Latest news with #HayleyBerg
USA Today
20 hours ago
- USA Today
Last-minute Labor Day getaways: Cheapest flights, hotels and road trips
Summer may be coming to a close but there's still one last chance for travelers to fit in a quick getaway: Labor Day weekend. This year's Labor Day weekend is just around the corner – running from Friday, Aug. 29, to Monday, Sept. 1 – and it's the perfect opportunity to book that last-minute trip before the weather cools down. "Labor Day caps off summer travel and provides one final holiday weekend before the fall routine begins," said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, in a news release. "The top cities on the domestic and international lists are Seattle and Vancouver, both port cities for Alaska cruises. While some people are going on dream cruises or European vacations, many travelers are staying closer to home and taking road trips to nearby beaches or national parks." Will your Labor Day trip will be cheaper this year? It depends who you ask. Overall, airfare for the final long weekend of the summer is 10% more expensive than last year, averaging at $231 per ticket, according to Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper. However, there are still some good deals to be found. Travelers can score flights to Europe that are cheaper by 18% compared to 2024, with savings of around $141 per ticket. Meanwhile, AAA booking data found that domestic travel is actually cheaper this holiday weekend compared to last year. Round trip airfare for travel within the U.S. is 6% lower than in 2024 – averaging $720 – and hotel rates also having dropped by 11%, according to AAA. Here's what travelers should know about Labor Day weekend travel 2025, according to several travel platforms. American hidden gems: Travelers are sleeping on these 10 domestic destinations What are the top Labor Day weekend destinations? Hopper data shows the classic domestic destinations like New York and Las Vegas as the most popular destinations for the holiday weekend. For travelers kicking off their international trips during Labor Day, the top destinations are Tokyo, London and Rome. As far as trends go, travelers seem determined to catch the last sun rays of summer, showing the most interest in beachside destinations like San Juan, Puerto Rico; Maui, Hawaii; and Miami, Florida, according to Chase Travel booking data. Others are hoping to retreat into nature, with Yellowstone National Park gateway communities like Bozeman, Montana and Jackson, Wyoming seeing a boost in bookings. What are the most affordable destinations for Labor Day weekend? If you haven't booked your trip yet, don't worry. Here are some of the best travel deals for the holiday weekend, Priceline found. Domestic destinations with the cheapest round-trip airfare include: International destinations with the cheapest nightly hotel rates include: What are the best times to drive for Labor Day weekend? As usual, if you're driving to your destination for the holiday weekend, you should leave as early as possible to beat traffic. Below are the best travel times: What are the worst times to drive for Labor Day weekend? Saturday, Aug. 30, is anticipated to have the worst traffic as people are off of work and heading out on day trips or their weekend getaways, according to INRIX. Below are the worst travel times: Peak congestion times in major US cities Atlanta Boston Denver Houston Los Angeles New York San Francisco Washington, DC
USA Today
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Bad Bunny in Puerto Rico: Expect higher prices for flights, hotels this summer
Bad Bunny's concert residency is set to bring fans from around the world to Puerto Rico this summer, and travelers can expect to pay up to see the singer perform in his home country. The Grammy Award-winning artist's "No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí" (I Don't Want to Leave Here) residency will take place at the Coliseo de Puerto from July 11 to Sept. 14, ushering in a "peak period for tourism," according to Discover Puerto Rico. During this time, an anticipated 600,000 concert goers will descend on the island to see the popular singer. Shop 2025 Bad Bunny tickets Depending on the specific concert dates, travel costs to Puerto Rico this summer will come with a premium, according to travel platform Hopper, with round-trip airfare costing 42% more than it did at the same time last year. However, there are still some good deals to be discovered if travelers plan strategically. "If you're planning a trip to San Juan, we recommend looking at traveling for the first two weeks or final two weeks of the residency," said Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper. Here's what to know about traveling to Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny's concert residency. How much are flights to San Juan for Bad Bunny's residency? Airfare to San Juan this summer is averaging at $331 per round-trip ticket, about $100 higher than last year, according to Hopper. How much you'll dish out for your trip also depends on when you go, with the cheapest being during the beginning and end of the residency. From July 13 to 26, a round-trip ticket to San Juan is available for under $300, but the price increases to $388 during August. Prices drop again in the first two weeks of September and are lowest during the last week of the residency. Expedia looked at the average daily ticket prices for travel to San Juan between July 14 and Sept. 14, and found the most expensive days to fly as Aug. 22 and 29. The cheapest are Aug. 31 and Sept. 14. Can the island handle it? Everyone's vacationing in Puerto Rico. How much are hotel rates in San Juan for Bad Bunny's residency? For a weekend stay during the residency, hotel rates will cost as much as $391 per night, according to Hopper. Lodging may be a little cheaper during the weeknight – for a Monday, a nightly hotel stay is $247. Visiting near the end of the residency may save travelers some cash, not only with flights but also with hotel stays. Expedia found the cheapest average hotel rates for a night in San Juan to be on Sept. 7 and 8. Conversely, the most expensive average hotel rates are on July 24 and Sept. 1. Is there cheap airfare to San Juan this summer? Here are some flight deals to San Juan from major U.S. cities, according to Expedia.
