For most, the word summer conjures up relaxing thoughts of warm nights, cool pools, and even colder iced tea. But in today's ugh-are-you-serious news, it's safe to say one element of the season will be a bit more stressful than usual: air travel. Some 246.1 million passengers will fly on U.S. airlines between June 1 and August 31—an average of about 2.68 million passengers per day during the period, according to the recent forecast from Airlines for America (A4A), a trade group that represents the largest airlines in the U.S. These projected passenger numbers are a 3.7 increase over last year, when 237.3 million travelers flew during that same summer period.
The news—though kind of a bummer for those of us who love crowd-free terminals—isn't that surprising. Summer is the busiest travel season, and coupled with a strong dollar, low unemployment, and airfare wars that result in cheap tickets, it makes sense that people would be hitting the skies. (With flight deals like these, wouldn't you, too?) Domestic airlines are even beefing up their summer schedules, collectively adding 116,000 seats a day in anticipation of demand.
The TSA, for its part, says it's prepared for the crush of summer travelers: The government agency has added 600 screeners since the beginning of the year, and promised to add another 1,000 before the peak of summer travel. In addition, the TSA will bulk up its Passenger Screening Canine (PSC) teams this summer, implementing 50 more teams at airports across the country from June to August. The TSA is also—quelle surprise!—encouraging passengers to sign up for PreCheck, the trusted traveler program that lets you breeze through pre-flight security with your shoes and belt on and laptop safely packed. Not a member? Now may be as good a time as any to cough up that $85 for a five-year membership.
If you'd rather hold out on TSA PreCheck and hold on to your Jacksons, thankyouverymuch, follow the advice of summer travel experts: pack light, check in 24 hours in advance, and get real-time reads on what delays might await you at the airport via apps like MiFlight. Happy summering.