I won’t cancel our trip to Europe this summer because my wife has not seen her side of the family since January, but I certainly wish they would come to us instead of us going to them…air travel to Europe is off to a rough start this summer.
A Busy Summer Travel Season To Europe…
You could say my data is purely anecdotal, but I’ve spent so much time personally dealing with Award Expert clients whose flights have been interrupted over the last week. Dealing with British Airways delays and cancellations today has been a headache and it just fits a pattern I’ve observed over the last two weeks.
But what is not anecdotal is that there were more commercial flights in the air yesterday than at any recorded point in the past:
Yesterday was the busiest day for commercial aviation that we’ve ever tracked. We tracked 134,386 commercial flights on 6 July and today is shaping up to be another busy day. More than 20,000 flights are in the air right now. pic.twitter.com/E7wheAo86B
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) July 7, 2023
Flights are full. Flights are expensive. That leads me to say that if you can stay home, you should. If you do not mind potential delays or cancellations and the certainty of crowds and queues, then knock yourself out. Otherwise, wait until shoulder season to travel…even if it means pulling the kids out of school.
I’ve got clients or friends across Europe this week…London, Paris, Munich, Vienna, Amsterdam, Rome, and Istanbul (among others). I’m hearing the same thing from all them: the crowds are overwhelming.
What’s the fun of travel if you struggle to even find an open seat in a sidewalk café? Or if the sort of “tourist” hotspots are so packed you can barely move? Like Santorini, for example. Want that famous windmill picture in Oia? Be prepare to wait 30 minutes in line just to have your photo op. That’s madness.
I’m enjoying my time at home; the calm before the storm.
I don’t even know how I’m going to get to Europe yet…but that’s another issue.
Safe travels everyone! If you’re stuck at home, see the upside in it: it may be better than being stuck at an airport, on a plane, or in a long line.
image: FlightRadar24
Maybe airlines should raise fares substantially and eliminate award tickets altogether to reduce crowds?
There was huge availability flying standby FL to/from the UK in June, as Virgin is charging >$2k each way in economy.
I’ve had no problem getting some US-LHR-Scandinavia mileage tickets in economy class this summer for 30k AA miles — that too without AA’s rip-off YQ surcharges for BA long-haul flights. But it’s been last minute tickets.
I have a very short connection in vienna next Sunday evening and well…lets see what happens. Worst case is a night in vienna and 400 EUR
Of course my laptop is with me
What about traveling to other parts of Europe? I just returned from Tallinn Estonia, it was fabulous and not crowded.
I experienced a miracle flying, no delays or crowds at passport control, my experience was oddly efficient, I really can’t believe my luck, however I did experience food poisoning on my Lufthansa flight from YVR to MUN, that was pretty awful.
Please stop telling people about Tallinn. And definitely say nothing of the cadamom buns.
We just got back, all six flights were oversold , all the hotels were overflowing. It was ok, but I would not do it again in summer. It will only be May and September for me going forward. Crazy lines everywhere and also quite hot.
I was able to fly through AMS during their meltdown AND SAS pilot strike last year, so I hope it doesn’t get worse than that. I don’t mind crowded (didney worl veteran here), but missing connections is different OTOH.
Last month I flew Rome to Dopenhagen, then Stockholm to Chicago on SAS. Wasn’t bad at all in the airports. I was in Business class which helped on lines though. We had a one hour delay flying to Stockholm, it was apparently planned by the ATC people in Copenhagen who are protesting inadequate staffing (I am told) by putting in a one hour ground stop for every incoming flight. When leaving Stockholm we were held up about 40 minutes, supposedly waiting for a flight from Oslo that was late. It wasn’t a bad experience, fortunately not nearly as bad as what I feared.
Flew to Europe and back twice in May and June. No issues whatsoever. Airports were crowded (returned from GVA in May and BCN in June) but here’s the thing, if you have the ability to leisure travel to Europe, best to do so before mid June or after September 1. Fewer crowds, less pricey, better weather, generally more enjoyable and you can avoid the masses.
