diff --git a/SportsTimeUITests/Framework/BaseUITestCase.swift b/SportsTimeUITests/Framework/BaseUITestCase.swift
index c394ab4..689b00e 100644
--- a/SportsTimeUITests/Framework/BaseUITestCase.swift
+++ b/SportsTimeUITests/Framework/BaseUITestCase.swift
@@ -118,25 +118,40 @@ extension XCUIElement {
         file: StaticString = #filePath,
         line: UInt = #line
     ) -> XCUIElement {
-        var scrollsRemaining = maxScrolls
-        while !exists || !isHittable {
-            guard scrollsRemaining > 0 else {
-                XCTFail("Could not scroll \(self) into view after \(maxScrolls) scrolls",
-                        file: file, line: line)
-                return self
+        if exists && isHittable { return self }
+
+        func attemptScroll(_ scrollDirection: ScrollDirection, attempts: Int) -> Bool {
+            var remaining = attempts
+            while (!exists || !isHittable) && remaining > 0 {
+                switch scrollDirection {
+                case .down:
+                    scrollView.swipeUp(velocity: .slow)
+                case .up:
+                    scrollView.swipeDown(velocity: .slow)
+                }
+                remaining -= 1
             }
-            switch direction {
-            case .down:
-                scrollView.swipeUp(velocity: .slow)
-            case .up:
-                scrollView.swipeDown(velocity: .slow)
-            }
-            scrollsRemaining -= 1
+            return exists && isHittable
         }
+
+        if attemptScroll(direction, attempts: maxScrolls) {
+            return self
+        }
+
+        let reverseDirection: ScrollDirection = direction == .down ? .up : .down
+        if attemptScroll(reverseDirection, attempts: maxScrolls) {
+            return self
+        }
+
+        XCTFail(
+            "Could not scroll \(self) into view after \(maxScrolls) scrolls in either direction",
+            file: file,
+            line: line
+        )
         return self
     }
 }
 
-enum ScrollDirection {
+enum ScrollDirection: Equatable {
     case up, down
 }
diff --git a/SportsTimeUITests/Framework/Screens.swift b/SportsTimeUITests/Framework/Screens.swift
index 0a55409..3322e78 100644
--- a/SportsTimeUITests/Framework/Screens.swift
+++ b/SportsTimeUITests/Framework/Screens.swift
@@ -74,7 +74,35 @@ struct HomeScreen {
 
     /// Taps "Start Planning" to open the Trip Wizard sheet.
     func tapStartPlanning() {
-        startPlanningButton.waitUntilHittable().tap()
+        let navTitle = app.navigationBars["Plan a Trip"]
+        let dateRangeMode = app.buttons["wizard.planningMode.dateRange"]
+
+        if navTitle.exists || dateRangeMode.exists {
+            return
+        }
+
+        func tapIfVisible(_ element: XCUIElement, timeout: TimeInterval) -> Bool {
+            guard element.waitForExistence(timeout: timeout), element.isHittable else { return false }
+            element.tap()
+            return true
+        }
+
+        _ = tapIfVisible(startPlanningButton, timeout: BaseUITestCase.defaultTimeout) ||
+            tapIfVisible(createTripToolbarButton, timeout: BaseUITestCase.shortTimeout)
+
+        if navTitle.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.shortTimeout) ||
+            dateRangeMode.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.shortTimeout) {
+            return
+        }
+
+        _ = tapIfVisible(createTripToolbarButton, timeout: BaseUITestCase.shortTimeout) ||
+            tapIfVisible(startPlanningButton, timeout: BaseUITestCase.shortTimeout)
+
+        XCTAssertTrue(
+            navTitle.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.defaultTimeout) ||
+                dateRangeMode.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.defaultTimeout),
+            "Trip Wizard should appear after tapping start planning"
+        )
     }
 
     /// Switches to a tab by tapping its tab bar button.
@@ -150,10 +178,21 @@ struct TripWizardScreen {
     /// Waits for the wizard sheet to appear.
     @discardableResult
     func waitForLoad() -> TripWizardScreen {
-        if navigationTitle.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.defaultTimeout) ||
-            planningModeButton("dateRange").waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.defaultTimeout) {
+        if navigationTitle.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.longTimeout) ||
+            planningModeButton("dateRange").waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.longTimeout) {
             return self
         }
+
+        // Fallback: if we're still on Home, trigger planning again.
+        let home = HomeScreen(app: app)
+        if home.startPlanningButton.exists || home.createTripToolbarButton.exists {
+            home.tapStartPlanning()
+            if navigationTitle.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.defaultTimeout) ||
+                planningModeButton("dateRange").waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.defaultTimeout) {
+                return self
+            }
+        }
+
         XCTFail("Trip Wizard should appear")
         return self
     }
@@ -169,6 +208,19 @@ struct TripWizardScreen {
     /// Selects the "By Dates" planning mode and waits for steps to expand.
     func selectDateRangeMode() {
         selectPlanningMode("dateRange")
+
+        if monthLabel.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.shortTimeout) ||
+            nextMonthButton.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.shortTimeout) {
+            return
+        }
+
+        // Retry once for occasional dropped taps under simulator load.
+        selectPlanningMode("dateRange")
+        XCTAssertTrue(
+            monthLabel.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.defaultTimeout) ||
+                nextMonthButton.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.defaultTimeout),
+            "Date range controls should appear after selecting planning mode"
+        )
     }
 
     /// Navigates the calendar to a target month/year and selects start/end dates.
@@ -178,6 +230,11 @@ struct TripWizardScreen {
         startDay: String,
         endDay: String
     ) {
+        // Ensure date controls are rendered before attempting calendar navigation.
+        if !monthLabel.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.shortTimeout) {
+            selectDateRangeMode()
+        }
+
         // First, navigate by month label so tests that assert month visibility stay stable.
         monthLabel.scrollIntoView(in: app.scrollViews.firstMatch)
         let targetMonthYear = "\(targetMonth) \(targetYear)"
@@ -560,8 +617,31 @@ struct SettingsScreen {
     // MARK: Assertions
 
     func assertLoaded() {
-        XCTAssertTrue(subscriptionSection.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.defaultTimeout),
-                       "Settings should show Subscription section")
+        if subscriptionSection.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.defaultTimeout) {
+            return
+        }
+
+        let proLabel = app.staticTexts["SportsTime Pro"]
+        let manageSubscriptionButton = app.buttons["Manage Subscription"]
+        if proLabel.exists || manageSubscriptionButton.exists ||
+            upgradeProButton.exists || restorePurchasesButton.exists {
+            return
+        }
+
+        // Retry tab switch once when the first tap doesn't switch tabs under load.
+        let settingsTab = app.tabBars.buttons["Settings"]
+        if settingsTab.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.shortTimeout), settingsTab.isHittable {
+            settingsTab.tap()
+        }
+
+        XCTAssertTrue(
+            subscriptionSection.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.defaultTimeout) ||
+                proLabel.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.shortTimeout) ||
+                manageSubscriptionButton.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.shortTimeout) ||
+                upgradeProButton.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.shortTimeout) ||
+                restorePurchasesButton.waitForExistence(timeout: BaseUITestCase.shortTimeout),
+            "Settings should show Subscription section"
+        )
     }
 
     func assertVersionDisplayed() {