you and your travel companions can keep in constant contact without relying on spotty phone service.
    • Travel With The Right Partner – Traveling is exhilarating, chaotic, and eye-opening. Make sure the person you choose to share the experience with is supportive and reliable and shares your values.
    Travel Partners

    Getting Sick While Abroad

    Travelers From Study Concerned: 61%

    Every traveler’s worst nightmare is coming down with a severe illness in a foreign country. Not only are you away from the comforts of your own home and those that support you, but you are in an environment that makes it difficult to know your next steps.

    Where is the urgent care? Who do you call for the care you need? Is it going to cost you a fortune? Once again, you can take a few steps to ensure that if the worst does happen, you will have a plan and be protected.

    Woman holding stomach in pain while traveling
    • Have Top Notch Travel Insurance – The best travel insurance will come to your rescue in the event of a medical incident abroad. Travel insurance can help with so much more than just medical issues, but this is undoubtedly one of the best reasons to make sure you get a good policy before your next trip. Check here for Travel Off Path’s top 5 recommended travel insurance plans.
    • You Are What You Eat – When traveling abroad, you must be aware of what you eat and drink. We don’t just mean avoiding street food, either. Your body isn’t used to what the locals eat, so be careful when consuming foods you aren’t used to.
    • Get Enough Rest – We know you’re on vacation; you can catch up on sleep when you’re home, right? While that may be the case, your health definitely takes a hit without adequate rest.

    Fun Fact: 81% of US tourists have taken the risk of going to a destination without travel insurance. Of those, 71% regret it.

    Sick while traveling

    Getting Scammed Or Pickpocketed

    Travelers From Study Concerned: 51%

    Anyone who has traveled to another country has probably found themselves absentmindedly checking their back pocket or purse to ensure their wallet is right where they left it. An unfortunate fact of being a tourist in a foreign country is that it often paints a target on your back for would-be pickpockets and thieves. Losing your cash and credit cards while abroad would be a severe inconvenience, and many travelers are worried about it, rightfully so. Here are a few tips to make sure you don’t fall victim to a scam or pickpocketing:

    Man placing wallet in front pocket
    • Don’t wear your wallet in your back pocket, as this is a common place for pickpockets to look. Similarly, don’t leave your wallet loose in your purse with a large opening for pickpockets to explore.
    • Split up your cards, cash, and IDs. Make sure you lock up some extra credit cards and cash in your hotel for safekeeping in case of a pickpocketing incident.
    • Be extra aware when walking through crowded areas, especially tourist hotspots, since they are known to be filled with pickpockets.
    • Exercise caution when strangers give attention. Be suspicious if someone is capturing your attention and there isn’t an apparent reason why. They are likely trying to distract you while they, or an accomplice, pickpocket you.
    Man with backpack being pickpocketed on vacation

    Losing Luggage Or Having Luggage Stolen

    Travelers From Study Concerned: 59%

    We’ve all wondered what we would do if we made it to our final destinations and our checked bags didn’t. Common practice is to pack a bit of what you need for a day or two in your carry-on just in case the checked bag doesn’t make it. While it is best to avoid a checked bag altogether, there are several things you can do to minimize your chances of lost luggage:

    apple airtag with mac
    • Unique Baggage – Making your luggage different from everyone else’s can help ensure your luggage isn’t confused with someone else’s.
    • Smart Tags – Adding things like Apple Air Tags to your baggage can help you keep tabs on your luggage. Then, if it goes missing, you can aid in tracking down your bags.
    • Arrive Early – Allowing plenty of time between your arrival at the airport and your plane’s departure time will help ensure there is plenty of time for your checked bag to make it from check-in to the aircraft.
    • Make Sure To Change Old Tags – Don’t leave old luggage tags on your bags, as it can confuse baggage handlers and disrupt your bag’s transit.
    Tired and upset woman with luggage sitting on side of road

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  • These Are The Best Days Of The Week To Fly To Avoid Flight Disruptions

    These Are The Best Days Of The Week To Fly To Avoid Flight Disruptions

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    Traveling this summer has been overrun with a whirlwind of flight delays and cancellations worldwide. Much of the chaos was brought on by overwhelming travel demand in the face of staffing shortages. Airlines have had to make do with the staff that they have, which often leads to delays, cancellations, and lost luggage. As the summer comes to an end, many travelers have held out hope that things will go back to normal, but it doesn’t seem likely. Recently, a collection of U.S. airlines announced they would cut over 30,000 flights this November.

