Is the first flight of the day less likely to be delayed?

Going's travel experts shared Department of Transportation data with Thrillist that 86% of morning flights between 6 and 7 am arrive on time, while only 66% of flights between 10 and 11 pm arrive on time. That means booking a morning flight gives you a serious advantage over later travel.



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Flights that departed before 6 a.m. and from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. were nearly as good. Delay times increase from there. After 8 a.m., for every hour later you depart, the average delay time increases by about one minute. The average delay time peaks at 20.7 minutes from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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Flight tracking apps and websites — FlightAware, Flightstats, and Flight Radar all track the departure and arrival of most commercial flights and are, without doubt, the best websites to check if your flight has been delayed, cancelled or diverted.

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If there is a flight delay of 2 hours, the airline staff will usually provide you with vouchers that can be redeemed at local airport restaurants and snack bars.

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If you arrive at your destination within 1 hour of your original scheduled arrival time, you will not be compensated. If you arrive at your destination between 1 to 2 hours after your original arrival time, you will be compensated for 200% of your one-way ticket price or a $775 maximum.

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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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Tuesday was the clear winner with the least cancellations and the least flight delays, with Monday close behind. According to the study, the best days of the week to fly are Tuesday and Monday, and the worst days of the week to fly are Thursday and Friday.

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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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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.

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Revealed: the airlines that had the fewest delays in 2022
  • Japan Airlines, 88 percent.
  • LATAM Airlines, 86.31 percent.
  • Delta Air Lines, 83.63 percent.
  • Avianca SA, 48 percent.
  • Emirates, 81.30 percent.
  • United Airlines, 80.46 percent.
  • Qatar Airways, 78.32 percent.
  • American Airlines, 78.29 percent.


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While pilots can't actually see turbulence, they often know what is coming up, thanks to reports from other planes, weather reports, and radar equipment. However, clear air turbulence (severe turbulence occurring in cloudless areas) can sometimes catch pilots off guard.

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Airports with highest turbulence
Severe turbulence from mountain waves tends to be stronger than from jet streams, also contributing to a higher average value. The most turbulent airport of 2022: Xigazê, Tibet.

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If a delay in your first flight is the reason you're missing your connection, don't worry too much. Usually, most airlines will rebook you on the next flight, and that too for free. Although, you might have to fly on standby depending on seat availability.

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You're legally entitled to get compensation if the cancellation is the airline's responsibility and both the following apply: the replacement flight delays your arrival by 2 or more hours. your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure.

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