"Rising Complaints and Nightmarish Travel: Airlines Face Troubled Years Ahead"

Complaints about U.S. airlines have surged in the first half of the year, despite improvements in performance, with travelers filing over 26,000 formal complaints in the first five months of 2023, double the number from the same period last year. Flight cancellations have decreased, but delays and mishandled luggage remain major issues. The surge in demand has strained the aviation system, leading to staffing shortages and decreased on-time performance. Travelers are advised to expect a challenging holiday travel season and are encouraged to arrive early at airports.