    With no end to chaotic travel conditions in sight, it can be helpful for travelers to know how to lessen their chances of getting caught up in a mess. Luckily, a recent study found that there are specific days of the week that have a smaller chance of flight disruptions.

    Passengers on a plane

    What Factors Drive Flight Cancellations?

    According to the study, an airport’s size is one of the main driving factors of cancellations. Airports with higher traffic will be the ones most likely to be plagued with cancellations, with the worst culprits being LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. However, airport traffic isn’t the only factor. The study found that the time of day can have a significant impact on cancellations as well. Most cancellations occur towards the end of the day, between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.

    Air Traffic Controllers at night discussing flight disruptions

    What Are The Best Days Of The Week To Fly?

    The study analyzed 37,000 cancellations from 400 different airports in the United States. Data collection occurred between May 27th and July 15th amid peak travel chaos. Using this information, the best and worst days of the week for avoiding flight disruptions were as follows:

    Worst

    • Thursday
      • 3.6% of total flights canceled
      • 28% of total flights delayed
    • Friday
      • 3.2% of total flights canceled
      • 31% of total flights delayed
    Man in airport who is upset because his flight was canceled

    Decent

    • Saturday
      • 2.7% of total flights canceled
      • 27% of total flights delayed
    • Wednesday
      • 2.7% of total flights canceled
      • 25% of total flights delayed
    • Sunday
      • 2.5% of total flights canceled
      • 27% of total flights delayed

    Best

    • Monday
      • 1.9% of total flights canceled
      • 23% of total flights delayed
    • Tuesday
      • 1.8% of total flights canceled
      • 22% of total flights delayed
    Happy plane passenger

    As the study showed, the day of the week can significantly impact flight disruptions. Travelers are twice as likely to have a flight canceled flying on Thursday as opposed to a Tuesday, according to the data. Tuesday was the clear winner with the least cancellations and the least flight delays, with Monday close behind. According to the study, the best days of the week to fly are Tuesday and Monday, and the worst days of the week to fly are Thursday and Friday. If travelers have the flexibility to choose which days they can fly, they should aim for the start of the week.

    Passengers Transiting Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada

    Other Factors To Consider

    The day of the week is clearly not going to be the main factor driving cancellations and delays, though it does seem to play a significant role. When travelers fly definitely contributes to potential flight disruptions, but who they fly with and where they fly from can also make a big difference. Recently, we determined the top five U.S airlines with the most delays in July. Allegiant Air was the worst airline for delays, with nearly 40% of their flights being delayed. JetBlue ranked second with 35%, and Southwest was third with 32%.

    Allegiant airlines plane flying in a blue sky

    Where travelers fly to or from can also have significant impacts on flight disruptions. Between May 27th and July 15th, the five worst airports for cancellations were:

    1. LaGuardia Airport (LGA)- 7.7% of total flights canceled
    2. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) – 7.6% of total flights canceled
    3. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) -5.9% of total flights canceled
    4. Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) – 4.1% of total flights canceled
    5. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) – 4% of total flights canceled
    new york laguardia airport

    Travelers should make every effort to investigate their chances of running into flight disruptions this summer and fall. If the summer travel season has shown us anything, it is how chaotic flying is right now. Knowing your passenger rights, the best days and times to travel, and the best airlines and airports to travel with can all help make sure your trip goes as planned.

    This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com

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  • Canadian Airlines Accused Of Making Up Excuses To Avoid Compensation For Travelers

    Canadian Airlines Accused Of Making Up Excuses To Avoid Compensation For Travelers

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    Canadian airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet have been accused of making up excuses in order to avoid paying compensation to travelers. As anyone who has traveled over the past few months will admit, the travel industry is a mess right now. From spiraling flight costs to flights that are delayed or canceled completely – not to mention luggage going missing in great numbers – flying right now is a not an easy endeavour. 

