What determines flight times?

Airlines are big into data analysis, so a complex algorithm takes various data and formulates a reasonable block time for a flight. Factors such as average taxi out and in, average en-route time, chronic air traffic delays, and the like are considered in the calculation of the block time, says Wolford.



Flight times are determined by a complex interplay of distance, wind speed, aircraft performance, and air traffic control (ATC) routing. The most significant variable is the jet stream; a strong tailwind can shave an hour off a transatlantic flight, while a headwind can add just as much time. This is why flying from New York to London is usually faster than the return trip. Additionally, pilots must follow specific "highways in the sky" or airways dictated by ATC, which are rarely a perfectly straight line due to weather, restricted military airspace, or "no-fly zones." The aircraft's cruising speed (Mach number) and weight also play a role, as heavier planes may need to fly at lower, less fuel-efficient altitudes initially. In 2026, airlines also use "block time" to schedule flights, which includes a buffer for taxiing, de-icing, and potential airport congestion. This is why a flight might be listed as 3 hours even if the actual time in the air is only 2 hours and 20 minutes; the airline is padding the schedule to ensure on-time arrivals.

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Flight time is measured in hours and minutes as it is independent of geographic distance travelled. Flight time can be affected by many things such as wind, traffic, taxiing time, and aircraft used.

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Flight delays are so common, in fact, that statistics consider a flight to be “on time” as long as it's within 15 minutes of the time on your ticket. One pilot confessed to Reader's Digest that airlines exaggerate their times to make themselves look better.

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But airlines have the right to make changes and only owe you a refund in certain cases. Transportation Department regulations say airlines must give customers a full refund if they significantly change or delay their flight, and customers no longer want to take it.

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Everything on earth, not just the ground, but also the water (and even the atmosphere), is rotating in the same direction, Forbes reported. Since planes in the sky are being pulled eastward with the earth, it takes more time to go west. Think of it kind of like walking against the wind.

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Since the jet streams flow from west to east, they make one leg of the journey much faster (when flying with the stream) and one slower (against the stream). Imagine going downstream or upstream a river, or how it feels when you are cycling against the wind, as opposed to when you have it at your back.

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If airlines cancel a flight for any reason, passengers are legally entitled to a full refund, including for ticket price, taxes, baggage fees, extra charges and ancillary fees. Travelers must receive that refund within seven business days if they paid by credit card, and within 20 days if by cash or check.

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If airlines cancel a flight for any reason, passengers are legally entitled to a full refund, including for ticket price, taxes, baggage fees, extra charges and ancillary fees. Travelers must receive that refund within seven business days if they paid by credit card, and within 20 days if by cash or check.

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These days, many flight trackers provide real-time updates about a plane's location, altitude, and speed, and they can be used to monitor nearly all commercial and cargo flights, and even some private and military flights, too.

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Although air traffic controllers may not get free flights like flight attendants do, they still have attractive employee benefits. For example, their employers often give them permanent discounts which they can use to buy tickets and other products that the airport or a specific airline carries.

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Annual Pilot Salary Range
How Much Do Pilots Make an Hour? » According to The May 2021 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salary for commercial pilots is $99,640 per year. The median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers is $202,180.

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Instead, commercial pilots are paid per flight hour. Meaning a pilot is only paid while their airplane is running. A pilot's salary is calculated by multiplying the number of flight hours by their hourly rate. For example, the year 1 pay rate for an Envoy first officer is $90 per hour.

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