Rushing to get to the airport, only to find out your flight is delayed can definitely be a frustrating start to a trip, and it happens all the time. Flying sucks when you're travel is messed up! The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that nearly 20% of flights in 2024 have been delayed, but there are things you can do to help avoid it happening to you.
According to AAA, when you're flying can make a big difference on how likely you are to have a delay. Just in time for the busy summer travel season, here’s what the travel experts recommend.
- Fridays and Sundays are busier travel days, which means delays are more likely. So, AAA advises flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, when airports aren’t so busy.
- You’re also more likely to score a good deal on flights on those days.
- Taking the first flight of the day can also help to ensure you won’t get delayed, and if you do have a cancellation or delay, you’ll have more flight options during the day to get you to your destination.
- Booking a nonstop flight can also help, since adding stops to your trip also increases the likelihood of delays.
- If you have to fly with a connection, experts say it’s best to leave yourself two hours between on domestic flights and three hours for international flights.
- Let technology help, as sites like OAG Aviation can advise which airlines and airports are the most on time.
- According to their annual review, the only U.S. airline that was in the top 20 for punctuality is Delta Airlines.
- OAG Aviation’s research finds that the best U.S. airports for punctuality are Minneapolis, Detroit, Tucson, Boise and Salt Lake City.
The Flight Industry Share Things Everyone Should Know About Flying
I was lucky. My dad was a commercial airline pilot for 35 years. He always preached how safe flying was and still is. I saw it first hand. While these days flying can be a hassle, there is still some mystery for travelers when it comes to what goes on behind the scenes. So what do you want to know about flying?
Now some experts are here to clue folks in on things they probably should know.
Someone posed the question on Reddit, “People who work in the airline industry, what are some things you think everyone should know about flying?,” and folks were glad to chime in with interesting, and sometimes helpful tidbits.
Responses include:
Source: BuzzFeed
Carry-on, and checked baggage can get expensive, but one woman on Tik Tok has found a hack for how to carry on more luggage, without having to pay those extra fees, and it’s all thanks to a neck pillow.
Carry-on luggage used to be included in traveling on airplanes, but many airlines will now offer cheaper tickets if you forgo certain luggage; this has caused many people to get creative with how they pack for their trips. I’ve seen some creative packing hacks but this one takes the cake!
Former pilot here
Turbulence will break your nose or your neck before it knocks the plane out of the sky. Buckle up when the light is on and take comfort in the fact that turbulence hasn’t crashed a plane since the 1970s.
Both pilots are equally qualified
The captain just has more responsibility and more experience (usually). We trade off who is flying and who is monitoring the radios every other flight (sometimes every two flights).
Lizzo attends the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony for Missy Elliot at Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 08, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
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There is very little we can actually do to 'make-up time
The longer the flight, the more we can do, but still, we're talking 5-10 minutes, not an hour.
There are no parachutes on commercial flights, so please stop asking.
Parachutes require training on how to use. Accidents rarely happen mid-air. Therefore, having them wouldn't make sense/be practical.
Interfering with the air crew is a felony
If you have grievances, you can address them with the airline after you disembark.
We fly with broken sh*t on the airplane all the time
We have a list that tells us what can be broken and still be able to fly safely and legally.
Your tastebuds are reduced by 30-60% on flights.
So more salt and seasoning are added to the food so it doesn't seem bland. Might also be the reason so many people crave tomato juice or bloody mary mix ONLY on planes.
Every bag gets thrown
The sorting system isn’t soft. Containers get filled by thrown bags. Get a good bag and stop worrying.
Do not wear a butt plug during your flight
I've seen some "unfortunate things" happen due to that.