This remark makes me think about the USA in general as a society. I’ve lived in many major cities in the USA, including Los Angeles, and overall I’d say Europe, Japan, Korea are just more interesting for a variety of reasons. Yes, there’s natural wonders such as The Grand Canyon, beaches, and some sites to see such as, in LA, the walk of stars, the La Brea Tar pits, and such, but the rest? It’s office buildings, shopping malls, and restaurants. Tourist destinations I mention have thousands of year old cultures that are wonderful to immerse yourself in. We have various “pride” festivals, I suppose, but who from Europe wants to visit the USA to experience a Pride March? Americans are starved for culture hence why I think so many of them tattoo and pierce themselves up as if they’re extras on Apocalypto.
In the past, culture was made “where you make it” because people weren’t mobile and had to make do. Today, new immigrants largely settle around major metropolitan areas increasing congestion typically comprised of the automobile. New brutalist or post-modernist buildings are put up to accommodate them. I happen to think, ironically, that the Stalinist Palace of Culture in Warzszawa is more attractive than the gleaming skycrapers next to it.
Consider our modern oligarchs such as Gates, Bezos, and (RIP) Jobs. They built their enterprises around other major metropolitan regions in place while those of old such as Ford, Carnegie and Hershey built entire new cities around their business like planting a tree.
It’s not just the Grand Canyon and “beaches and some sites”: Utah’s Mighty Five, Yosemite/Kings/Sequoia, Yellowstone and Tetons, and pretty much all of Alaska’s parks are just the stuff of legends that you just won’t see in the places you mentioned.
Also it’s not USA’s fault that it’s a baby compared to the civilizations you mentioned but you can enjoy a BBQ fest in Memphis in summer, or crawfish boil events in the gulf. Or, walking through Philly and Boston, it’s interesting to see the birthplace of America and how the founding fathers engineered the foundations of this country. And yes, Los Angeles feels soulless compared to the things I mentioned.
“Americans are starved for culture hence why I think so many of them tattoo and pierce themselves up as if they’re extras on Apocalypto.”
What does this say about Germans who have both tattoos AND piercings in every possible orifice, if we’re just going off generalizations? (source: worked with Germans for a German company)
Will agree though, pride events are useless lmao
Honestly, Jan, the places you mention are pretty meh.
Because when you do get there, there’s either fat loudmouths bothering you or, worse, California dried-up-snatches berating everyone.
You know what America has that nobody has? Bluegrass, Appalachian dive bars, etc. True American culture.
But you’re too good for that. Meanwhile you can’t even pronounce “croissant” correctly.
Please, for the love of god, STAY IN AMERICA.
We really do not want you over here this summer. We ALL hate you.
Who peed in your xenophobic cheerios this morning? Chill out, sister!
The Pacific Northwest is pretty impressive and the indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest play a significant role in the region’s cultural fabric. My backyard is full of rainforests and orcas! I truly believe it’s one of most beautiful place on the global.
I forgot to mention that but yes, the Olympic peninsula, Hoh Rainforest to Cape Flattery is also legendary, the near perpetual rainfall had me thinking how that’s even possible.
The Olympic peninsula has homeless and violent Antifa nazis everywhere.
Seriously, everyone. It’s not safe. Do not go.
Yeah, the alcoholism and child abuse of muh tribes is super impressive. PNW you say? Go to Tulalip real quick. It’s a casino, an outlet, and feathers-not-dots beating their wives.
Very impressive.
“We have various “pride” festivals, I suppose, but who from Europe wants to visit the USA to experience a Pride March?”
You’d be surprised.
Also pride events are not useless.
US cities have more variety than people think. LA is different from Austin which is different from Miami which is different from DC with is different from NYC…
Yeah, the homeless have different shades of tan in the cities you mention. Black people being upset about god knows what is the same in all of them, though.
Yeah, because there aren’t any homeless white people in any of those cities lol
Looks like the comments section has a new troll.
I have seen so many massive tattoos on northern Europeans so often that I am pretty sure Americans are far less extensively tattooed per capita for people in the 18-60 year age range.
You do know how doxxable you are, right?
We do not want you in Scandinavia. Gå hjem.
USA has plenty of historical sites. New Mexico and Louisiana both have completely unique cultural heritage relative to rest of USA. Deep history pervades the East Coast. The west coast has historical settlements by Amerindians, Spaniards, Russians…
Europe is incredible too if you avoid the crowds at the top five attractions in the “basic” cities. We just did Malta, Bologna-region, San Marino. Each is bustling but not miserable the same way that Rome is right now
Unlike Europe/Asia/rest of world. haven’t been torn apart by war, occupation, holocausts, famines, etc for much of our history. I’ll take our history and relatively stable form of government since the founding over what Europe has had since 1776 any day of the week.
