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business Thursday 14 april 2022
How to make summer 2022 travel plans that actually happen

By SAM KEMMIS of Nerd- deal with a seven-day ho-
Wallet tel quarantine," says Ng,
After two years of cancel- citing the country's strictly
lations, deferments and enforced rules . Ng opted
marathon sessions with to visit Europe this sum-
airline customer service, mer, where such restrictions
many travelers are hoping aren't currently in place.
to book summer trips that She feels more confident
actually pan out this year. that COVID-related rules
"I had the month of May won't suddenly change
2020 completely off work," right before or, worse, dur-
says Katharine Ng, an engi- ing her trip.
neering program manager When choosing a destina-
in Los Angeles . Ng planned tion, start with the countries
to visit Europe and Moroc- that have restrictions that
co but had to cancel and match your risk tolerance
rebook for the following and work backward.
year, 2021. Those new plans Of course, these restrictions
were eventually scuttled can be avoided by stick-
because she wasn't yet ful- ing to domestic travel, but
ly vaccinated by May, and many travelers are eager
travel restrictions got in the A Delta Airlines aircraft takes off as passengers await the boarding process, Thursday, Dec. 2, to head abroad.
way. 2021, at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in Atlanta. MAKE A BACKUP PLAN —
"Thankfully, canceling the Associated Press OR SEVERAL
trips was easy because of Even with all these precau-
the COVID cancellation ceeded our initial forecast travel season. like Airbnb and Vrbo gen- tions in place, anything
policies," Ng says. Yet while for prices." KEEP IT FLEXIBLE erally let hosts choose the can happen. Another
getting a refund was nice, Prices are rising in part be- The pandemic has ushered cancellation policy. surge, variant or military
it didn't scratch the itch for cause of increased con- in one consumer-friendly Data from Hopper shows conflict could upend even
taking an actual vacation. sumer demand, but volatile change: Most airlines and that the number of basic the best-laid plans, which is
Many travelers, twice bit- oil prices may be playing hotels now offer more flex- economy bookings made why it's important to make
ten by summer plans gone an even bigger role. When ible booking options. And on its platforms dropped a backup.
awry, remain shy of making the Ukraine conflict caused if the last two years have significantly in 2021 after First, after planning your
them again this year. Even some travelers to pull back taught us anything, it's airlines introduced more main trip, consider making
the experts have given up on Europe travel, prices that no trip, however well flexible options for other a few fully refundable book-
trying to predict what twists didn't follow suit. planned, is safe from dis- fares. Now, these bottom- ings for a second, separate
the pandemic will take "In Europe, demand is de- ruption. of-the-barrel fares make trip. These can be a hedge
next. But regardless of what creasing, but prices haven't The best way to find flexible up only 20% of total book- to ensure you don't have to
happens, travelers can dropped with it," Damoda- booking options depends ings compared with nearly book everything last min-
maximize their chances of ran says. "In fact, they have on a host of factors, but a 40% before the industry ute during peak season.
summer travel success with increased. Airlines could few simple rules apply. change. Just don't book airfare un-
a few simple steps. be preemptively adjusting — Avoid basic economy CHOOSE DESTINATIONS less it is truly refundable —
BOOK FLIGHTS SOON fares for fuel price chang- airfare as it doesn't allow WISELY most main cabin fares are
Travel isn't just coming es." changes or cancellations. Even if COVID-19 cases refunded as vouchers with
back. It's roaring back. Regardless of the cause, — Choose hotel rooms with drop throughout the spring the same airline, which
"We're already at 2019 airfare costs are unlikely to free cancellation. Some- and summer, it could be aren't as good as cash.
prices for airfare," says Adit drop significantly before times these rates are slight- some time before all inter- Second, sketch out an idea
Damodaran, economist peak summer travel. So ly higher than their nonre- national travel restrictions for a third trip, with the in-
at Hopper, a travel book- booking sooner rather than fundable counterparts. follow suit. tention to book it at the last
ing app that tracks airfare later might help you avoid — Read vacation rental "I was planning a trip to minute if original plans fall
trends. "We've already ex- getting priced out of this policies carefully. Services South Korea but I couldn't through. q

Amazon adds 5% 'fuel and inflation surcharge' to seller fees

Associated Press for further details on the "In 2022, we expected a
Amazon is taking a step move. But in a notice sent return to normalcy as CO-
to offset its rising costs, an- to sellers Wednesday, the VID-19 restrictions around
nouncing Wednesday it company said its costs had the world eased, but fuel
will add a 5% "fuel and in- gone up since the begin- and inflation have pre-
flation surcharge" to fees it ning of the COVID-19 pan- sented further challenges,"
charges third-party sellers demic due to increases in the company said in the
who use the e-commerce hourly wages, the hiring of notice. The latest fee hike
giant's fulfillment services. workers and construction follows one announced in
The Seattle-based compa- of more warehouses. November and which went
ny said on its website that It said it had absorbed into effect in January.
the added fees, which take costs whenever possible, Federal data released
effect April 28, are "subject and only increased fees to Tuesday showed inflation
to change" and will apply address permanent costs jumped 8.5% in March, its
to both apparel and non- and to be competitive with fastest pace in more than The company logo graces one of the doors of a delivery van for
apparel items. other providers. Amazon 40 years. Gasoline prices Amazon Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, in Denver.
Amazon didn't immedi- competitors FedEx and UPS have rocketed 48% in the Associated Press
ately respond to a request both have fuel surcharges. past 12 months. q