Traveling on Labor Day weekend? Have a backup plan for cancellations and delays and be patient

Labor Day weekend is the final peak of the summer holidays, and that means many Americans will be traveling. Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be crowded over the long holiday weekend. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen more people at airports than during any previous Labor Day period. Auto club AAA says domestic travel bookings are 9% higher than the same period last year, but international travel is down 4%. Drivers and air travelers can expect discounts as both gas and airfare prices are down somewhat from last year’s very high levels.

As many kids in the U.S. go back to school and the days get shorter, there’s another reason to get out your swimsuits and beach towels before packing up: Labor Day.

Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be busy over the long holiday weekend as many Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the unofficial beginning of the season: with travel.

The Transportation Security Administration expects to check more than 17 million people between Thursday and next Wednesday – a record for the Labor Day period.

According to AAA, domestic travel bookings for the holiday weekend are up 9% from last year, while international travel is down 4%.

American Airlines is planning its largest flight operation ever on Labor Day weekend and expects a 14% increase in passengers compared to last year.

If you’re traveling to enjoy the last moments of summer, here’s an overview of everything you need to know.

Why Labor Day?

“Not everyone travels on Labor Day, not compared to the Fourth of July or Thanksgiving — those are the most popular,” says Aixa Diaz, a spokeswoman for AAA. “But Labor Day certainly offers people an opportunity to get away for one last weekend of the summer. There are people who either take advantage of the three-day weekend or maybe have the whole week before Labor Day off.”

What are the prices?

Motorists are getting a discount on gas prices compared to last year. The national average was recently $3.44 per gallon, compared to $3.86 a year ago, according to AAA.

For electric vehicles, the average price for a kilowatt-hour of electricity at a Level L2 commercial charging station is about 34 cents. In Kansas and Missouri, the average price is less than 25 cents, but in several states, including New Hampshire, Tennessee and Kentucky, it is more than 40 cents. Hawaii is the most expensive at 56 cents.

According to the government’s Consumer Price Index, average airfares in July were 7.1% lower than in June and 2.8% lower than in July 2023. The trend appears to be accelerating as the peak summer holiday season comes to an end.

“Now we’re in the traditional fall season when demand plummets, and you can see that in airfares,” said Steve Hafner, CEO of travel metasearch engine Kayak. “Airfares are already down about 26 percent compared to summer, and even compared to last fall, they’re down about 4 percent.”

When is the best time to set off?

If you plan to start your trip on the Thursday or Friday before Labor Day, you’ll be sharing the road with commuters. To avoid traffic jams, set off before the morning rush hour or even in the evening.

According to traffic data provider INRIX, the worst time to drive is on Thursday between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and on Friday between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. On Saturday, it’s the other way around: you’d better not drive between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

According to INRIX, the return flight will be a laborious process for most of Monday – from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

And be wary of risky drivers. New data from Arity, part of insurance giant Allstate, shows that speeding over 80 miles per hour has increased by 83 percent and “very high speeding” — faster than 100 miles per hour — has increased by over 50 percent.

Surprisingly, however, according to Arity, the number of inattentive drivers has decreased over the past three Labor Days.

When are airports busiest?

Friday, according to the TSA. The agency expects to screen 2.86 million people that day. While that’s an impressive number, it wouldn’t even rank among the 15 highest-numbered days in TSA history. The single-day record of 3.01 million was set on July 7, the Sunday after Independence Day.

The TSA says it has enough screeners to limit the time to go through regular lines to 30 minutes or less and to 10 minutes or less in PreCheck lines.

According to American Airlines, Thursday and Friday will be the busiest days, with 6,400 flights per day, followed by Labor Day itself, when the airline has 6,300 flights scheduled.

On Monday, officials at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport were working to restore full service after an apparent cyberattack occurred over the weekend. Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines reported no flight disruptions but warned passengers not to check bags because their baggage sorting system was compromised. AAA named Seattle the most popular Labor Day destination based on booking numbers.

What should I do if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

First, check your itinerary before heading to the airport. It’s better to be stuck at home than stuck at the airport.

If your flight is cancelled, the airline may automatically rebook it. This may not be the best option.

“Call the airline’s help center, speak to an agent, contact the airline on social media if necessary, but educate yourself on the other options,” advises Julian Kheel, founder and CEO of Points Path, a browser extension that allows users to compare fares with deals available with frequent flyer points. “You can almost always find another option that is better than the one offered by the airline.”

Kheel said airport staff have more leeway to help, but they could be overwhelmed if many flights are canceled. Rebooking on your own through the airline’s website or app could be quicker, he said.

Phone tip: Some experts recommend that if the airline has international help numbers, calling one of these numbers will get you through faster than using the US number.

What about refunds and reimbursements?

Airlines are required to fully refund passengers whose flights are canceled for any reason—including for any additional fees paid. However, they are not required to pay cash compensation, and none of the major U.S. airlines do so. Only Alaska, Southwest, and JetBlue even promise travel vouchers if the cancellation is their fault.

If you’re stranded overnight, ask the airline if it will cover hotel, meals and ground transportation costs. All major U.S. airlines except Frontier promise to help with all three for “controllable” disruptions, according to the Department of Transportation’s airline policy dashboard. However, those promises don’t apply to weather-related cancellations.

Keep receipts for all expenses in case you want to make a claim later.

A few final tips

— Leave early. Everything will take longer than expected, including airport security. If you plan to park at the airport, make sure there are spaces available when you arrive—many airports now publish this information online.

— Be aware of the weather. Even if the skies are clear at home, storms may be present at your flight destination or on your route. Plan an alternative route.

— Be nice. Flight cancellations and traffic jams are frustrating, but you’re not the only one stuck. Customer service representatives are busy during peak travel times, so it’s important to be patient and respectful while they try to help you.

Koenig reported from Dallas. Business writer Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York and video journalist Rick Gentilo in Washington contributed to this report.