The Weekly Update: January 6, 2022 Edition

Still feeling the effects of New Year's Eve?

Countless US travelers can relate – this past week, thousands of flights were grounded due to pandemic and weather-related challenges. As winter conditions intensify and COVID-19 cases rise, flight cancellations in the US might persist in the coming weeks. Read on to learn how to handle a grounded flight and our anticipated travel trends for 2022.

Your flight is canceled. What’s next?

To be fair, this issue predates the pandemic. However, whether caused by COVID variants or severe weather, you may be left wondering: what steps should I take if my flight is grounded?

Here are some quick tips for managing a canceled or delayed flight:

• Stay updated. Before deciding whether to rebook or cancel your flight (if possible), check the weather forecast to assess the chances of a rebooked flight facing issues.
• Who to reach out to. If you choose to rebook your flight, you have several options: you can queue at the check-in counter, call the airline, contact the online travel agency that booked your ticket, visit the airline’s website, or reach out via social media. In fact, doing multiple of these simultaneously might be beneficial.
• Consider alternative routes. If it seems like your airline won’t resume flights soon, check the Dinogo app for other travel options from different providers. Additionally, if your flight has an 8-hour delay but it's just a 5-hour road trip, consider renting a car for shorter distances.

The essentials to check

With a surge of holiday travelers, concerns about Omicron's impact on travel, and potential disruptions ahead, here's the latest on travel developments.

• For those planning ahead… What should you do if you test positive for COVID while traveling internationally? Since each country has unique COVID-19 regulations, it’s wise to research those in advance. The US State Department recommends that Americans planning international trips have a "contingency plan" in place. Many experts (including Dinogo) advise purchasing travel insurance to mitigate costs and delays if you find yourself needing to extend your stay after a positive test.
• Important tips for ski season. As Omicron cases rise in many winter hotspots, popular ski resorts and mountain towns nationwide are implementing additional COVID-19 measures. Whether it involves community testing requirements or mandatory mask policies (regardless of vaccination status), if you're heading to the slopes this winter, ensure you research the destination and ski area before your trip.
• Who’s stepping up to assist. To “ease travel challenges created by the global COVID-19 pandemic,” the US State Department has announced that some Americans with passports that expired during the pandemic will be allowed to return to the US. While there are conditions, US travelers might be able to come home with these expired documents before 3/31. Reminder: If your passport expired during the pandemic and you intend to travel abroad this year, now is the time to renew it.

Travel Trends

Here’s what’s currently trending based on our insights and how it can enhance your travel experience.

What’s hot for 2022? Despite the uncertainty caused by Omicron, we’re genuinely excited—and perhaps even optimistic—about the search trends emerging. Our CEO, Steve Hafner, recently discussed with Fortune how these searches might indicate broader travel patterns for 2022. "The desire to travel is undeniable. People are eager to explore again."

With that in mind, here are the travel trends we expect to take over your Instagram in 2022:

• Embracing the outdoors. Many nature enthusiasts have shown a significant increase in searches for destinations like Montana and Colorado at the close of 2021, reflecting a 46% rise in interest compared to 2019*.
• Spontaneous getaways. Our flexible cancellation filter is a favorite for last-minute travelers. Recently, searches for flights booked within a week of departure surged by 50% compared to two years ago**.
• Remote work equals travel opportunities. As many companies continue to embrace flexible work arrangements, over 40% of Gen Z workers plan to work remotely from various locations in 2022***.

Social Mentions

The verdict is in: This year, our travel-enthusiast snow lovers have their sights set on Anchorage. We can’t argue – a trip to Alaska sounds pretty… awesome.

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