From Suva to Rome, New York to Paris, and Christchurch to Athens, tourists are desperate to escape a gloomy winter in the southern hemisphere for an overdue summer holiday in a glamorous European hot-spot.
After two years of coronavirus anxiety and oppressive rules, pent-up travel demand is likely to see global air passengers hit 83 per cent of pre-pandemic levels this year, according to a report by the International Air Transport Association.
But while that might be good news for airlines and struggling tourism industries, the influx of global travellers has also resulted in widespread chaos at airports.
Lines snaking out the door in Amsterdam have made headlines, while in London, photographs surfaced on social media of huge piles of misplaced luggage, sometimes taking days to be reunited with owners.
"Most airports are already packed out because of the restarting of international travel," said Adrian Esterman, chair of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of South Australia.
Check-in terminals, security checkpoints and baggage claims have become clogged as airlines attempt to iron out the kinks in their plan to resume rapid and large-scale travel.
Travellers to Europe and North America are being warned to expect longer waits, last-minute cancellations and flight disruptions.
For those who have booked a flight, navigating a post-COVID-19 world will require forward planning and patience.
What's behind the airport chaos?
The cause of disruptions is two-fold, according to Dean Long, chief executive of the Australian Federation of Travel agents.
One has centred around transit arrangements, with airports and airlines unable to get their systems up and running to meet the returning demand.
This is largely a result of shortages in qualified personnel, Mr Long added.
With travel restricted during the pandemic, airlines cut their workforces, leaving a shortfall once travel resumed again in March this year.
In the resulting hiring frenzy, airlines struggled to re-attract those who had found better opportunities elsewhere, or had little interest in often physically demanding, lower-paid work with a higher unemployment risk.
Some governments are considering possible solutions, eager to see the return of tourism.
In the UK, for example, ministers have unveiled a 22-point plan to help tackle the country's airport staffing shortage, including speeding up recruitment and allowing airlines to reduce their summer schedules
Germany has said it will help bring in airport security workers from places like Turkey to fill the void left by people who quit their jobs during the pandemic.
But the problem is not limited to recruitment. Airlines are also facing staff revolts over low pay, long hours and worker shortages.
Ryanair, Easyjet and Scandinavian airline SAS will all be hit by worker strikes this month, with security agents, ground crews, baggage handlers and other airport workers spurred into industrial action to secure better wages and more staff.
"Delays and cancellations everywhere. Why? Because there's no staff. Why? Because conditions and pay have been lowered for over a decade," said Eoin Coates, head of aviation at the European Transport Workers’ Federation, in a tweet last month.
As airlines attempt to grapple with shortages, airports are also attempting to adjust to other pandemic-induced challenges.
Travel demand is surging around the world, with UK airports recording an almost 35 per cent jump in passenger numbers every month from the start of the year through April, according to data from the Civil Aviation Authority.
Meanwhile, passengers are now required to do more "checks and balances" at their arrival and departure destinations than they were pre-COVID, Mr Long said, including providing proof of COVID-19 vaccination certificates and negative PCR tests.
"So those lines are automatically longer, it doesn't matter if it's international or domestic. And so, as a result, it's creating a situation where… the systems that were being invested in by governments are no longer as seamless as what they were," he said.
In the meantime, there are some things travellers can do to help save themselves time and money while travelling.
Know the rules
Navigating a patchwork of COVID-19 restrictions around the world will now form part of your usual holiday research, travel experts suggest.
That includes taking note of relevant mask requirements and vaccine certificate mandates before you travel, though most European countries have now moved to scrap both measures.
"There's still things that cause concern and stress for people when they're unsure of how they comply with what is the local customs or local law in some instances," Mr Long said.
The government's Smartraveller website can be a good starting place for up-to-date travel advice on your destination.
It might also be a good idea to monitor COVID-19 case numbers in the week before you fly so you can make your own preparations.
"Clearly, the biggest issue is to avoid getting infected or reinfected," Mr Esterman said.
"Although for most people, the infection is mild, there is always the chance of getting seriously ill. Clearly, this has health implications, but also logistical and costs ones."
If you do get COVID-19, depending on the country's rules, you might need to isolate, which may have a domino effect on your plans.
You may have to sort out alternative accommodation arrangements, cancel bookings and delay flights, so it's important to be adaptable.
Don't leave booking too late
With the current level of disruptions, travel experts suggest the spontaneity of a last-minute flight to Paris might not be worth the money and stress.
"We're seeing it's very difficult to find a seat on an airplane at the moment for anything in the next [few weeks]," Mr Long said.
Australians looking to fly last-minute to Europe could be spending thousands. At the time of writing, flying Qantas from Sydney to London (return) in July will cost about $5,000.
"If you want to get the best value for the end of the year, there's no such thing as a last-minute deal anymore," Mr Long said.
Experts said the best deals available are for those planning ahead, perhaps even for next year.
Be deliberate about when you fly
It also pays to be savvy about the time of your flights, with passengers advised to book earlier in the day rather than later.
It gives travellers more options to book other flights that same day in the event a flight is cancelled or significantly delayed.
And just like before COVID-19, it's important to arrive at the airport early and leave enough time to get through security.
"We all used to be very good at getting to the airport two hours before and spending [however long] in security. If you allow that time, it's much easier to have a coffee, airside — or seaside if you're cruising — than panicking," Mr Long said.
Given the current scope of delays, experts are split on how early you should arrive at the airport. It comes as airports urge people not to arrive too early to avoid clogging queues for those leaving sooner.
"It sounds absolutely mad, but an awful lot of these queues are people who have got a flight at 10am turning up at 5am,” UK travel expert Simon Calder told ITV's Good Morning Britain in May.
Some airlines have started campaigns urging passengers to arrive no earlier than three hours before their flights.
Triple check your carry-on
As reports first emerged of holiday-induced chaos in Sydney in May, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce blamed delays on "not match-fit" travellers.
"I went through the airports on Wednesday and people forget they need to take out their laptops, they have to take out their aerosols… so that is taking longer to get through the [security] queue," he said at the time.
Some passengers are "not necessarily doing the right things at airports", Mr Long said, but it's not fair to put the widespread delays squarely on travellers.
But experts urged leaving enough time to sort through carry-on luggage before heading to security.
Check your insurance
Health experts also recommend getting travel insurance, particularly those who haven't had COVID-19 or are worried about getting it.
"Many countries — including some European ones — have awful health systems compared to Australia — [which isn't] good if you are severely ill," Dr Esterman said.
Some countries offer reciprocal health care arrangements (RHCAs) with Australia — including the UK and New Zealand — but the level of cover you have access to differs depending on where you are. And if you're travelling to a country without an RHCA, it will be up to you to cover any medical bills.
"It's easy to think the government's going to bail you out [but] it doesn't happen like that," Mr Long said.
Some insurers have introduced cover for various COVID-related travel situations except for destinations that carry a Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advisory, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.
Ultimately, travellers must find a good travel insurance product that's right for them, experts said, ensuring:
- The destination is covered by the policy
- The policy covers COVID-19
Independent consumer advocate CHOICE is a good place to start when weighing up options.
Ultimately, passengers must temper their expectations for the next few months.
The aviation industry is recovering from the worst travel slump on record and will need time to adjust, which may mean investing more in resources.
But for those who exercise patience and forward planning, there's still the promise of a memorable journey.
