Current Status
No matter where you live in the country, or any country for that matter, Covid is a serious concern. Many states are experiencing huge spikes in infections, and this country’s outlook for improvement doesn’t look good for the foreseeable future. Most of us have avoiding flying the past several months. Vacations involved road trips, if they happened at all. I have cancelled several trips involving flights since the pandemic and don’t intend on flying again until Spring 2021 at the earliest.
Psychological Impact
This pandemic has affected all of us. Some lost loved ones, many lost jobs, and virtually everyone was forced to change the way they interact with people. People need people. We are just wired that way. It is unnatural to deliberately avoid people.
Although I have been incredibly fortunate so far as it relates to health and finances, I am definitely in a rut. The lack of access to my gym, limiting time with friends and family, and cancelling all summer and fall travel plans has really had a negative affect on my psyche. I haven’t posted on this blog in a long time, and it’s hard to find the motivation with so much uncertainty on when this virus will be under control.
Why Book Travel Now?
The world is still many months away from truly safe travel, and the United States is currently in bad shape. The thought of navigating through an airport and boarding a potentially crowded plane with the handful of selfish people who refuse to wear masks is not at all appealing. An experience that I once enjoyed immensely is now something that brings me angst. So why book travel now? Let me share my thoughts.
Feels Good
Planning a trip is exciting. Dreaming about a place to visit, putting the details on paper, and methodically booking each aspect of the trip gives me joy. It is good both mentally and emotionally to think about traveling again, and counting down the days on my calendar gives me something to look forward to.
Availability
I’m a planner. I like booking vacations early. Typically you can book flights and hotels just over 11 months in advance. Cruises can be booked more than two years prior to sailing. As a general rule it is cheapest to book flights, hotels, and cruises as early as possible. When booking far in advance you not only get one of the best rates possible, but also ensure availability for the dates you want. This is particularly important when booking a flight using credit card points. Airlines release a limited number of award seats for each flight, and availability is further limited by cabin (economy, business, and first class). If you want to increase your odds of reward flight availability–book early.
Flexibility
Assuming a vaccine is available by the end of the year or early 2021–a big assumption–traveling will begin to pick up again.
Most airlines and hotels have added generous flexibility policies for NEW bookings because of COVID-19. Most flights booked now can be changed (not cancelled) to a later date, if COVID is still a threat next Spring. Most hotel bookings can be cancelled with no loss of deposit. Pretty sweet enticement to book something for next Spring.
Bottom Line
No one can predict when travel will be safe again. Even after a vaccine is released to the general public it will take months, or even years, before travel becomes ‘normal.’ Like many of you I have been racking up credit card points the past few months and can’t wait to use them. The airlines and hotels have offered flexibility on new bookings, and the timing for a vaccine leaves Spring 2021 as a hopeful beginning to a new chapter of travel. We all need something to look forward to during these difficult times.
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