Flying This July 4? You and 24 Million Others. Here's How to Reduce Travel Stress and Save Money

What happened

Traveler numbers this holiday weekend could be double that of last year. According to travel app, Hopper, over 24 million passengers are expected to travel from U.S. airports between June 29 and July 5. Last year, that figure was just 12.9 million. According to Bloomberg, travel volumes will likely surpass pre-pandemic figures. 

So what

The good news is that lower airfares are one reason so many people are flying this Independence Day. At an average $300 per round-trip, Hopper says that domestic flights cost over $100 less than they did last year. The bad news is that crowded airports can lead to long lines and disrupted flights, and make your trip more stressful.

Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, and Los Angeles look likely to be the busiest airports with over a million passengers expected to pass through each one. Thursday and Friday will be the heaviest days -- Hopper predicts around 3.7 million flyers on each day.

Now what

There are a few ways you can reduce the likelihood of travel-induced gray hairs. For starters, get to the airport early and make sure your passport and travel documents are easy to access. If you're able to travel light and avoid checked baggage, do. That's at least one line you can skip completely. 

If you have a travel rewards credit card, make sure you're using all its perks. It goes beyond using points to reduce the pressure on your wallet when you book; several card benefits might also make your trip less stressful. Travel rewards cards could give you the following perks:

• Travel insurance: Many top travel credit cards include insurance against canceled or delayed flights, assuming you used your card to book the trip. Check the fine print to learn exactly what's covered and how you claim.
• Lounge access: If your card gives you free lounge access, this can make waiting around at the airport much more pleasant. 
• Easier queuing at security: There are a few different programs that can help you speed through immigration and security checkpoints. Even better? Certain credit cards give you a statement credit towards their membership fees. Check out our guide to TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or CLEAR to understand these perks better. 
• Free checked bags: Only taking hand luggage may save time, but it isn't always an option. If you do need to check a bag, it might be free with your credit card, particularly an airline credit card.

Overall, your journey may be smoother if you're able to stick to smaller airports and fly at off-peak times. The trouble is that this often isn't feasible, particularly if you're trying to get to your loved ones to celebrate July 4. Credit card perks can offer low cost ways to minimize travel stress whenever and wherever you fly.