Avoid Flight Delays

The likelihood of your flight taking off on time depends on several factors that are outside of your control. Flight delays are often due to weather or mechanical issues that you cannot avoid. However, there are steps that you can take to reduce the chances that you will be stuck in an airport waiting for your flight to board and take off. Avoid flight delays by booking your airline tickets strategically and flying on certain days and at specific times. You can also decrease the odds of a delay by giving yourself ample time at the airport.

Steps

Choosing a Flight

  1. Book the earliest flight whenever possible. Over the course of a night, airlines often have some time to catch up on delayed flights from the previous day. This means that any delays from the previous day of travel tend to resolve themselves early in the morning. As a result, morning flights have the highest probability of flying out on time.[1]
    • Avoid the last flight out at all costs. Flight delays have a ripple effect. This means that if you're flying on the last flight out of an airport, you have the highest probability of encountering a delay. If the last flight out is delayed, you run the risk of having to stay overnight at the airport.[2]
    • If you tend to sleep in a lot, you may want to try and find a flight in the late afternoon. You don't want to miss your flight entirely!
  2. Schedule flights for the middle of the week to avoid traffic. Airports tend to have lower traffic on Tuesdays and Wednesdays than they do during the beginning or end of a week. The lower number of flights means that your plane has a better chance of not getting stuck in traffic on the runway.[3]
  3. Fly non-stop routes to avoid layover delays. You're more likely to encounter delays if you need to stop at an additional airport in between your point of departure and final destination.[4] Avoiding connecting flights is an easy way to reduce the probability of a delay. Choose a point-to-point flight to reduce the likelihood of a delay even further.
    • Point-to-point flights refer to flights that fly directly between the destination and the point of departure. They are less likely to encounter a delay because there are fewer mitigating factors involved for the airline.[5]
  4. Don't fly during notoriously busy travel periods. Thanksgiving week, spring break, and the week between Christmas and New Year's Day are busier than usual. The chance of a delay always increases during these holiday seasons. If you have to, try to fly out either well in advance of a holiday, or on the day of the holiday itself.[6]
    • If you have to fly during a holiday season, consider flying out on the day of the holiday itself. Most air travelers will be with family on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, so you'll have fewer passengers to worry about.[7]
  5. Try to book your flight when the weather is fair. While predicting the weather is often a difficult and unreliable task, you can always try to book your flight during a good season for travel. Generally speaking, delays are more likely during winter months. Think about what the weather is likely going to be during the time of the year that you want to schedule your flight.[8]
    • If you're in an area that often has heavy fog in the mornings, book your flight for later in the afternoon. Heavy fog is a common cause of flight delays.
    • Thunderstorms are more likely to occur in the afternoon, so try to fly early during the rainy seasons.[9]

Picking an Airport

  1. Fly out of smaller airports to avoid traffic-related delays. Flying in and out of major airports, such as Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and London's Heathrow Airport, increases the chance of delays. If there's a smaller airport nearby, consider flying there instead. You're less likely to run into delays at a smaller airport.[10]
    • There are several independent websites that can help when it comes to researching an airport. The Federal Aviation Administration's Command Center and FlightStats keep records of delays and security issues for most major airports.[11]
  2. Research the rules and requirements of your airport so you're prepared. Almost all airports publish their procedures online. Look up the check-in procedures for a specific airport ahead of time to reduce the possibility that you'll miss your flight. Knowing whether or not you'll need to transfer terminals or check your bag ahead of time will help you get to the gate on time.[12]
    • Look at reviews online. People that frequently fly out of a particular airport may be able to give you some tips about a specific airport's procedures or delays.
  3. Choose an airport that's closer to your destination if you have options. There is less of an opportunity for a delay if you shorten the distance between your departure and final destination. Consider choosing the shortest possible route if you have several equidistant airports nearby.[13]

Moving Efficiently at the Airport

  1. Arrive 2-3 hours before your scheduled flight. Airports can be chaotic when they're busy. You'll want to make sure that you don't miss your flight by showing up to the airport well in advance of your flight.[14]
    • A good rule of thumb is to give yourself 2 hours for domestic flights, and 3 hours for international flights.[15]
    • You can ensure that you don't miss your flight during busy travel periods by giving yourself extra time to get to the airport and get through security.[16]
  2. Obey all baggage and carry-on restrictions to avoid missing your flight. Avoid holding up your own flight by making sure that you won't get stopped at security. Make sure that your carry-on and personal item are allowed by your airline, and don't overpack.
    • Pack carry-on luggage loosely so that it can be scanned and searched easily.
    • Take off your shoes, coat, and metal accessories while waiting in line at security. Keep your identification and boarding pass handy.
  3. Don't check a bag if you're worried about delays. Tracking down a lost bag is complicated by a delayed flight. Your luggage may end up lost, or stranded somewhere when you need it most. If you want to ensure that you always have access to your belongings, try to avoid checking a bag.[17]

Tips

  • Be prepared for delays, even if you have done everything you can to avoid them. Carry your cell phone, reading material, and any prescriptions onto the plane with you, in case you are stuck on the runway for an extended period of time.
  • Remember to check the status of your flight regularly. Make sure it is on time by calling the airline or checking online before you leave for the airport.

Related Articles

References

  1. ↑ http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/07/25/fly.on.time/index.html
  2. ↑ https://www.travelersunited.org/5-ways-to-avoid-flight-delays/
  3. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnnyjet/2018/01/15/5-tips-for-booking-last-minute-travel/#31f856ce5a32
  4. ↑ https://www.travelersunited.org/5-ways-to-avoid-flight-delays/
  5. ↑ https://aeronauticsonline.com/the-airline-economics-of-the-bicycle-wheel-point-to-point-vs-hub-and-spoke-flying/
  6. ↑ https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/seaney/2018/08/21/thanksgiving-flights/1041369002/
  7. ↑ https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/seaney/2018/08/21/thanksgiving-flights/1041369002/
  8. ↑ http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/07/25/fly.on.time/index.html
  9. ↑ http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/07/25/fly.on.time/index.html
  10. ↑ https://www.smartertravel.com/the-insanely-clever-new-way-to-avoid-flight-delays/
  11. ↑ http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/07/25/fly.on.time/index.html
  12. ↑ http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/07/25/fly.on.time/index.html
  13. ↑ https://www.smartertravel.com/choosing-airport-10-reasons-look-beyond-price/
  14. ↑ http://time.com/5290713/how-early-get-to-airport/
  15. ↑ http://time.com/5290713/how-early-get-to-airport/
  16. ↑ https://www.travelersunited.org/5-ways-to-avoid-flight-delays/
  17. ↑ https://www.wisebread.com/9-ways-to-avoid-or-mitigate-flight-delays
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