"It's kinda awful. We've got 5cancellations, we've got 6lost baggage, we've got airlines that won't give us 7refunds."

The 8top grievance?

"About a third of complaints were about the cancellations and 9delays, which is 10notable. Last year, we had 190,000 canceled flights in this country."

It's a 11turbulent time for the airline industry as it 12grapples with 13staffing shortages and schedule cuts.

¡°The operating environment is much more difficult.¡±

At a budget hearing Wednesday for the Federal Aviation Administration, Congressman Mike Quigley 14echoed the concerns of many fliers.

"... been tough this year listening to constituents. During the more frustrating times, I had someone say "I don't feel like I'm buying a ticket, I feel like I'm buying a chance.""

To protect yourself, experts recommend 15booking a morning flight. They tend to get canceled less frequently. Also download your airline's app a few days before you travel.

"If you do need to get 16notifications about whether it's 17a date change, a delay or if you need to 18rebook, it's much easier to do it through the app than it is to try and call in to an 800 number and 19rot on, on hold for hours and hours."