8 Things to Know About Flight Delays Before the Trip
We asked travel experts to share what many inexperienced passengers don’t know about flight delays and their advice for understanding the process. After all, knowledge is power.
You can track your airplane.
It’s useful to download the mobile app of the airline you’re flying with in order to receive notifications about gate changes and delays before they are announced on airport screens. But you can also use it to track a plane’s journey before it arrives at the airport and predict possible flight delays.
In airline apps, you can usually see exactly where the plane departed from and whether it arrived on time.
There are also a number of non-airline apps and websites that allow you to keep tabs on your flight and previous departures. All you need is your flight number, airline and departure date.
Additionally, just checking an aircraft’s posted flight status with a simple Google search can also provide more information than you might think.
Earlier flights are less likely to get delayed.
Later flights rely on crew members and possibly even the aircraft itself for the previous leg and are therefore more susceptible to delays. In other words, a delay on an early flight may have a “ripple effect”, causing subsequent flights to be delayed as well. We recommend that you book the first departure flight possible to avoid delays earlier in the day.
So if you hate flight delays more than you hate waking up at dawn, choose an early morning flight. Being able to track your plane can also give you peace of mind when you’re on a morning flight.
Of course, morning flights are not immune to delays and other issues. But even if your morning flight does go wrong or ends up being canceled, you usually have more options to get to your destination the same day, whereas a late afternoon or evening flight cancellation usually means you have to travel home or to your hotel, and return to the airport the next day.
Flying nonstop also offers better odds.
In addition to booking an early flight, you can also avoid delays by choosing direct flights whenever possible. Direct flights reduce the chance of delays because there are fewer flights involved.
Direct flights may cost more, but you won’t have to go to as many airports and gates. You’ll also avoid worrying about missing your connection if your first flight is delayed. If you crave peace of mind and can’t stand delays, it might be worth spending a little extra.
That being said, nonstop isn’t always an option.In these cases, you can strategically choose your stopovers based on time and location. Try to leave at least an hour between flights. You should also try to connect through a city that has many flights to your final destination.
Choose a route that’s available multiple times throughout the day and you’ll have a greater chance of quickly rebooking on another flight.
Paying attention to weather patterns can help.
Another way to deal with flight delays is to consider weather conditions. This will also affect your choice of flight connections.
As your trip approaches, you may want to pay attention to weather conditions at your departure and arrival airports, as well as along your flight route. Knowing ahead of time about severe storms can help you anticipate potential delays, especially during the holidays when winter storms are a concern.
Weather issues in other parts of the country can also have a ripple effect on flights across the country, including places not directly affected. Of course, weather isn’t the only reason for delays.
Even in clear weather conditions, airlines may still face delays and cancellations due to inbound flight disruptions, staffing issues, technical issues or other unforeseen circumstances, so don’t let clear skies stop you from staying alert,
You can check the on-time percentage for your flight when you book.
Federal regulations require airlines to share on-time flight performance data on their websites. So when you’re planning a trip, you can usually see how often a particular flight arrives on time. Understandably, you may want to choose one with a higher punctuality rate.
If you can’t easily find this data on the airline website, there are other places where this information is posted, including FlightAware and FlightStats.
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics website also provides statistics on airline and airport delays so you can better understand the situation before buying a ticket.
It’s important to know your rights.
Even though air travel makes you feel like a cow being put out to pasture, you actually do have rights as a passenger. The Department for Transport website outlines your rights during airport or tarmac delays.
Passengers are also entitled to receive the latest information from their airlines about flight delays, so if you feel it’s been a while since you’ve received an update, feel free to ask what’s going on.
You might be entitled to money.
Be sure to always check the airline’s terms and conditions because most of the time, you can always find a way to recoup most of your costs when your flight is delayed.
In fact, eligible passengers traveling in the EU are entitled to compensation for flight delays of three hours or more. Your travel insurance plan may also include compensation for a certain amount of delay, so check the fine print.
The airline is obligated to refund your refund in the form of money, not miles or airline points, so ask for cash if you prefer this option. Depending on the circumstances, airlines are also obliged to cover costs incurred as a result of delays or cancellations (such as food and hotel accommodation).
Additionally, some travel rewards credit cards include travel delay protection, so you can be reimbursed for expenses the airline doesn’t cover. If you book your trip through a third-party travel planner, be careful about the plan you choose. For example, apps like Hopper offer compensation or free rebooking options for flights delayed by more than an hour.
Delays happen. Build in a buffer for important trips and don’t take it out on airport workers.
Sometimes the risks of traveling are high. You might be flying out for a weekend wedding, or trying to get home for the holidays for the first time in years. In these situations, it can be helpful to establish a buffer to avoid delays that derail your plans.
If you can, try to build some flexibility into your schedule, especially over the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays. It’s always a good idea to buffer an extra day or so, in case there are disruptions to your trip, to ensure you can make it in time for any holiday festivities.
Delays are normal, especially during peak travel seasons. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are the busiest days of the year, and the air travel industry is still recovering from staff shortages.
No matter what happens on your flight, taking your frustrations out on airport staff probably won’t make your experience any more pleasant.