Dear Jen is a new series from TripIt that asks Jen Moyse, vice president of product for TripIt from Concur, for her best advice when it comes to travel these days. Jen spends her time focused on solving problems for busy travelers, and as an avid traveler herself, she is intimately familiar with the current state of travel and how to best prepare for the ever-changing landscape.
Check out her latest tips, including how to approach air travel to Europe, booking holiday travel, and more below. Need advice? Submit your questions for Jen at the end.
DEAR JEN: I consider myself an experienced traveler, but air travel seems like the Wild, Wild West right now. Any tips to make it less intimidating? – NOT MY FIRST RODEO
Dear Not My First Rodeo: Expecting and preparing for the chaos are the best thing you can do right now (and for the foreseeable future). Book your travel for early in the day and build in buffer days, especially if you have a big event you’re heading to (maybe a wedding), or an appointment to make (like a cruise departure). That extra time will save you lots of stress if there are delays, or even cancellations. Build that buffer time into your layovers as well. While two hours used to be the gold standard, I’d now suggest planning for three or more to be safe. Arrive at the airport early (lines will continue to be long, so also consider CLEAR and/or TSA PreCheck or Global Entry), and try to take everything in stride. Be mindful that airport staff shortages are also contributing to more lost luggage, so keep essentials in your carry-on and know what to do if your bag is misplaced. I know it can be hard to keep your cool, but having a good attitude, respect for everyone, and some patience can go a long way.
DEAR JEN: I know I want to travel for the holidays, and usually wouldn’t book my travel until closer to my trip. But I’m worried about rising costs. Would it be smarter to book now or wait? – NOW OR LATER
Dear Now or Later: If you know where you want to go, then I’d say book your trip now. I can’t predict what will happen with costs, but you’d be safer to have a flight booked than not (especially if airlines continue to cut routes or airports continue to cap passengers). With many airlines doing away with change fees, and some even doing away with travel voucher expirations, booking early is more comfortable than ever. Be sure to add your flight plans to TripIt. If you’re a…
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