Anyone who’s traveled by air recently will probably tell you the same thing — it’s chaotic out there!

Ahead of the 4th of July weekend, over 1,000 flights were canceled partly due to increases in staffing shortages, and airlines are trying to get ahead of the weekend demand. Experts are predicting that this weekend could set travel records — but flights continue to be canceled in high numbers.

As reported by Spectrum News 13, over 2,400 flights were canceled on June 30th, with approximately 20,000 flights delayed. Meanwhile, experts have predicted that millions of people have 4th of July weekend plans to visit Central Florida, with 1.7 million people expected to travel through Orlando International Airport.

Airlines have been taking steps to prepare for the increase in demand. We reported recently that Delta temporarily changed their policy to allow customers the opportunity to change 4th of July weekend flights at no cost, with free rebooking between July 1st and July 4th.

Another airline, Spirit Airlines, said that they’re “running one of the best operations in the industry right now,” despite having canceled 35% of flights in April and over 16% in May. Southwest Airlines reported that they have hired over 10,000 new employees this year to keep up with demand.

If you have a flight booked this holiday weekend, we recommend arriving at the airport at LEAST two hours before your flight and keep checking your flight’s status as often as you can (and before you head to the airport). The sooner you know about a delay or a cancellation the better! You can download your airline’s app to get updated notifications.

But what do you do if your flight is canceled? First of all, don’t panic! You can speak to an airline agent about getting re-booked, whether you decide to call your airline or get in line at the airport. It’s a good idea to consider booking flights with airlines that have multiple flights to your destination on the same day so that you can easily hop on another flight if yours is canceled.

Experts have predicted that the busiest day for air travel will be July 2nd, but drivers can expect traffic and delays on June 30th and July 1st. If you want to be EXTRA prepared, we recommend checking out the following posts to help you tackle any travel issues this weekend:

• What To Do If Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled
• How to Get to Disney World from the Orlando Airport
• It Just Got Cheaper to Get to Your Disney World Hotel

And if you have 4th of July Disney World plans, remember to pack your patience pants! There are limited park pass reservations available this weekend, and it’s possible that the parks could hit capacity, meaning you might have issues park hopping. Before you exit your first park to park hop, we recommend calling Guest Relations (407-560-5000) to find out if you can get in!

But if you get the chance, you can visit both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT for special 4th of July fireworks shows, and don’t forget to try all the limited-time Independence Day-themed snacks and treats! Keep following DFB for more Disney travel news!

What To Do If Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

Do you have 4th of July weekend travel plans? Tell us in the comments!

The post Over 2,400 Flights Canceled Ahead of 4th of July Weekend first appeared on the disney food blog.