Is aviation in America at a breaking point, or are you?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently announced that airline delays are higher now than ever before. And the rest of the summer season is still ahead. Overbooked flights, lost luggage, limited crews, and late planes have passengers ready to rip out their hair, but experts are worried it’s the industry as a whole that is going to be suffering.

In an effort to make a profit, airlines have been pushing high load factors and cutting down on staff. Unfortunately packing the planes full only means a large number of dissatisfied customers when the flights are delayed due to storms or, in the case of United Airlines this week, computer problems.

Cancelled planes that are full cannot be accommodated on other planes that are also full. So those who miss their flight or get grounded, may be sitting in a departure lounge chair for a long time mulling over their anger and dissatisfaction with their carrier.

Currently most carriers are operating with plans that are 80 to 85 per cent full but this number is expected to go up over the summer. That means that one cancelled plane will require six planes to handle the delayed passengers.

There’s nothing much that the average passenger can do about the situation and while the airlines may take some time to come around and adjust their model, in the meantime here are a few trips for surviving the summer:

• Take an early flight. It will give you more time to get on another flight if you are cancelled or delayed.
• Whenever possible, book a direct non-stop flight.
• Unfortunately, if you can’t fly directly, you should allow up to three hours between flights to make the connection.
• Whenever possible, only pack carry-on. Buy what you need when you get there and don’t risk losing your bags and waiting for them to be unloaded.
• If you are cancelled or delayed and you have a cell phone, call the airline’s reservations centre rather than waiting in line at the airport. You’ll have faster access to the limited number of seats available
• Your best bet this summer is to book with Southwest who has one of the lowest load factors and the least number of lost bags on its books.

www.faa.gov