3 Tips for Surviving Holiday Travel

If you’re traveling over the holidays, then you're not alone. The holiday season is the most hectic time of year for long-distance travel, and heavy traffic and busy airports can be a headache. Fortunately, with some planning and preparation, you can save yourself from stress and survive the holiday travel season with ease.

1.       Pack smart. Sticking with carry-on luggage is the best way to save money and time at the airport. Fees for checking a bag may be higher during the holidays, and many airlines allow you to bring one personal item and one carry-on for free. Just make sure the airline does not charge for carry-on luggage, as many budget airlines, including Spirit and Frontier, do. Whether or not you check a bag, make sure it satisfies the weight and size requirements. Additionally, don’t pack wrapped gifts. It's best to ship holiday gifts ahead of time or wrap them once you get to your destination, as the TSA may need to unwrap them for further examination. 

2.       Go mobile. Many carriers allow you to check in online and print your boarding pass at home. While that can help you save time, you can save even more time by checking in on your mobile device. When you check in from your smartphone, you'll receive a digital boarding pass with a bar code, which can be saved on your phone as a photo. As most travelers always have their smartphone on hand, it makes it easier for them to have their boarding pass accessible and ready at security and the gate.

3.       Get there faster. Peak travel days have their own set of challenges, such as traffic, crowded parking lots, and long lines. To arrive at your gate faster, check in on your mobile device ahead of time (up to 24 hours before your flight departs), make a guaranteed parking reservation, and leave earlier than you normally would. Checking in before you arrive at the airport guarantees you an assigned seat and lowers the likelihood that you'll get switched to a later flight if the plane is overbooked. As for parking, reserving a parking spot at a reliable parking service can save you loads of time. If you're traveling out of the Bradley International Airport, you can enjoy the cheapest rates and most reliable service from our long term Bradley parking service.

Have a smooth and pleasant holiday travel experience by following these tips.

Cut the Stress Out of Thanksgiving Air Travel

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. About two weeks now millions of Americans will be traveling long distances to visit relatives or vacation over the extended weekend. Thanksgiving is known as the busiest time for travel of the year, and the high volume of travelers can result in undesirable situations, such as traffic jams and flight delays. However, with the right planning, you can cut the stress out of Thanksgiving travel and focus on enjoying your trip. Here are some helpful tips for minimizing stress when traveling over Thanksgiving from our Bradley Airport Parking service.

Give yourself extra time

Last year, AAA anticipated 46 million people would travel on Thanksgiving— the most since 2007. This year, you should expect no different and allow yourself plenty of time to deal with the crowds of other travelers. Generally, it's recommended to arrive at the airport two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. But, for Thanksgiving you should arrive up to three hours before your flight to allow time for holiday traffic, parking and airport security.

Check your flight status before you leave

Have you ever arrived at the airport to learn that your flight has been delayed or canceled? It's not a happy feeling. Save yourself the time and stress by checking your flight status before you leave. With the large number of travelers and unpredictable weather conditions that come with this time of year, you should be checking your flight status every 30 minutes before heading to the airport. By staying on top of it, you'll be ready to set up a backup plan should any major issues arise.

Don't check a bag

Sticking with a carry-on suitcase will save you time and money. And, if you have a family, luggage fees can really add up. By sticking to a carry-on and checking in online, you can skip the check-in stage and head straight for security. Most airlines allow two carry-ons per person. So, in one pack all the clothing and personal items you need for the weekend and stow it in the overhead compartment. In your other bag, pack things you need for your flight, such as snacks, charged electronics, an empty water bottle— which can be filled once you make it through security— and other forms of entertainment.

Think about parking

Unless you have a friend who can drive you to the airport, you'll need to drive yourself and park at the airport. On-site airport parking lots will be extremely crowded, making it very difficult if not impossible to get a spot. Save yourself the time, money and hassle by making a guaranteed parking reservation with an off-site parking service. If you're traveling from the Bradley Airport, choose Z Airport Parking. Our Bradley Airport long-term parking rates are unbeatable, and we will make sure you arrive at your airport terminal in a quick and timely fashion.

What to Expect from the 2015 Holiday Travel Season

It's almost that time of year again – the holiday travel season. As you probably already know, the holiday season is the busiest time of year for traveling. This year, 71% of Americans are planning to take at least one trip between Thanksgiving and New Year's, according to the Orbitz 2015 holiday survey. This is a 6% increase from last year's survey.

In their holiday survey, Orbitz breaks down what we can expect from the 2015 holiday travel season, including the top travel destinations, average prices, and best times to book.  According to the report, airfares are down 9% and hotel prices remain relatively flat, but as planes fill up over the next few weeks, air supply will start to decline and prices may increase. If you are planning on traveling over the holidays, here some important factors from the report to consider:

Thanksgiving:  The Wednesday before Thanksgiving tends to be the busiest travel date of the year. According to Orbitz, November 25 is the busiest day to travel for Thanksgiving this year, and November 30 is the least busy day.  The average cost for airfare to the top 10 destinations fell 9% from 2014 to $369. Hotel prices are an average of $181, up 5% from last year. The top 10 travel destinations for Thanksgiving are: Chicago, Orlando, Los Angeles, New York, Cancun, Las Vegas, Denver, San Francisco, Dallas and Washington D.C.

Christmas: December 23 is the busiest travel day for Christmas, and December 27 is the least busy. The average cost for airfare to the top destinations is $493, down 4% from 2014. The average hotel price is $201, a 2% increase from last year.The top 10 destinations for Christmas are: Los Angeles, Orlando, Cancun, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Miami and Phoenix.

New Year's: Like Christmas and Thanksgiving, the busiest travel day for New Year's is the day before, December 30. The least busy day to travel is New Year's Day. The average price of airfare fell 12% to $416, with hotel prices costing an average of $229 (a 17% increase) to the top 10 travel destinations. The top destinations for New Year's are: Orlando, Cancun, New York, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Denver.

If you will be traveling over the holidays, it's best to book your flight and hotel sooner rather than later. Last year, about 50% of travelers booked their Thanksgiving trips by October 20 and Christmas trips by November 13, according to Orbitz.com Senior Editor Jeanenne Tornatore. Along with booking your flights and hotels, you should also reserve a rental car and parking spot at an off-site airport parking service if need be, as they will fill up as the holiday season draws near.

For those traveling from the Bradley International Airport, choose Z Airport Parking for parking at the Hartford Airport. When you book with our parking service at the Bradley Airport, you are making a guaranteed parking reservation and receiving the most affordable rates and highest quality service. Visit us online to make your reservation. Happy travels!