Smartest Ways to Dodge Flight Delays
No matter how organized you are, how early you arrive at the airport, or how carefully you plan, there’s one thing you can’t control (besides the weather): a flight delay. While delays are often out of our hands, there are a few ways to reduce your chances of encountering one. By following these tips, you’ll be less likely to find yourself stuck at the gate, staring at the departure board and waiting for “delayed” to finally switch back to “on time.”
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1. Book Early Morning Flights
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2. Choose Nonstop Flights Whenever Possible
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3. Research the Most Reliable Airlines and Airports
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4. Avoid Peak Travel Times
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5. Check the Weather
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6. Choose the Right Airport and Connection Strategy
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7. Always Plan Buffer Time
Early morning flights are less likely to be delayed, as most of them are the first flights of the day, meaning the airplane has been at the airport since the night before. Flights later in the day are more likely to be delayed due to the domino effect: if one flight is delayed, they all tend to be delayed as well. Plus, early morning flights tend to be cheaper and less crowded, so it’s a win-win.
Avoiding connections can also help your chances of avoiding a delay. Every connection adds risk—you never know what the weather will be like at your connecting airport. Even with early morning flights, it’s likely to be later when you arrive at your connecting airport, increasing your risk of a delay. If your only option is a connecting flight, try to find a smaller connecting airport and avoid cities that are more likely to experience weather delays (such as northern towns in winter or southern cities during hurricane season).
Traveling with the most reliable airlines and airports will also lessen the likelihood of a delay. Check the Department of Transportation’s statistics on the airlines and airports with the fewest delays. At the time of publication, Hawaiian, Spirit, and Delta were the top three airlines with the fewest number of delays.
Kahului Airport in Maui, Washington Dulles, Salt Lake City International Airport, and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport were among the best for on-time departures. You may want to avoid connecting at any of the three major airports in the New York City area, JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark, which consistently have some of the most delays in the country.
This is relatively straightforward: the more people travel, the more likely it is that delays will occur. Weekends, holidays, and major travel seasons (summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas) see the highest delays, and while you may find yourself wanting to travel during these peak times, your best bet is to get those early morning flights and avoid traveling on Fridays and Sundays.
While you can’t control the weather, keeping an eye on the forecast can help you prepare for potential delays or cancellations. If a major storm is expected, many airlines allow you to proactively change your flight for free to get out before the bad weather hits.
Bigger airports tend to have more delays and longer security lines, so consider connecting through smaller airports to ensure a smooth transfer. Allow yourself at least 90 minutes to connect, so if you experience a delay, you won’t miss your connecting flight.
While following these tips may help you avoid a delay, many scenarios are beyond your control. The best way to remain stress-free when experiencing a delayed flight is to have time. As mentioned above, give yourself a long connection time, at least 90 minutes, but preferably more. If you are traveling for an event, ensure you book a flight that arrives at least a day before the event, so that if there is a delay, you won’t miss it.