Avoid Delays at the Airport
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
Delays are an inevitable part of travel. Anyone who claims to know how to avoid them completely is lying. It is simply not feasible to have a smooth, on-time trip every time you fly. Sometimes it might seem like any timely travel is an impossibility.
While delays, crowds, and unexpected schedule changes are a part of traveling by airplane, there are ways to lessen the chance that you will fall victim to delays.
1. Check you flight’s status online. You can start watching your flight’s status hours before your departure. Check right up until you leave your home for the airport. If you can use your cell phone to access the internet, you can continue to check until departure time. Catching a delay early can be the difference between waiting at the gate for an hour or waiting in the comfort of your own home. Or, at the very least, finding a comfortable place to wait such as a restaurant or coffee shop, as opposed to the gate.
2. Fly at non-peak times. Early morning and late night flights have a much higher on time percentage than midday flights. Getting in on the first few flights of the day means you will not have to worry about backed up runways or other planes causing delays.
3. Check in early. If you can check in online, do so. The earlier you get your boarding pass, the better off you will be. The last people to check in are the first people to get bumped if the flight is overbooked.
4. Do a little research. If the unspeakable happens and your flight is canceled or you get bumped from a full flight, know where you stand. Check airline’s schedule to see when and if there are other flights to you destination. If you do this before you leave, you will be able to know what to ask for (or demand) from airline staff trying to get you on another flight.