What to do if your July 4th travel doesn't go as planned

As the July 4th weekend is expected to see record travel, Hopper lead economist Hayley Berg joins Wealth! to discuss how to best navigate flight disruptions and delays.

"Over weekends like this where there's so much capacity flying, oftentimes we do see spikes in delay and cancellation rates, whether it's weather or just those domino effect delays," Berg explains. She says the best thing travelers can do is plan before getting to the airport.

She encourages travelers to make note of other flights going to the same destination, whether from the same airport or nearby airports. She adds that early flights are preferred as those that depart before 8 a.m. are less likely to be delayed or canceled.

Berg encourages travelers to insure their trips, especially bucket-list vacations to Europe and Asia: "Traditional travel insurance can help you if you happen to break a leg, get sick in another country, help cover medical expenses. Sometimes we'll cover things like lost baggage, but there are more specific types of protection products that are really important for travelers in the summer months and over the holidays."

For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Wealth!

This post was written by Melanie Riehl

Video transcript

We can expect some travelers will face a few disruptions this Fourth of July weekend and the travel weekend upcoming.

What should they do if their flight gets delayed or canceled?

You're absolutely right over weekends like this where there's so much capacity flying oftentimes, we do see spikes in delaying cancellation rates, whether it's weather or just those domino effect delays if you are impacted by disruptions.

The best thing to do is actually plan ahead before you even get to the airport.

So know what other flights are headed to your destination on the same or next day.

If you can't fly out of the airport that you are planning to, are there regional airports nearby.

Could you rent a car and drive on to your destination?

It's also important to know if you haven't booked yet.

Book the first flight of the day.

Early bird gets the worm.

If you leave before 8 a.m. you are less likely to be delayed or canceled by about half.

It's interesting.

I mean, it seems like there's always some type of disruption on the way to, I don't know, airports in New York like JF.

Ok, where it's just like an act of God will keep you from being able to get there to make your flight on time or at least before you're supposed to check your bag to go on your flight.

All these things considered.

And I know it sounds like a personal problem, but there are other people that have brought this to my attention.

So where should you be leaning into travel insurance policies as well?

That could cover you in these events?

It's really important when you're planning a trip and make making a substantial financial investment, especially in these bucket list trips.

A lot of Americans are taking to Europe and Asia.

It's important to look at what protection insurance products are available.

We're all I think pretty familiar with traditional travel insurance can help you if you happen to break a leg, get sick in another country, help cover medical expenses, sometimes cover things like lost baggage.

But there are more specific types of protection products that are really important for travelers in the summer months and over the holidays, if you're thinking ahead and those are disruption assistance tools.

If you're delayed, canceled, you miss a connection, you can rebook yourself immediately with the value of your ticket on any available airline.

So you're not beholden to airline that you had flown on, that maybe doesn't have another flight out that day or for the rest of the week.

We offer these on the Hopper app, but also on some of our partner airline websites, capital one travel, so you can find them where you are booking travel already.

Haley, appreciate the insights as always some actionable tips and also thanks for enduring my uh travel rant a moment ago, Haley be Hopper lead economist.

Great to see you Haley.