Yeah, maybe it’s time we take your terror wars to you instead.
Man, that’d be hilarious. Ask Yemeni wedding goers how they feel. Wait, you can’t. Fat Americans bombed it.
In Europe right now and so far so good. Actually, I am in Italy and chose to be in smaller beach towns and couldn’t ask for a better experience. Got to here flying from Paris but then just driving. Beaches are full but not overcrowded, I booked all my restaurants way in advance so I don’t have to worry about finding a place to eat. I am going to bigger cities next week and again have hotels and restaurants booked so all I have to do is to walk around. I think end of July and early August will be way worse. BTW, if you know where to go and avoid the big cities, Italy is absolutely amazing and you can eat at Michelin restaurants for a fraction of what an Olive Garden will charge you for mass produced disgusting food.
>BTW, if you know where to go and avoid the big cities
Zero Americans, including you, can accomplish this. But you’re good at Real Housewives snark like garden gnome and his “Honey, ” comments.
Choose airports with Security Fast Lanes (Fast Track, Gold Track, Priority Lane, etc.) They make AMS, LHR and other airport lines much easier. We avoid countries near the Mediterranean from June to August, preferring Nordic and Baltic countries, which are cooler and less crowded.
EU-US-EU in economy class this summer has been pretty cheap during the course of this summer; that’s even as US-EU-US economy class has been much more expensive than it was before the pandemic.
@Sarah: are you stupid or on drugs? I have EU citizenship and have been to many countries here over 60 times. I know where to go. You only travel via Instagram so that says it all.
I think it’s not too bad at all at the moment, I had to do a last minute trip from England to Greece and back, fares were fine, airport lounges busy but not too crowded, queues not bad at all. My return flight yesterday morning was only about 60% full, with a grand total of four of us in business class. Even hotel prices are softening from the ridiculously optimistic levels they were being pitched a couple of months ago. I still wouldn’t want to travel to Southern Europe in August (summer school holidays in England aren’t starting for another couple of weeks) and definitely wouldn’t trust BA under any circumstances, but I am going on a trip to the Far East as I wanted to burn some Finnair miles- found two business seats going to BKK late August and returning from ICN mid September…in order to avoid the UK departure tax, I am setting off from CPH so I have just booked a positioning flight on SK at a very reasonable price. I think that this summer will be pretty busy but not too bad.
If you’re dreading your trip to Europe this summer, then do go.
My British Airways flight from IAD – LHR was cancelled back on 5/13 and I wasn’t able to go to Poland to see my parents. Unfortunately because of staffing issues at work over the summer I couldn’t reschedule my two weeks vacation again until the end of September. I’m booked on LOT from ORD to KRK now. Paid extra for Premium Economy because my 52 year old body can’t take sitting in Economy for 9+ hours any longer. Also didn’t want to take any chances with connections in Europe so figured this would be a safer solution. United is bringing back direct flights to ORD from CHO at the beginning of August so hopefully everything will be ok with those flights. Luckily the cancelled BA flights did qualify for compensation and I got the USD equivalent of £520 so at least that was something although having the cancellation occur the morning of when I was supposed to leave what a disappointment especially after getting everything packed.
This was 3 minutes of my life I’ll never get back.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
We did 4 months in Europe last summer with the meltdowns at airports etx. Supposedly record crowds. It was fine.
Avoided planes and used trains wherever possible. Visited Sorrento and Capri for a day and it was terrible. Crowds and prices were 5x the size of the town we stayed at ten mins down the road. Munich was especially lovely. Just avoid Santorini Sorrento etc and you’re fine. We had a brilliant relaxing stay on Crete.
We were a family of five travelling with two suitcases and carry on. Keep it light.
Would love to know what you thought of Crete. Our TA is recommending five days there after a cruise returning to Athens. We’re looking for some relaxation after some very busy port stops on the cruise. Thanks.
Why would you bother with catching even more planes and boats when you’re trying to relax? Plenty of interesting places on the mainland, whether you only want to relax or combine it with archaeological sites etc.
