Why are some flights always late?

The two main reasons that flights can get delayed for a significant time are weather and maintenance/repair. Crew issues are a factor as well. Weather: Although thunderstorms can result in significant delays, they are generally done with or have passed through within an hour or two.



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Several possible reasons: different equipment (not every aircraft flies at the same speed) different routing. known seasonal changes in high altitude winds (which can prompt routing changes)

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“It is 'normal' to expect around 1 to 2 percent of flights to be canceled,” said Gary Leff, author of ViewFromTheWing.com. He added that around 20 to 25 percent of flights are late by at least 15 minutes, though it's harder to track the range of how delayed flights are.

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Sometimes flights take off late but still arrive on time. Here's how pilots make that happen. Pilots and their aviation team have some power to make up for lost time when a flight takes off late. If you feel like flights are running behind more often than before, you're not wrong.

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According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), there are tarmac delay rules that US airlines must follow: Carriers are not allowed to hold a domestic flight on the tarmac for more than three hours and an international flight for more than four hours, barring a couple of exceptions (like if the pilot deems it's ...

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“Roughly, you've got a 30% less chance of getting a long delay or cancellation if you go out in the morning,” said Kathleen Bangs, a former commercial airline pilot and current spokesperson for the flight-tracking site FlightAware.

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“It is 'normal' to expect around 1 to 2 percent of flights to be canceled,” said Gary Leff, author of ViewFromTheWing.com. He added that around 20 to 25 percent of flights are late by at least 15 minutes, though it's harder to track the range of how delayed flights are.

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Evidence suggests that the earlier in the day you fly, the less likely you'll be stuck with lengthy flight delays. If you do end up with time to kill because of a delay, here's how to make the most of it.

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In 1958, that Cessna 172 flew nonstop for 64 days, 22 hours and 19 minutes and covered 150,000 miles (240,000 kilometers). That's about six times around the Earth or 15 Sydney-New York flights without touching the ground, and still stands as a world record, according to the Guinness World Records.

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Hawaiian Airlines Flight HA 89 covers 8,199 km (4,427 NM) and takes 11 hours and 35 minutes to head to Honolulu from Boston. Meanwhile, the airline's A330-200 performs HA 51 to the same spot from New York JFK, taking 11 hours and 25 minutes to cover 8,020 km (4,330 NM).

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When a flight delay occurs, you are entitled to assistance and a choice between rerouting, reimbursement, or rebooking. If you arrive at your destination more than 3 hours after your scheduled arrival time, you are entitled to the same reimbursement, rerouting, and rebooking structure as a denied boarding.

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While rain has a very slim chance of canceling a flight, there can be a minor chance that rain will delay it. Rain is just water, no matter the pressure. Modern aircraft can generate lift regardless of the heaviness of the rain. Planes can and will take off and land in the rain.

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Jet aircraft can safely fly over thunderstorms only if their flight altitude is well above the turbulent cloud tops. The most intense and turbulent storms are often the tallest storms, so en route flights always seek to go around them.

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The length of the delay matters If the delay is less than an hour, proceed to the airport as planned. For two hours or less, Erika Richter, a spokeswoman for the American Society of Travel Advisors, errs on the side of caution and suggests arriving in time for your previously scheduled departure.

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According to aviation intelligence company FlightAware's data for 2022, the most canceled flights happen on Fridays, which has an average of 826 cancellations each week across the country, while the least are on Tuesdays, which has significantly less with 321 cancellations on average.

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According to aviation intelligence company FlightAware's data for 2022, the most canceled flights happen on Fridays, which has an average of 826 cancellations each week across the country, while the least are on Tuesdays, which has significantly less with 321 cancellations on average.

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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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In the United States, airlines are not required to compensate passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled. Compensation is required by U.S. law only when certain passengers are “bumped” from a flight that is oversold.

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The Loganair Westray to Papa Westray route is the shortest scheduled passenger flight in the world. Flights on the route are scheduled for one and a half minutes, and actual flying time is closer to one minute. The record for the fastest flight is 53 seconds.

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You're entitled to get compensation if the flight arrives more than 3 hours late and it's the airline's fault - for example, if they didn't get enough bookings or there was a technical fault.

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