Travel Weekly
30-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Are Americans traveling this summer? Where are they headed?
Clockwise from top left: Hopper lead economist Hayley Berg, host Rebecca Tobin and cruise editor Teri West talk about Americans' summer 2025 travel plans. Subscribe now using your favorite service: What is going on with summer travel? As Memorial Day passes and Americans prepare to take to the roads and skies, we've heard a lot of mixed messages from travel companies about what this year might bring. Just a few weeks ago we spoke on the Folo podcast about "chop" and "noise" in projecting future booking patterns. In this episode Hopper lead economist Hayley Berg returns to talk about her data: Whether Americans are traveling and, if so, where their summer plans might take them. We talk about the obvious destinations and the hidden gems -- plus one great summer-booking tip. With us is cruise editor Teri West, who looks into research from the Mastercard Economics Institute on its travel trend report. This episode was recorded Thursday, May 22 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands Related links: Asian Cities shine in Mastercard Economics Institute's 2025 travel trends report Volatility is making hotel forecasting difficult Travel advisors voice their concerns about job cuts and the economy Related Folo by Travel Weekly episodes:
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Summer air travel could be a ‘recipe for frustration'
US air travel has seen a very bumpy year filled with safety incidents, fatal accidents and an air traffic control meltdown that has expedited plans for a complete overhaul of the system. 2025 started with a tragedy in Washington, when 67 people died in a midair collision between a commercial jet and an Army helicopter. Heightened anxieties stirred national attention to close calls between commercial jets and go-around maneuvers performed by pilots to prevent accidents. To top it off, an air traffic control meltdown plagued Newark Liberty International Airport for weeks after staffing shortages and technology outages caused hours-long delays. All this raising the question: What will summer look like for air travelers in the US? Prepare for disruptions, experts say. The kickoff to the summer travel season starts with Memorial Day weekend, when United Airlines alone is expected to fly 300,000 more passengers than last year. The Federal Aviation Administration is expecting record-high travel over the holiday weekend and its busiest summer in 15 years, with the peak at the end of July. The agency has said it's prepared for the high volume, but travel industry experts warn that understaffing and infrastructure breakdowns could complicate operations. There are plans in the works from the Department of Transportation and the FAA to address these issues at airports and air traffic control facilities, but a complete revamp of the air traffic control system will take at least the next three to four years. If you're traveling this summer, be sure to plan for a possible disruption. Disruptions are 'always worse in the summer,' said Hayley Berg, lead economist at travel booking and price tracking company Hopper. 'In the summer, there's more people flying,' Berg said. 'Airports are busier, I think we are certainly starting to see the impact of understaffing, as airlines are now in their second or third year of flying full capacity and air traffic and airport staffing are not back to the levels that we would need to support the volume.' Overall, she said, disruption rates are down for May compared to previous years, however, specific airports have had a bad month. Newark Liberty International Airport has dealt with four separate technology outages since April 28. Staffing is stretched thin at the facility that controls approaches and departures of flights, and a runway is still under construction. The FAA ordered airlines to decrease flights at Newark by about 25%, compared to the number of flights there in early April. After June 15, when runway construction is not ongoing, some flights can return – but the airport is still limited to fewer flights than before. Les Abend, a retired American Airlines Boeing 777 captain, said the problems that have been plaguing Newark recently could 'start leaking out of other facilities.' But he underlined that the US already has next-generation (NextGen) air traffic control capabilities. 