We loved athens Crete and paros. They were our main stops. On Crete we stayed at an air bnb on ligaría beach. Small. Lots of lovely restaurants. Great snorkeling. Very local feel.
We only had a look at santorini as the ferry stopped there and it was very beautiful but the convoy of buses heading up the hill made us glad we chose smaller places. Loads of historical sites to see in Crete. Great beaches. Cheap restaurants. I’d reccomend. We were a family of five with three kids under 12 and then a married couple sans kids. We all loved it.
>”very local feel”
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
I just wouldn’t go.
“Otherwise, wait until shoulder season to travel…even if it means pulling the kids out of school.”
LOL, good luck with that, depending on where you live. More than three unexcused absences in a semester in my son’s district gets you a date with summer school.
I do think you’re catastrophizing to an extent. It doesn’t have to be “go to a big tourist destination in Europe or stay home”. There’s plenty of destinations out there, both in the USA and abroad, where the experience isn’t going to be bad. I just got back from a week in Tahiti and it wasn’t bad at all. Or there’s hundreds of state and national parks in the US, the vast majority of which don’t draw suffocating crowds, that you can road trip to if you’re freaked out about air travel delays. You may just have to pick something other than the #1 tourist bucket list item (e.g. the aforementioned windmills in Oia).
That’s unfortunate, in my state I think I am allowed 15 excused absence per school year. You generally can avoid un excused absences if you explain the absence ahead of time.
So glad I did my Amsterdam/ Rome trip in late May and into early June.
My Portugal trip will be in September, pulling the kid out of school for that. Japan in October.
Don’t understand why ppl like to pay more for less. I live in Florida and I only visit theme parks on schools days or thanksgiving / Black Friday
We did a Prague-Vienna-Budapest-Bratislava trip in late April to June. Connected from the US both directions through Frankfurt, which I dreaded but turned out to be easy. Flights were on time. Trains were not crowded, seats always available at restaurants and cafes and no huge crowds. We’re retired and lucky enough to travel in the weeks before the mobs hit the cities. We’ve done the late June/July scene in Paris, London and Rome a couple of times. No thanks. I look forward to our late springtime trips. Next year it’s a mid-April cruise out of Athens.
We had a delayed flight to the US in June on united from Germany. Luckily their operational struggles netted us 600€ X 5. Over half our ticket cost back!
Jan we are giving p our culture and history in the US…Everyday some mini-group tears down an Historic statue or venue!!!! Sad but true…
Yeah Dee! Total bummer they keep tearing down those Confederate generals statues from the Civil War. Or as you might call it, “The War of Northern Aggression”.
[deleted]
Attack ideas, not people.
We’re dreading it, too. Please stay home, Americans.
That goes for every part of Europe, including your proxy war / money laundering scheme in Ukraine,
I will travel to Europe more, Europeans will want my sweet, sweet American tourist dollars, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. So, stop gatekeeping already lmao, it doesn’t work.
Lard mountain, we will and can push you into a meat grinders here and MUH RIGHTS won’t do shit
for you.
There’s already organized violence targeting Americans in Europe. Your shitty yeast-infection attitude won’t help.
lmao. Cope, seethe and mald. Again, not a damn thing you can do about it.
I have flown 6 longhaul segments of 7+ hours so far this summer. 3 were in business, 3 were in coach but extra legroom, shorter lines etc. due to elite status & 1 was coach without any status.
The one in coach without status made for a miserable experience. 2 hours in line for bag drop despite online check-in, horrible seats, carry-on bag not being allowed etc. Flying with status was not pleasant but atleast tolerable.
My Father (d.) being Italian and my mother being Greek, I visited those countries when I was younger as a teenager a few times. Beautiful places for sure, but I just don’t have any interest in going back there at all.
Maybe plan a trip in the wintertime when there are fewer tourists, maybe?
They are fine outside of peak season. Some big cities like Madrid are actually pretty good during peak season too, as the locals flee to the beaches. A decade ago I stayed in a brand new 5* hotel not too far from Nuevos Ministerios for less than €60 per night.
Our annual trip to France and Italy last September and October was in many ways spoiled by too many tourists everywhere we went. This year we are not returning to Europe, even though we own a house in the South of France. It’ll just sit empty until we feel like we want to cross the Atlantic again.