    Yet whilst travelers can usually consider themselves protected against the worst, travelers in Canada have accused airlines of offering wishy-washy excuses to get out of paying compensation. Through a series of actions such as changing their stories and reasons for their delays and cancellations and not offering details, passengers have grown weary of airlines in Canada trying to get out of paying compensation – and they demand better. Here’s a closer look at this story, plus a recap of passenger rights and how they should benefit from flights that have been affected. 

    Airlines Making Excuses – What Travelers Should Know

    Whilst passengers are seemingly well protected in the event of delays in theory, in practice the reality is quite different, as a growing number of Canadian travelers are beginning to find out this year. More and more travelers have criticized the response to their valid claims for compensation by large airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet, accusing them of making up excuses and stretching the truth in order to get out of their legal requirement to pay compensation to travelers. 

    Passenger Scott Aalgaard described what he called highly suspicious excuses from Air Canada for denying his right to compensation. He was first notified that his flight had been delayed on July 5th due to a ‘maintenance issue‘. Eventually the flight was cancelled due to ‘staffing issues‘.

    Three days later when he filed for compensation, he was denied because his flight was cancelled due to a ‘labor dispute‘ outside the airlines control.

    This isn’t the first time passengers have gone public to the media. One such traveler highlighted an incident that saw herself and her fiancé – who were on the same flight – filing for compensation after a delay of six hours on Christmas Day. Her partner was awarded $700 in compensation for the delay in line with the current legal requirements. However, she was left empty handed after Air Canada replied that the delay was due to a safety-related “technical fault”, thus making it outside the airline’s control and not warranting compensation. Two identical passengers, two wildly different outcomes. 

    That isn’t the only example of funny business that has been brought to the fore. Other passengers have complained of airlines flip-flopping between different reasons for delays and rejecting claims for compensation despite the reasons being within the airline’s control and thus worthy of redress, such as flight crew availability. Other airlines, such as WestJet, have been criticized for not providing travelers with adequate details of why their flight has been canceled, making filing a claim difficult. 

    This isn’t the first time that travelers have been suspicious of airlines trying to get out of paying compensation. An inquiry that finished in November 2021 stated that whilst they found no evidence the airlines “intentionally misled passengers,” they did however feel that information provided to travelers  “was inadequate, terse and unclear.” The CTA has called on travelers to file complaints if they feel aggrieved. 

    westjet plane flying over Calgary skyline in the background

    Passenger Compensation – Information For Travelers

    In the event that travelers in Canada are subjected to a delayed or a cancelled flight, they are within their rights to receive compensation from their airline. For large airlines, such as Air Canada or WestJet, the levels of compensation a are as follows:

    • 3-6 hour delays – $400
    • 6-9 hour delays – $700
    • 9+ hour delays – $1000

    Travelers on small airlines are also due redress for delayed flights, though these amount to sums of $125, $250 and $500 for the same respective delay lengths as above. 

    Compensation is only due to passengers who face a delay or cancellation that is within the airline’s control, and isn’t safety-related. Travelers have a year to make a claim for compensation and whilst airlines can offer alternative forms of compensation, such as flight tickets, vouchers or credit, passengers are within their rights to ask for it in monetary form. Such rights were enshrined in an update to policy from the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) on December 15th, 2019. 

    travelers delay laying luggage

    Read More:

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    3 U.S. Airlines Included In World’s Top 20 Airlines

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    Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.  Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories

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  • These Are the European Airports Travelers May Want to Avoid This Summer

    These Are the European Airports Travelers May Want to Avoid This Summer

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    If you’re planning a trip to Europe this summer, you might be in for long travel delays and there are a few airports across the continent you may want to avoid.

    Europe has been inundated with travel interruptions that have caused headaches and frustration for hundreds of thousands of people in the past few weeks alone. Things aren’t getting better either. In fact, it may be getting worse.

    Airports in Europe are struggling to keep up with traveler demand.

    There are a few European airports travelers may want to avoid this summer if they want to steer clear of the chaos that is looming over the travel industry.

    unrecognizable silhouettes of people in the airport lounge

    Every day it feels like there’s another issue at a major airport across the globe. From flight cancellations, and hour-long delays, to airline strikes that cripple entire operations.

