Forbes 2,000 travelers and found that 61% experienced a flight delay or cancellation this summer, and as a result, 83% lost money spent on prepaid hotel rooms, cruises and other activities.
Overall, summer travelers lost an average of $838 – more than double the national average cost of a domestic flight, and 17% missed milestone events, such as weddings, graduations and family reunions.
Lost and delayed luggage was another common travel snafu. 48% of respondents said their bags were lost or delayed while traveling, and 44% said their luggage was damaged when returned to them.
Top ways that travel chaos upended summer travel plans:
- Travelers that experienced baggage delays were without their luggage for an average of four days, and 11% never received their suitcases.
- Travelers spent an average of $556 to replace the contents of their lost or delayed luggage.
- 54% of summer travelers had to take a flight to pick up their lost luggage and 33% had to fly to a far-away airport to retrieve their bags.
- On average, flight delays and cancellations left travelers stranded at the airport for more than 5 hours.
- 19% of travelers lost money on prepaid activities they missed due to delays or cancellations and 17% had to cancel their travel plans entirely and lost money on airport parking, transportation, dog kenneling and unused hotel rooms.
- 13% of travelers missed a cruise as a result of flight cancellations and delays.
- Canceled flights, delays and lost luggage were most common for passengers traveling within the U.S.
Tags: Forbes Advisor
