(CNN) -- More passengers, fewer flights and an influx of less-experienced leisure travelers in the skies may cause a spike in hassles and delays for business travelers this summer.
CNN asked Joe Brancatelli, editor and publisher of business travel site JoeSentMe.com, for advice on smooth summer business travel.
Stay home when possible
"I'm telling people whatever they can do to defer trips, do it," Brancatelli said.
Brancatelli foresees complications as a high volume of passengers try to navigate an air travel system staffed by a fraction of the workers employed before the September 11, 2001, attacks.
"There won't be people to help when there's a problem," he said.
Avoid end-of-month travel
Even if you can't teleconference or postpone your trip until the summer rush subsides, try to avoid flying at the end of the month, particularly in June, July and August when weather delays are common.
Because pilots and flight crews have a federally mandated maximum number of hours they can be on duty, schedules tend to be disrupted at the end of the month as those limits are reached, Brancatelli said.
"Any delay goes against that flight time. You have a bad range of thunderstorms -- it goes against that flight time. So toward the end of each month, the airlines will be out of crew time, and they'll have to start canceling flights."
Complications at the end of the month have been a problem for years, but they are compounded when alternatives are limited.
"When you're running at 80 percent-plus capacity, there just aren't enough seats around to absorb a lot of cancellations," Brancatelli said.
Fly early in the day
"Early in the day is when you have the best chance of getting out on time," Brancatelli said.
You'll also avoid delays that cascade through the system as the day goes on, and you'll have a better chance of getting on another flight if a problem crops up.
Consider parking alternatives
"Every airport I've talked to said it's a nightmare parking, so you might want to find yourself a good off-airport parking lot company or get transportation to the airport," Brancatelli said.
Do your homework
Brancatelli urges travelers to research alternatives so that they will have a solution when faced with a delay or cancellation.
Know which other airlines are flying your route and have the numbers of your preferred airlines and hotel chains handy.
"If you do get into trouble, you can say, 'Well, what about this, what about that?' rather than have the airline look at you blankly and say, 'Well, what do you want us to do about it?'
"You should have the answer to that -- 'I want you to book me on this flight,' " Brancatelli said.
With fewer travel industry workers trying to help more travelers, your best bet is to help yourself.
"Bring your own information, bring your own strategies and tactics," he said.