How to reduce risk of delays and canceled flights

So, did you fly anywhere for Thanksgiving?

Things were calm here in Peru, but I heard there were a lot of flight delays and cancelations in the US. How did you all do up there?

Here’s my top seven tips for how to reduce your risk of delays and cancelations.

1. Buy direct flights.

You have zero chance of missing your connection if you don’t have a connection. Just saying. I always take a direct flight if there’s one available. Even if it costs more, I think it’s worth it. Having to get off a plane and either run to catch another or sit around in an airport for a few hours is a big cost in my opinion. I’d rather shell out a bit more money though I often find that direct flights cost the same or even less.

2. Consider which airports you could connect in.

Some airports fare better than others in terms of how often travelers get stranded there. This can be either due to geography or to poor management. If it’s geography, consider if there’s somewhere else you could connect through. Dallas has the third most delayed flights in the US but Houston doesn’t even rank in the top ten.

The first year I lived in Istanbul I bought flights through Chicago to get back to Seattle or Boise. Then I got caught in a snowstorm and started buying my flights through Los Angeles. Yes, a direct Istanbul to Los Angeles flight is long (16 hours) but it’s so worth it. I’m much less likely to get stuck in LAX for bad weather delaying or canceling flights. If we’re looking at geography, look at weather maps while you’re at it. The worst airports in the US for weather delaying or canceling flights includes Houston, Chicago, New York and Boston.

3. Buy the earliest flight you can. 

I hate getting up at 4am too. It’s horrible but if I think it can save me from a horrible day of delayed flights, I’ll do it. As the day wears on, one flight delay bumps several others which each bump several others. You get the picture. The later in the day, the more likely your flight will be delayed or cancelled.

4. Buy your flight directly from the airline. 

I used to play the game of cheap fares with various websites and apps, but the extra $10 or $20 you save buying a cheaper fare is only worth it sometimes. The times it’s not worth it, it’s really not worth it. Third party websites and apps may save you a little up front, but they can’t save you like the airline can when the snow hits the fan.

I have more nightmare stories about third party websites and apps than I could possibly fit in a newsletter. Just take my word for it. Buy your flights directly from the airline. 

5. Download the airline’s app.

Regardless of how you bought the flight, download the airline’s app and upload your flight information. Most airline apps give you notifications if your boarding gate changes, if there are delays, and other essential information. They also have ways to report delayed or lost luggage directly to the airline and ways to contact them directly to reschedule or rebook flights.

Using apps are now safer than calling the customer service number that google feeds you because that has been hacked by scammers. Never give your credit card number or any personal information to somebody whose number you got online. Scammers get sneakier all the time.

6. Buy flights with a credit card that has travel benefits.

I’m not in the credit card recommendation racket, so I won’t tell you which card to get. However, you should be buying flights with a credit card that has travel benefits like insurance for lost or delayed luggage, automatic refunds for cancelled or significantly delayed flights, and other kinds of travel insurance. Always check the fine print on your credit card benefits.

7. If you’re flying to an important event, like a job interview or a wedding, go a day or two early.

Okay so this tip doesn’t really save you from a delay, it just makes the delay not matter so much. No matter where you’re flying, there’s sure to be something interesting to do or see before the big event. Go be a tourist or book yourself some time at the hotel spa. If your flight does get cancelled or delayed, at least you’ll still make it to the interview or wedding on time.

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