Flight update: A pair of delays in Savannah/HHI, more nationally. Tips for surviving holiday air travel
A slew of delays and cancellations has plagued airports around the United States, including the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport that’s already jam-packed with summer travelers.
Severe weather patterns across the country, high travel volume and inadequate staffing at the air traffic control centers run by the Federal Aviation Administration have put the breaks on arrivals and departures. On Thursday throughout U.S. airports, 369 flights have already been canceled and 736 are listed as delayed, according to FlightAware.com. On Wednesday, more than seven thousand U.S. flights were delayed and 1,199 were canceled.
The Savannah/Hilton Head airport website on Thursday morning showed two delayed and a canceled arriving flights, while no departing flights were disrupted.
What does this mean for passengers coming into and out of the Savannah/Hilton Head airport? Well, patience is a virtue, as the saying goes.
On top of delays and cancellations, more than 100,000 travelers bustling through the Savannah/Hilton Head airport over the Fourth of July week, patience is a necessity well worth packing. From July 1 to July 8, about 110,000 passengers will move through the airport. The weekend bookends — July 2 and 8 — will see the most travelers.
The trend is much like the rest of the country. The Transportation Security Administration noted higher summertime passenger volumes at airport security checkpoints. Nationwide, TSA screening estimated 17.7 million travelers from June 29 to July 5.
For the Savannah/Hilton Head airport, this year marks the busiest Fourth of July holiday it has ever had and a 4% increase compared to the same time last year, said Lori Lynah, the airport’s director of marketing and air service development.
“We can’t say it enough,” Lynah stressed. “Allow plenty of time.”
It’s not unusual that the summer months are hectic at the Savannah/Hilton Head airport, with vacationers underestimating wait times for baggage check and security screening, darting to their gates in flip-flops. Even still, people are shocked at all the activity, Lynah said.
While off-season months can be like a pleasant ghost town, breezing through the airport process with hardly any wait time, the summer lines are real. Don’t test it.
Really, there’s no secret to Fourth of July travel, just hold tight the sage and simple advice: prepare.
That means arriving 2 to 3 hours early to allow for parking, long lines at baggage check and a winding wait for security screening. Expect between 30 minutes and an hour at baggage claim during the peak travel time, Lynah said. The early morning, from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., is “extremely busy,” she added.
This is all without the potential for bad weather to creep in and upend arrival and departure schedules. Safe to say, bring extra snacks and pack a spare change of clothes.
For those familiar with I-95, which funnels people straight to Hilton Head Island, be prepared to sit in traffic. Incoming and outgoing. Check Maps or the traffic and mapping app Waze early and often, or use an alternate route to dodge the mayhem. And yes, expect a line for car rentals.
Picking up? The cell phone lot is a time-saver.
Often times, the first call that comes in from a passenger eager to get off plane and drive to paradise is too premature to head to curbside pick up. It leads to the dreaded looping until the passenger is actually ready to leave. Lynah assured there will be enough parking available, including shuttles to other lots, and she cautioned to not park on airport roadways.
So when does pandemonium settle down? Post-Labor Day.
TSA tips for smoother travel
Pack an empty bag and know before you go, and check the “What can I bring” tool
TSA PreCheck members: Make sure the TSA PreCheck mark is on your boarding pass
Be aware of new checkpoint screening technology
Firearms and ammunition aren’t permitted in carry–on bags, but are permitted in checked bags when properly packed and declared
This story was originally published June 28, 2023 at 9:57 AM.