'It's the infrastructure that supplies the data that's become the issue,' he said. Disruptions such as the air traffic control outages that happened at Newark can create a 'domino effect' on flights in other places. Add air traffic controller shortages and the time that it takes to train a controller at any given facility to that mix, plus typical summer storms that can slow operations, and 'Yeah, it can be a recipe for frustration for travelers. There's no doubt,' said Abend. 'The fact that we're seeing that our infrastructure is breaking down, to some extent — it's not going to collapse by any means — it's just going to be bits and pieces. And it's just going to create frustration as far as delays, cancellations, so on and so forth.' But he added that he wants to reassure the public. 'It's still a safe system. If you lose contact with air traffic control, we as pilots have a system and a protocol to do certain things,' Abend said. Abend said he's not anticipating system-wide disruption this summer. 'I would say the majority of times, you're going to get to where you want to go when you're scheduled to get there.' Summer is a hotspot at Newark Airport, which is an international hub for many flyers heading to Europe or many other transatlantic destinations, Berg said. 'Those passengers, I think, are certainly feeling some anxiety about what their travel plans are going to look like,' she said. Despite the natural hassle that comes with packed airports and crowded planes, most travelers will still take the trip, according to Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp, an online service that helps travelers seek compensation when plans are disrupted. But he thinks many passengers have changed their attitudes towards Newark Airport. '(Travelers) are really cautious on what's going on and how they fly, and I think the media attention also brought up quite a lot of problems to the surface, that existed for years,' he said. Domestic airfare is down about 3% from the same time last year, which is the lowest level since 2021 at $265 per round trip ticket, Hopper's 2025 summer travel outlook reported. Fares to Europe are down about 8% from 2024. 'I'm expecting a business-as-usual summer, maybe a little less of a crowd on the busiest days as people try to travel on cheaper days of the week,' Berg said. However, a recent survey from Bankrate shows 54% of adults expect to spend less on travel, eating out or entertainment this year, compared to last year. Of those surveyed, 65% of Americans who are not traveling this summer say they can't afford it and another 23% say they're not interested. But United Airlines, which has a major hub at Newark, expects to serve more passengers this season. In June, July and August, United expects to fly nearly 50 million passengers, about a 3 million passenger uptick from last year's summer. So far, the busiest US air travel day this year was April 17 with over 54,000 flights, according to the FAA. The FAA expects six more days of over 54,000 flights through the end of August. While there are many things up in the air with travel this summer, experts say it's important to follow a few simple tips to try to have the least amount of disruption. Flying direct will help alleviate the stress of missing a connection at other airports, Pawliszyn said. He also recommends flying in the morning and avoiding the weekend. 'Until we stop hearing stories about Newark,' Abend said he would book New York-area flights through JFK or LaGuardia this summer. He also advised travelers to take a proactive stance on potential disruptions, keeping an eye on where the aircraft servicing their flight is coming from and what the weather is like there. If storms are likely to slow things down, passengers may want to change their flights. CNN's Marnie Hunter contributed to this report.
