The summer travel meltdown at airports started during Memorial Day weekend with thousands of delayed and cancelled flights. And the problems are continuing.

Some airlines, confronted with a severe pilot shortage, tried to preemptively cancel flights, but it didn’t solve the problem.

And now, one airline has faced reality in a different way: American Airlines has grounded 100 of its planes.

The explanation is it simply didn’t have the pilots to fly them. The TSA remains short-staffed as well as a number of air traffic control centers.

Also understaffed are ground handlers, baggage loaders and counter agents. Last week, one airline pilot actually left the cockpit and went down to the tarmac to help load bags so his plane could depart.

The immediate advice for summer domestic air travel is no checked bags, get to the airport three hours early, and try to pick the very first flight of the day.

And here’s one more suggestion. Bring a book to read.