THE BEST TRAVEL PLAN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: A BACKUP PLAN

It’s not even the busiest time of year for travel yet, and 2021 has already been chaotic — even for the most seasoned travelers.

Among the 2021 travel fiascos:

— Spirit Airlines underwent an operational meltdown, with 2,800 flights canceled between July 30 and Aug. 9 due to a combination of bad weather, staffing shortages and technical problems that left passengers stranded.

— Some vaccinated travelers have unexpectedly tested positive for COVID-19 during international trips, finding themselves required to isolate abroad due to U.S. travel restrictions.

— COVID-related rules can change last-minute, meaning you might abruptly need to quarantine upon arrival, even if vaccinated — as was the case when the Netherlands suddenly tightened travel restrictions in September.

— And while booking travel through the sharing economy is becoming increasingly popular, vacationers are experiencing situations where vacation home and RV rental owners have ghosted them.

All that, and Thanksgiving is still over a month away.

And so, as you book 2021 holiday travel, don’t overlook the best type of plan you can make: a backup plan. Here are some ways to build one.

BE FLEXIBLE AND PACK LIGHT

This summer was brutal for U.S. air travel. According to the Department of Transportation, 1.7% of domestic flights were canceled in July, compared to 0.8% that same month last year. Further, the July on-time arrival rate dropped from 90.5% to 73.4% year over year.