CNN
23-05-2025
- CNN
Summer air travel could be a ‘recipe for frustration'
US air travel has seen a very bumpy year filled with safety incidents, fatal accidents and an air traffic control meltdown that has expedited plans for a complete overhaul of the system. 2025 started with a tragedy in Washington, when 67 people died in a midair collision between a commercial jet and an Army helicopter. Heightened anxieties stirred national attention to close calls between commercial jets and go-around maneuvers performed by pilots to prevent accidents. To top it off, an air traffic control meltdown plagued Newark Liberty International Airport for weeks after staffing shortages and technology outages caused hours-long delays. All this raising the question: What will summer look like for air travelers in the US? Prepare for disruptions, experts say. The kickoff to the summer travel season starts with Memorial Day weekend, when United Airlines alone is expected to fly 300,000 more passengers than last year. The Federal Aviation Administration is expecting record-high travel over the holiday weekend and its busiest summer in 15 years, with the peak at the end of July. The agency has said it's prepared for the high volume, but travel industry experts warn that understaffing and infrastructure breakdowns could complicate operations. There are plans in the works from the Department of Transportation and the FAA to address these issues at airports and air traffic control facilities, but a complete revamp of the air traffic control system will take at least the next three to four years. If you're traveling this summer, be sure to plan for a possible disruption. Disruptions are 'always worse in the summer,' said Hayley Berg, lead economist at travel booking and price tracking company Hopper. 'In the summer, there's more people flying,' Berg said. 'Airports are busier, I think we are certainly starting to see the impact of understaffing, as airlines are now in their second or third year of flying full capacity and air traffic and airport staffing are not back to the levels that we would need to support the volume.' Overall, she said, disruption rates are down for May compared to previous years, however, specific airports have had a bad month. Newark Liberty International Airport has dealt with four separate technology outages since April 28. Staffing is stretched thin at the facility that controls approaches and departures of flights, and a runway is still under construction. The FAA ordered airlines to decrease flights at Newark by about 25%, compared to the number of flights there in early April. After June 15, when runway construction is not ongoing, some flights can return – but the airport is still limited to fewer flights than before. Les Abend, a retired American Airlines Boeing 777 captain, said the problems that have been plaguing Newark recently could 'start leaking out of other facilities.' But he underlined that the US already has next-generation (NextGen) air traffic control capabilities. 'It's the infrastructure that supplies the data that's become the issue,' he said. Disruptions such as the air traffic control outages that happened at Newark can create a 'domino effect' on flights in other places. Add air traffic controller shortages and the time that it takes to train a controller at any given facility to that mix, plus typical summer storms that can slow operations, and 'Yeah, it can be a recipe for frustration for travelers. There's no doubt,' said Abend. 'The fact that we're seeing that our infrastructure is breaking down, to some extent — it's not going to collapse by any means — it's just going to be bits and pieces. And it's just going to create frustration as far as delays, cancellations, so on and so forth.' But he added that he wants to reassure the public. 'It's still a safe system. If you lose contact with air traffic control, we as pilots have a system and a protocol to do certain things,' Abend said. Abend said he's not anticipating system-wide disruption this summer. 'I would say the majority of times, you're going to get to where you want to go when you're scheduled to get there.' Summer is a hotspot at Newark Airport, which is an international hub for many flyers heading to Europe or many other transatlantic destinations, Berg said. 'Those passengers, I think, are certainly feeling some anxiety about what their travel plans are going to look like,' she said. Despite the natural hassle that comes with packed airports and crowded planes, most travelers will still take the trip, according to Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp, an online service that helps travelers seek compensation when plans are disrupted. But he thinks many passengers have changed their attitudes towards Newark Airport. '(Travelers) are really cautious on what's going on and how they fly, and I think the media attention also brought up quite a lot of problems to the surface, that existed for years,' he said. Domestic airfare is down about 3% from the same time last year, which is the lowest level since 2021 at $265 per round trip ticket, Hopper's 2025 summer travel outlook reported. Fares to Europe are down about 8% from 2024. 'I'm expecting a business-as-usual summer, maybe a little less of a crowd on the busiest days as people try to travel on cheaper days of the week,' Berg said. However, a recent survey from Bankrate shows 54% of adults expect to spend less on travel, eating out or entertainment this year, compared to last year. Of those surveyed, 65% of Americans who are not traveling this summer say they can't afford it and another 23% say they're not interested. But United Airlines, which has a major hub at Newark, expects to serve more passengers this season. In June, July and August, United expects to fly nearly 50 million passengers, about a 3 million passenger uptick from last year's summer. So far, the busiest US air travel day this year was April 17 with over 54,000 flights, according to the FAA. The FAA expects six more days of over 54,000 flights through the end of August. While there are many things up in the air with travel this summer, experts say it's important to follow a few simple tips to try to have the least amount of disruption. Flying direct will help alleviate the stress of missing a connection at other airports, Pawliszyn said. He also recommends flying in the morning and avoiding the weekend. 'Until we stop hearing stories about Newark,' Abend said he would book New York-area flights through JFK or LaGuardia this summer. He also advised travelers to take a proactive stance on potential disruptions, keeping an eye on where the aircraft servicing their flight is coming from and what the weather is like there. If storms are likely to slow things down, passengers may want to change their flights. CNN's Marnie Hunter contributed to this report.
