Five things to expect during
2022's "summer of airport chaos"

Rudy de kort / 24 June 2022

what's new about the news?

So, the news is overfilled with awful stories about long queues at airports, massive flight cancellations, staffing shortages, strikes and forced downsizing of some airlines. We see the frustration of travelers who have missed their flight or lost their luggage. There are the thousands of abandoned suitcases on a tarmac, captured by a camera. It could all instantly change your perspective on traveling: whatever travel troubles we had in the past, have now exploded in ten fold this summer. With the prospect of mental torture during countless hours in airplanes and at airports, I guess I’ve got good and bad news to share.

The bad news is that some airports and airlines, mainly in Europe and North America, are indeed facing serious disruptions in their operations, which is where all the horror stories are coming from.

The good news is that at many other international and domestic airports in the world it is business as usual, and both travelers and suitcases are arriving and departing without any significant congestion or disruption.

If you are traveling through Toronto Pearson, Montreal Trudeau, Amsterdam Schiphol, Brussels Zaventem, Newark Liberty, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion, London Heathrow, Dusseldorf, Paris Charles de Gaulle, or a dozen other airports in Europe, please continue reading. I’ve summed up a few of the struggles that you can expect, and also some tips on what you can do to make your travel experience a bit more pleasant.

1. Long queues, longer queues and the longest queues you’ve seen in a while

Depending on the time of day, the wait times at major hubs can exceed the two or three hours you’d normally need before your departure time. Expect lineups at check-in and at the airport security checkpoints before you fly, and at customs and immigration before you board or after you land. After your arrival, you’ll wait longer for your bags to show up on the conveyor belt.

2. Missed connections, delays and cancellations

The holdups at major hubs cause a chain reaction across the network. One delayed flight into a hub can easily result in multiple passengers missing their connections on different outbound flights. And whatever goes wrong at one major airport can cause delays and cancellations at smaller airports.

3. Frequent gate and seat changes

Think you made it to the gate and it’s time to set up camp until boarding starts? These are no times to get comfortable. You’ll likely change gates a few times. If you are out of luck you’ll be walking back and forth between different concourses and holding areas! As flights are getting consolidated last minute and passengers are being reseated in the cabin for all sorts of reasons, the preferred seat you selected for yourself at check-in, might not be guaranteed until the very last minute.

4. More waiting: tarmac delays

After a long international flight, it’s quite a relief that the plane has landed and that you’ll finally be able to stretch your legs and be on your way. However, depending on how many flights have landed around the same time, and if customs and immigration are at capacity, your flight’s arrival might be put “on hold” meaning that nobody will be allowed to deplane until the crew has been given the green light from the local authorities. You’ll spend some time on the apron, waiting in your seat. Lately these tarmac delays have been as bad as two to three hours long!

5. Customer service gaps

Among the chaos there is less time and fewer options to keep everyone happy. Airline staff is busy all day combining different roles and putting out fires. At the same time they are tired of dealing with passengers who give them an attitude. The same staff member who would normally show impeccable customer service skills in better times, might now be less tolerant or less patient. You’ll still be met by a smile, as many airline staff still do their best to be pleasant and helpful, especially to customers who are also kind to them.

Here are a few tips to make your life easier while you are flying this summer:

6. Take care of your slow-downs before you line up

Visit the washroom, feed the baby, grab a bottle of water and make sure you’ve got all your documents and a pen ready, before you join the line. Have you downloaded the right app to meet your pre-entry requirements? If not, now is the time. Bring sunblock in case you need to wait outside of the terminal for a while. And if you can’t avoid bringing checked luggage, pack wisely so that your luggage is not overweight.

7. Be an early bird: book the earliest flights available

Try to travel at the beginning of the day, when planes and crews are still fresh. Delays and cancellations tend to happen throughout the day, as all sorts of operational set backs start to add up. Also, if you miss one flight, there might still be options to get you rebooked on the same day, rather than being forced into an unplanned layover.

8. Pack essentials in your carry on

Luggage handling at modern airports are generally extremely efficient and reliable and I used to say that the last time that my luggage didn’t make it to the end destination, was more than 15 years ago. But that means nothing this summer, as there is an increased overall risk that luggage will be misplaced or won’t make it onto a connecting flight in time. So do yourself a favor and don’t pack essentials like medication or a CPAP-machine in your suitcase. I also recommend to have at least one fresh change of clothes in your carry on just in case.

9. Choose non-traditional itineraries

Do you usually connect in Newark? Try a stopover in Denver or Minneapolis instead. Do you normally fly between North America and Africa through Amsterdam, Brussels or Frankfurt? Try connecting in Dubai, Istanbul or Doha instead. Be flexible, as there are airlines and airports out there that are not even close to being affected the way Western airports are right now. Mind you, things change all the time, so be on the look out for last minute information. The mainstream news is not always the most reliable source though. Do your own research and find out what is going on at “alternative” airports. Many airports, and airport security agencies like CATSA and TSA publish their wait times in real time on a website or an app: you’ll be surprised!

10. Build in longer stopovers

Transit times of 45 minutes to one hour usually give you plenty of time to change planes at the hubs. But don’t risk it this summer. Plan ahead, and have a general understanding of what needs to be done in the time that you have. Do you have to change terminals? Have you been to that airport before and do you know what distance you are dealing with, walking from gate B1 to E5? If you have to go through immigration or collect luggage for inspection, factor in wait time, but also factor in a tarmac delay and a buffer for toilet stops and such. Give yourself at least two hours for your straight forward stopovers that would normally take one hour.

11. Arrange special assistance well in advance

In all cases where special assistance is needed for an elderly passenger, or for any traveler whose journey is complicated by a medical condition, plan ahead and make sure that arrangements have been made to accommodate all care needs. Be it wheelchair assistance, pre-approval for medical devices or an on-board medical travel companion, make sure you make the phone calls long before the travel date to avoid disappointments.

Rudy de Kort is a medical travel companion and his company Jet Companion organizes in-flight care for airline passengers across the world.

EVERY MILE WE FLY IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF REUNITING PEOPLE OR BRINGING THEM TO SAFETY

Five things to expect during 2022's "summer of airport chaos"