MINNEAPOLIS — The Fourth of July holiday weekend is coming up, and for many people, that means packed bags and an extra day or so away from the office.
But this year, getting out of town to celebrate with your family and friends could take a little longer, and cost more money than it has in previous years.
So whether you're planning to drive or fly to your destination, here are some tips to help your summer trip go off without a hitch.
Airline Travel
Flying can be the fastest way to get to where you're going, but recent airline staffing shortages have made the lines at the airport feel even longer. If you're flying out of Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), they've made some changes for summer to help move more people smoothly to their gates.
These changes include an expanded G Concourse with wider corridors, more seating and a new suite of restrooms, more destinations and flight options and pre-booked parking.
“We have seen steady passenger growth throughout the spring – including an all-time record number of passengers at Terminal 2 in March,” said Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) CEO Brian Ryks back in May. “We are ready and eager to welcome more passengers back to MSP this summer as more people return to air travel for leisure, business or personal reasons.”
If your plane tickets were purchased for a Delta Air Lines flight, you might benefit from waiting a few days to take off. Earlier this week, Delta issued a systemwide fare difference travel waiver from July 1-4, meaning customers planning to travel on these dates can rebook their flights before or after the holiday weekend with no fare differences or change fees.
Rebooked flights need to happen by July 8, 2022 and the trips need to be between the same origin and destination as the original flights. You can find more information about this offer from Delta here.
Delta pilots have also planned a two-hour "informational picket" for several U.S. airports on Thursday, including MSP. Spokespeople for Delta said in a statement on Tuesday that off-duty pilots will be on the picket lines and flights shouldn't be impacted.
Driving to your destination
Gas prices have been higher this summer than they've been in years, forcing some people to reconsider how much they drive. But high costs at the pump don't have to mean that you're stuck at home this summer.
Before you even hit the road, make sure that your tires are full and your vehicle has as little in it as you can manage. Reducing the weight of your car or truck can help to save on your miles per gallon.
You can find more tips for prepping your vehicle to help you cut costs here.
According to AAA, the average cost of a gallon of gas in Minnesota is around $4.70 on Thursday, slightly lower than the $4.86 national average. Once you hit the road you can use tools from AAA and Gas Buddy to help you track the price of fuel. Plus, signing up for fuel savings programs and apps before you go can help you save, or even make a little money while you drive.
Experts think that fuel prices may be ready to dip as much as 10-20 cents after the holiday travel, and we have our fingers crossed!
If you're bringing the kids on the drive, having a few more sets of sticky hands in the car can create a whole new set of issues. Make sure to pack plenty of snacks, and you might even want to make a quick stop at a dollar store before leaving home. You can find more tricks to help while traveling with kids here.
If travel isn't in the cards for you over the Fourth of July, there are still plenty of things to see and do here at home, including fireworks shows across the metro.
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