    Traveling in the summer of 2022 is back but it’s not going to be easy.

    In the front of it all is Europe, home to the 5 most visited countries in the world. Each year Europe welcomes north of 700 million tourists, and this summer is bound to be a record year for international travel to the historical continent.

    London Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted Airport

    Airports throughout the U.K. including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and many more have been hot-spots for thousands of cancellations over the past weeks.

    British Airways has been forced to cancel around 8,000 flights between March and October.

    This decision was largely affected by the government’s involvement, urging airlines to cancel flights preemptively in order to prevent further chaos across U.K. airports.

    The government wasn’t the only one asking, Heathrow airport which is the U.K.’s busiest airport with 1,300 daily flights, asked airlines to cancel around 10% of flights just earlier this week.

    This isn’t even the worst of it, just this past weekend, travelers at Heathrow had to wait for hours to retrieve their luggage, ruining and delaying entire trips.

    Meanwhile, Gatwick Airport, Britain’s second-busiest airport, announced that I will put a cap on departures and landings this summer. 825 departures and landings will be permitted in July, and 850 daily operations will be allowed in August.

    The airport is hoping that with this limit, airlines will be able to better handle travelers during the peak summer season.

    Long Queue Of Passengers Wearing Face Masks At UK Border, London Heathrow Airport, London, England, United Kingdom

    Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport

    The Netherlands’ biggest airport is putting a limit on how many passengers will be permitted to fly out of the airport this summer. This comes after passengers have had to wait for hours outside the airport just to make it to the ticket counters, let alone make their way through security.

    Main entrance to Schiphol Airport on July 31, 2014 in Amsterdam, Netherlands

    The airport and airline cited staffing shortages as the culprit and will also put a limit on the number of daily flights in and out of the airport.

    El Prat airport in Barcelona, Malaga, and Palma de Mallorca

    Easy Jet, a popular low-cost airline in Europe is facing difficulties with its Spanish cabin crew. Unions have urged cabin crews based in Spain to go on strike for nine days in July over ongoing pay disputes.

    Despite the airline’s assurances that a strike would not impact airport operations throughout the country, it is unclear how a staff walkout could not impact flight operations given the already low amount of staff airlines have at their disposal.

    EasyJet Airbus A320 airplanes tails at Berlin Tegel airport

    Staff at El Prat airport in Barcelona, Malaga, and Palma de Mallorca are expected to go on strike from 1-3 July, 15-17 July, and 29-31 July.

    Other European airports are at risk as well.

    Lufthansa has also announced that it will cancel almost 1000 flights in July due to staffing shortages. This will mainly affect Germany’s two major airports in Frankfurt and Munich.

    Travels may want to avoid those two airports, especially on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as the airline announced cancellations will be affecting the weekends.

    Lufthansa a380 aircraft in the sky

    Brussels, Belgium’s capital, and home to its largest airport is also facing severe travel interruptions with thousands of employees taking to the streets and striking the country’s labor laws. The airport has already seen the cancellation of at least 315 flights, affecting around 40,000 passengers.

    Similar strikes can be expected this summer.

    The immediate future of aviation across the globe.

    It turns out that in order to operate airports you need proper staffing, something that has been in short supply over the past 2 years. The global aviation industry lost around four million jobs since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

    Getting the right people to fill those jobs takes time – time that airlines thought they’d be having more of.

    Manchester Airport, United Kingdom - February 7, 2017: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-700 moments after arrival.

    No one predicted such a high demand for travel in a post-covid world. Airlines certainly didn’t.

    It is unclear how long airlines and airports across Europe and beyond will need to get their staffing to proper levels, some experts believe it can take up to 12 months.

    The only thing travelers currently have control over is what airports they fly in and out of. Avoiding the major airports in the U.K. , Spain, and The Netherlands will be your best chance to lower the possibility of having to deal with flight interruptions.

    READ MORE:

    Passengers Missing Flights Across Europe After Travel Chaos At Airports Continue

    Travelers Will Face Mass Flight Disruptions Across Europe This Summer

    Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022

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    Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.  Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories

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