Mariela Garcia discovered that her flight was canceled over a week in advance of her family’s trip to Mexico to celebrate her daughter’s birthday over the Fourth of July holiday.
Garcia, 44, of Lakewood, California, claimed that her family found out about the cancellation on Sunday night.
“We were like, ‘What do we do?'” she said.
She was rebooked on American Airlines even though her initial reservation was for a direct Alaska Airlines flight. Garcia will now depart earlier in the morning after stopping in Phoenix. Her extended family, together with her eldest daughter, are currently traveling on United Airlines after initially booking their reservations separately.
Garcia’s situation is becoming more typical this summer. The air transportation sector is battling to return to normal following the pandemic-era depression, with issues ranging from flight delays and outright cancellations to crowded airports and schedule modifications.
This summer, airline reliability issues are being caused by a pilot shortage.
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The journey to Cancun and Playa del Carmen, according to the substitute teacher and personal finance mentor, marks her first flight since the outbreak.
“I feel I waited a long time just to be ready to take a trip, and I thought things would go smoother, but I guess now there are other issues,” she said, citing the pilot shortage.
Airlines are under pressure to meet the increased demand for flights while still getting passengers where they need to go. Being flexible and patient are more vital than ever for travelers, especially as we approach a holiday weekend that will undoubtedly see significantly more people than usual at the airports.