Traveling This Summer-keep in Mind the Friendly Skies Will Also Be Quite Crowded!

Summer travel is something we all look forward to. For those of us who love to fly, even holding a boarding pass in our hands is in and of itself a rush.

We love walking down the tunnel to board the plane, being greeted as we tug our carry-on that we cannot physically carry on by ourselves, and tunneling down the narrow walkway to find our seat. We wait in eager expectation for the captain to tell us to prepare for takeoff, and enjoy watching the world below become lost beneath the clouds.

What we often forget in the planning of a vacation is the fact that flights are often delayed, we may be pressed to get to the boarding gate on time, and we have most likely forgotten to pack something, even though it was on our list. Not only this, but there are also those lovely moments when we arrive at our destination, only to find that our luggage did not. Been there.

All right, so maybe the traveling part of a vacation is not everyone's highlight. However, there are several ways to insure that your trip will be as stress free as possible.

The summer of 2007 is anticipated to be one of the busiest for traveling that our nation has seen in several years. After September 11, 2001, the amount of passengers flying suffered a slight loss. Since then, it has been growing, as have flight delays and stranded passengers.

In the northeastern United States and Atlanta there have already been major flight delays due to weather.

Flight Delays are actually expected to be the worst ever this summer. This will most likely not stop travelers, however; it is something to be aware of concerning your upcoming trip.

Even though the Federal Aviation Administration has made sweeping efforts to minimize storm delays, due to an overtaxed air traffic system there are bound to be many delays.

New York's JFK airport has already been a scene of chaos, frustration and confusion as storms caused the cancellation of more than 300 flights at area airports. While the exasperation of travelers was obviously apparent to all in the airport, flight delays are often an uncontrollable and annoying occurrence.

Long lines winding throughout the airport due to weather delays and overcrowded airways are a common scene in many U.S. and international airports.

It was announced by the FAA that an Airspace Flow program took flight this summer in order to give airlines a choice of accepting delays or taking a longer route to avoid storms.

This year, the program is expected to not only take weather into consideration, but also the congested airways themselves.

The program has been in place for two summers in the northeast United States. However, according to critics, the program has not provided much help.

Don Horowitz, an air traffic controller in the New York LaGuardia International Airport reported,"I've been there almost 4 years now and I have not seen very much change."

This summer may actually be a pivot point as more travelers become annoyed with the lines and flight delays.

According to CNN, industry watchers report that the system is getting squeezed by more passengers, more planes, equipment in need of overhaul and air traffic controllers who say they are overtaxed.

Another important factor with the crowded skies are corporate jets. The number of corporate jets has multiplied by ten since 1970.

Some aviation specialists have reported that the nation's airways are basically at a point of complete saturation.

Rather than fix the problem, analysts have looked at ways to lessen some of the strain temporarily. While the program mentioned earlier has alleviated some of the stress, the summer of 2007 will most likely be a difficult one for passengers, pilots and air traffic controllers themselves.

Another unexpected problem travelers often run into is that of pet travel. The current fee to check in an animal is typically $100 on American Airlines. This is the basic kennel fee. However, there are sometimes additional excess luggage fees ranging from $50-$100 depending on the airline. It is recommended that travelers check the airline's website before flying.

Another great reason to check the airline's website with your ticket is that you may actually be able to switch your seat. If you are wanting an aisle or a window seat, check into the website and you will actually be able to see what seats are still available on the plane.

It is also recommended to book your flight as early as possible! This should be the first part in planning your vacation. Earlier booking usually results in lower fares and the likelihood that you will be able to get the seat you want.

Be sure to check into luggage allotments and weigh your luggage before arriving at the airport. You may discover that you have too much weight and unless you unload some cargo before boarding, you will pay an additional fee for the extra weight.