Summer turned out to be pretty good. So, about winter ...

TRAVEL prognosticators predicted this summer would be rough: Hurricanes would rain on travelers’ parades, planes would bulge at the seams, security lines would stretch for miles and the cost of it all would put a crimp on the good times.

But fortunately, “the summer was not as bad as everyone predicted,” said Chris McGinnis, editor of Expedia Travelwatch, a quarterly outlook report by the online agency.

Although hurricane season doesn’t officially end for about another month, it’s safe to say that the weather largely cooperated, with only five named hurricanes versus the 10 predicted at the start of the season June 1.

And security has gone smoothly, for the most part, even with the foiled terrorist bomb threat in London in August.

“This summer, the TSA, airlines and airports were talking to make sure it worked out and it did,” said Terry Trippler, an airline expert with travel website MyVacationPassport.com.

But there was still a bit of turbulence. Between April and June, the most current data available, 40% more people were bumped than at the same time last year, thanks to record numbers of travelers and fewer airplanes flying, a trend that experts expected to continue into the height of summer.

Not surprisingly, the number of mishandled bags soared in August by more than 100,000 to 435,000, as more passengers checked their bags because of new security regulations (since relaxed).

So, with airline capacity still limited, Transportation Security Administration rules on carry-on items ever-changing, and the busy holiday travel season approaching, are travelers in for a long, hot winter?

Travel experts’ answers? Yes. No. And maybe.

“It could be another record holiday travel season, but a lot could happen between now and Thanksgiving,” Trippler said. A terrorist threat or incident could be the wild card, although the foiled bomb plot in London in August didn’t seem to slow demand, Trippler said.

About 55 million people plan to travel by air this holiday season, according to a September poll by Harris Interactive for Expedia. Of those adults, 80% plan to travel as much or more than they did last year during the holidays.

Fuel prices may be dropping, but airfares probably won’t, Trippler said, largely because of increased demand.

So, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your travel dollar and avoid some of the hassles associated with traveling at this busy time of year.

Make reservations sooner than later. There may be last-minute deals, but there are no guarantees, and they probably won’t be as good as in years past, Trippler said. His advice: If you see an airfare that seems reasonable, buy it now.

The same goes for hotels. Rates are through the roof at many popular holiday destinations such as New York, and availability is already limited, said McGinnis of Expedia Travelwatch.

Be flexible to get the best airfare. Travel on off-peak days, such as the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and consider coming back on Friday or Saturday. If you absolutely must be somewhere on a Monday, give yourself a day to get there. Crowded planes mean less availability if things go wrong.

“Should your flight be canceled for any reason or you miss it, the airlines will be glad to put you on the next available flight,” Trippler said. “The key is ‘available.’ The next flight might not be for the next few days.”

If you are looking for vacation deals, consider the “dead” weeks. Those are just after Thanksgiving and the New Year’s holiday. Travel generally is slow these weeks, and fares and hotels tend to be cheaper.

“If you’re flexible and can travel during that time, you can find some very good deals,” McGinnis said.

Why not start a new family tradition? After Thanksgiving dinner, gather ‘round the computer to find the best deals for the next week, he suggests.

Pack right for security. Keep up-to-date on changing security rules for luggage by visiting the TSA’s website, www.tsa.gov, or by calling your airline, said Susan Foster, author of “Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler.” Current rules allow toiletries (3 ounces or less) to be carried on board in 1-quart plastic bags. Bottled water and other drinks purchased beyond security in so-called sterile areas are also now permitted.

Almost half the travelers in the Harris Interactive survey said they planned to take gifts with them on airplanes, and 22% planned to wrap them.

Bad idea.

“Don’t even think about wrapping gifts to take with you if you’re traveling,” Foster said. TSA employees may unwrap them to see what’s inside, whether they are in carry-on or checked bags. Foster recommends giving gift cards.

Consider a cruise. Demand is off this year even for the peak Christmas period, especially for the Caribbean and some Mexican Riviera voyages, said Michael Driscoll, editor of industry newsletter Cruise Week.

“For the first time in years, there [are] bargains over the holidays,” he said.

He attributed part of the drop-off to concern about new passport rules for the Caribbean and Mexico. Changes were to have gone into effect this year but were postponed.

Beginning Jan. 8, U.S. citizens traveling by air between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda must carry a passport, but those traveling by sea and land do not need one until June 1, 2009.

New rules for travelers on land and sea could take effect by Jan. 1, 2008. By then, the State Department plans to have a new credit card-size “passport card” to be used only for land and sea travelers. It would cost $20 for adults and $10 for children (excluding a $25 processing fee) versus $97 and $82, respectively, for a passport.

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james.gilden@latimes.com