Planning ahead, leaning into tech can help ease summer travel frustration, says expert
Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer, and the launch of the summer travel season, with nearly 44 million Americans expected to travel at least 50 miles over the holiday. If you’ve got travel plans, Virginia Tech expert Mahmood Khan preaches patience above all, and has tips on how to navigate crowds and delays, as well as how to best plan ahead to avoid headaches.
“Some delays are unavoidable while traveling, but others can be mitigated with a little advance preparation before leaving,” he says. “A little time spent now can save you a lot when you really need it.”
Here are his tips for travel:
Pack a lot of patience, particularly on holidays and long weekends. Many places are busy, since this is the first full free opportunity to travel after the pandemic. Recognize that it becomes very difficult for service providers to handle large groups, especially since many restaurants and hotels are often still recovering from lack of skilled workers.
Install company-specific applications on your phone, as that’s where airlines, hotels, and restaurants are providing necessary information. You may also consider using an AI-based program like ChatGPT to help you plan. Use of technology is making contact with travelers much easier than in the past. It is better to learn how to use those applications, particularly if planning a trip to wildlife and isolated parks or locations.
Call ahead before making hotel reservations. The lack of available workers and contactless options at hotels will require longer waits for guests to receive the services they are used to receiving. Many hotels are informing guests about irregular room-cleaning services. Some hotels are providing reward points if guests decide not to have their room cleaned during their stay.
Plan visits to parks and destinations that provide outdoor access to walking trails, hiking, or water sports to enjoy activities as well as to recover from stressful travel.
Call ahead for dinner reservations. Provide your food preferences for orders and table location prior to arrival. Many restaurants have capacity restrictions and limited tables, so advance reservations might be necessary.
Be prepared for unexpected situations. Be careful and take care of all safety precautions especially if traveling with small children or pets.
Stay up-to-date with vaccinations and boosters to prevent severe sickness and the spread of COVID. Bring proof of COVID vaccination cards and keep travel documents available for when needed. COVID is still lingering and outbreaks are possible.
If traveling overseas, check the expiration date of your passport. It is taking longer to renew passports, so give yourself enough lead time.
Do not forget to say thank you or pass along a positive comment. Thanks and appreciation are important considering workers’ difficult and stressful situations.
Reward restaurant servers with appropriate tips or gratuities. Consider all dimensions of service, such as tangibility, responsiveness, knowledge, and empathy. Tips and gratuities are included in the bill for large parties. Be cognizant of this if paying individually or on split checks.
Do not shoot the messenger! Service providers on the front line often get the brunt of anger or frustration. This is particularly true in the case of air travel. The person who is responding to a delayed or canceled flight might have absolutely no control over the circumstances.
About Khan
Mahmood Khan is a professor and director of the Pamplin College of Business Master of Science in Business Administration/Hospitality and Tourism Management program in the Washington, D.C., metro area. Major areas of his research include hospitality franchising, services management, customer relationships, food service and operational management, and consumer preferences in hotels, restaurants and institutions. More here.
Schedule interview
To schedule an interview, contact Noah Frank in the media relations office at nafrank@vt.edu or (805) 453-2556.
