Travel Tip Sheet 05/28/20
Here's an advance look at my next #TravelTruth post on airlines' false flight schedules
Beware of False Flights
Airlines are using consumers as cash-generating guinea pigs to help them figure out where flights actually need to go
Like false-flag operations in naval history, airlines across the globe are hoisting an abundance of flights onto their schedules that are intentionally misleading.
They don’t know where we want to go
This part is understandable. Determining the tolerance level of the traveling public is a roll of the dice, based in part on where travelers can go. Theme parks are just now announcing their opening dates. Cruise lines are still up in the air. Beaches are opening, but subject to threats of shutdowns if COVID cases spike.
Airlines are monitoring all of those things. But they are not willing to stand at the craps table and throw the dice themselves. Instead, they are putting that burden on the flying consumer. A quick Google Flight search for non-stop flights from Dallas-Ft. Worth to Orlando departing on June 13 shows American Airlines with a typical schedule of five flights. Eight flights are scheduled for either Miami or Los Angeles the same day.
The chances that all of these flights fly is pretty slim, especially given the fact that beaches are still in question and Disney parks will not yet be open.
The picture is even more deceptive beyond June. A search for DFW to Las Vegas on July 19 turned up eleven non-stop American flights. That would seem overly optimistic to even to those least concerned about the virus.
Internally, the airlines are being transparent with their workers. Andrew Nocella, United Airlines' chief commercial officer told employees in a recent town hall meeting, “Is it going to fly is the key question.” But when I booked a recent international flight for January 2021, there was no mention of potential schedule changes.
Consumer funds are being used to kickstart operations
Again, we all understand that airlines are suffering from a near-total lack of revenue during the first and second quarters and that they have to start somewhere. If every flight, false or otherwise, were offered as fully refundable, consumer tolerance of changes would be greater, but getting actual cash refunds from an airline once they get their hands on it is growing increasingly difficult.
United is still offering free changes to flights booked by June 30, along with travel vouchers for cancellations in flight classes that are normally non-refundable. American is doing the same, but only on flights booked by May 31.
Cancellations are often far later than normal
Typical flight schedules are set for at least 60 days, but in today's topsy-turvy market, changes are often being made days before flights, with some even happening on the day of. The truly last-minute cancellations are often when an airline combines two scheduled flights to the same destination because neither is fully booked.
Those changes are not usually plan destroyers, except in cases where you have connections or plans on arrival that cannot be changed to accommodate the airline's new schedule. Take everything into account. Can your accommodations be changed at the last minute? How about event tickets?
How to protect yourself
Travel insurance is more important than ever until these things settle out a bit. The only time to go without coverage is if all of your plans are flexible. And don’t buy coverage from the airline. Independent coverage allows you to pick and choose the details that matter most to you and at the price point you are comfortable with. And if you are more concerned about canceling the trip out of fear of the pandemic than you are about the airline's schedule changes, purchase insurance with a "cancel for any reason" clause.
Here are additional tips for smooth flying in the coming year:
Book the highest class fare you can afford to give you the most flexibility for a refund.
Use award points and miles. Cheap airline tickets look tempting, but if you are hesitant about tying up your cash for a year, now may be the time to stop hoarding those miles.
Fly with the airlines where you have some status. Every edge you can get is important when you are standing in the re-booking cue for a canceled flight.
Insure your entire trip with an independent travel insurance company. You don’t want to be the person who finally decided to start cruising again, only to have your connecting flight to the port canceled and miss the sailing entirely. Insurance offers you assistance, including paying for unexpected hotel stays and catch-up transportation.