How to Book a Delay-Proof Flight: The Smart Traveller’s Guide
What do you look for when booking the perfect flight? Price is an all-important factor, but what about choosing a flight more likely to arrive on time? Cancellations and delays have the potential to sour even the most carefully planned journey, so we’re going to show you how to plan the most reliable trip possible.
What Are the Best Times, Days & Months to Fly to Avoid Delays?
If you’re trying to avoid flight delays and cancellations, look for early morning and midweek departure times. Also, if you have the flexibility to choose which month to fly, stick to the shoulder seasons.
The Best Time of the Day: 6-7 AM
What’s the best time of day to fly to avoid delays? Look for flights that take off between 6-7 AM, or better yet, choose the first flight of the day.
In the early morning, the aircraft is usually cleaned, prepped and ready to go, and you’re much less likely to be affected by earlier flight disruptions. Also, if there’s a cancellation, then you have all day to get rebooked, and find your way to your destination.
If this is a little too early, then you’re probably safe choosing a departure time between 9 AM and 3 PM, which Expedia found to have the lowest cancellation rate, according to their recent 2024 report.
Expert Tip from Anton Radchenko, International Lawyer at Airadvisor: Flight delays are 50% more likely in the afternoon. The best way to avoid disruptions is to book the first flight of the day and choose direct routes whenever possible.
The Best Days of the Week: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Mid-week flights usually have fewer delays and cancellations because there is less passenger volume, and as a result, less congestion in the sky.
Air travel usually has a lull in the middle of the week, balanced by the busy hustle of Monday and Friday. Also, by choosing mid-week flights you can save money since Tuesday and Wednesday also happen to be the least expensive days to fly.
Which days should you avoid? Thursday and Friday are usually the days with the most flight disruptions, so try to avoid booking later in the week when planning your itinerary.
The Best Time of the Year: Shoulder Seasons
As a general rule, the busier the day or season, the more flight disruptions you’re likely to encounter. This certainly holds true when it comes to the best months to fly.
A January 2025 report by TravelPulse found that September, October, November, and February had the fewest disruptions, while July, May, and January had the most.
Are Direct Flights Less Likely to Have Delays?
Booking non-stop flights is probably one of the best ways to avoid flight disruptions, no matter what time, day, or month you actually travel. Every time you add an extra leg to a trip, you increase your chances of having an issue. Plus, one missed connection can lead to a cascade of ensuing flight problems.
So, try to pick direct flights to improve punctuality. If you have to connect, choose an airport that is less likely to cause delays, and remember to give yourself at least an hour between flights.
Select an Airline with a High On-Time Performance Score
Of course, your choice of airline will likely play the biggest role in whether or not your trip is interrupted. Every year, Cirium releases their on-time performance ranking for the most punctual carriers in the world. Last year, the most reliable airline in the EU for 2024 was Iberia Express, but you can see the winners in the table below.
The Most On-Time UK & EU Airlines
Airline | On-time Arrivals | On-time Departures |
84.69% | 86.72% | |
81.58% | 79.77% | |
81.40% | 82.72% | |
81.20% | 79.43% | |
79.23% | 79.58% |
Choose Airports with Fewer Flight Disruptions
An airline’s on-time performance is important when booking flights, but it’s equally important to choose an airport with a good reputation. Some say that bigger airports have fewer delays because they tend to have more staff and fewer issues with staffing shortages that impact flight turn-around times.
On the other hand, bigger airports usually have more congestion, which can easily lead to air traffic control restrictions.
To avoid these issues, opt for airports with better punctuality records. In the EU, for example, Stockholm Arlanda Airport had the highest on-time performance control, according to Eurocontrol, with 80% of flights departing on-time.
Book Flights with Weather in Mind
If you’re organizing a trip months in advance, you might have a tough time dodging thunderstorms or snow, but you can still track overall weather patterns to find the best time of year, region, and airport for arriving at your destination on-time.
January, for instance, has the highest rate of cancellations because of blizzards, while July and August tend to have more severe storms and crippling heat that can cause delays.
Steer clear of weather-related delays by booking flights in September and October.
Check for Airport and Airline Strikes
Airport and airline strikes typically take place during busier travel seasons, and workers will usually try to find a holiday with the most air traffic to make the most of their work stoppage. Not surprisingly, this tactic works!
If baggage handlers or other airport personnel decide to strike, it can have a lasting effect on flight performance for days or even weeks. If airline staff strike at the same time, it can spell disaster for anyone traveling on those dates.
So, as you’re booking your flight, scan the news and look for pending strikes that overlap with your travel days.
Take Advantage of AI Tools
Travel apps give passengers more options and information than ever before for planning itineraries and choosing the best flights. Here is a list of some apps to help you choose a flight that’s least likely to be delayed.
- Hopper - This platform provides AI tools to help you find the best times to book a flight and past trends for flight delays.
- Kayak - With Kayak, you can find insights on the most reliable flights based on past flight disruptions.
- SkyScanner - Use this app to search for the least delay-prone routes and connections.
To Sum Up
Flight disruptions might not be completely avoidable, but you can book a flight that will drastically reduce your chances of having cancellations and delays. If you’ve had a flight disruption, you might be entitled to compensation from the airline. Find out by entering your basic flight details below.
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