Is it better to fly to London overnight or during the day?

The best time of day to fly to Europe, using the same example, is overnight or as early in the morning as possible. The flight time is about 7 hours, so if you do this, you'll arrive in London with most of the day ahead of you. And if you can sleep on the plane - even better.



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Based on flight status data, flights after 3 p.m. have a 50 percent higher chance of being canceled, on average, than those that depart earlier in the day. Early morning on-time performance is all thanks to the thin air traffic.

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Just like us after a night of good sleep, airline circulation is freshest in the morning. If your flight departs in the morning, you are less likely to be affected by delays that stack up during the day and push back or cancel departure times.

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Navigating at night can actually be much easier than during the day. Large conurbations and their associated street lights can be seen from miles away. Making it easy to pinpoint them and fly towards them. Roads are also much easier to pick out against the surrounding terrain.

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Late-night flights are usually cheaper (and less crowded!) Let's face it, spending a whole night on a plane is something not everyone is willing to do – you will after reading this – but the airlines still need to book as many seats as possible.

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Because of their late departure and early arrival, red-eye flights are often cheaper than flights scheduled for departure at other times in the day.

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In some areas, especially those with humid or highly changeable weather patterns, severe weather is less common in the cooler temperatures of night. In addition, with the air not as hot, the aircraft usually performs better, and in smoother air.

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Taking off late in the day allows airlines to maximize their overall revenue potential by optimizing their load factor and peak season demand. Flying overnight also gives travelers more time at their destination, while still allowing them to get there quickly and without wasting valuable vacation time.

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Use the flight to rest and reset. With a few hours of sleep during the transatlantic flight, you'll be functional the day you land. When the pilot announces the European time, reset your mind along with your wristwatch. Don't prolong jet lag by reminding yourself what time it is back home.

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Most people don't like the time wake-up times required to hit the earliest flights out of the airport, so a “first flight of the day” oftentimes offers less packed airplanes as well as easy breezy airport concourses. As a bonus, the early morning flights almost always have the best on-time records.

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Nighttime or morning flights are statistically better for turbulence, compared to those in the day. Although turbulence can't be completely avoided at night, winds are often weaker and thermal convection turbulence is less, making the chances of encountering turbulence reduced.

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While some might opt for staying awake, taking a short, rejuvenating nap can help you to get through the day feeling on top of things. If you can't take a short nap before the work day, tackling your most challenging tasks in the morning is the best option. Doing some light exercise can also be beneficial.

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Surprisingly this can change the price of your airfare dramatically. Flying at unpopular hours, such as the red-eye or early in the morning, instead of the late morning through afternoon, increases your chance of getting the best deal.

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There's no sugarcoating it: Airfare is expensive. And while waiting until the last minute might sound like a good idea, it typically is cheaper to book your flights in advance. We are seeing fewer last-minute deals than in years past, especially when it comes to flights, a Kayak spokesperson tells Travel + Leisure.

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Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date.

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Accident statistics suggest that flying by night accounts for about 10% of the general aviation accidents, but 30% of the fatalities.

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Generally, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best weekdays to fly. Thursday is a bit more expensive but still reasonable. Saturday is usually the cheapest weekend day to fly. That does not mean you cannot find great flight prices on the other days of the week.

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While it all comes down to your preferences, daytime flying has the upper hand when it comes to visibility. Because of the sunlight, any possible obstructions, such as rocks or mountains, are far easier to spot, making the likelihood of accidents much less and daytime flying the safer option by far.

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Do flights at night go faster? Generally speaking, winds are calmer during the night hours than during the day. Less headwind means a faster groundspeed.

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