Let’s face it, air travel is not what it used to be. Flying has become quite stressful, especially if you experience a delay or cancellation (which seems to happen often these days). While weather and air traffic issues are out of your control, an article by Southern Living says there are elements under your control that can improve the travel experience. It spoke to an aviation expert about the worst and best times to fly.
The last flight of the day tends to be the worst. According to the article, “if you want to minimize disruptions, avoid the final departure of the day whenever possible.” It explains that air travel works like a chain reaction – when delays occur early in the day, they snowball over time, and by evening, there is often no chance of recovery. Additionally, the last flight of the day typically offers no backup options.
Early morning flights face their own difficulties. Many people think these are the safest because your plane is usually already there. However, staffing is generally limited early in the day, and this includes maintenance crews and customer service staff. So, if there is a problem, getting it resolved in a timely manner may be a challenge.
The day you fly also contributes to airport stress. Try to avoid Friday flights, which are often booked by both business and leisure travelers. This means they tend to be full, leaving little room in overhead bins, and often overbooked. If your schedule is flexible, you might be better off flying on Thursday or Saturday.
This all might leave you wondering, is there a good time to fly? Experts say mid-morning departures offer the best balance. They are “early enough to avoid cascading delays but late enough for full staffing and smoother operations.”
Do you have a preferred time of day to fly? Message The Seniors Trust on Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter) and let us know your experience with early morning and late night flights.
