The holidays are just around the corner, leading to some of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Flight delays are extremely common at this time of year, especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Flying can already be a stressful experience, but delays can make it even more of a hassle.
Some of the best ways to avoid flight delays are to book with an airline with a high rate of on-time flights and to book a flight early in the morning — statistically speaking, it’s much less likely to be delayed than one later in the day.
According to new data from UpgradedPoints, these are the U.S. airlines that are most likely to experience flight delays right now.
1. Frontier Airlines
The worst airline for flight delays right now is Frontier Airlines. Flights with this budget carrier have a 31.9% chance of being delayed.
Rather than roll the dice and risk an almost 1-in-3 chance of having your flight delayed, it’s better to choose a more reliable airline for flights this winter.
Frontier is also currently facing other issues, including a class-action lawsuit over the airline’s $599 “unlimited flight” pass that was launched earlier this year.
2. Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines had a massive meltdown last year right around Christmas, leading to thousands of flight delays and cancellations.
Many travelers questioned whether booking with Southwest was safe in light of the total operations failure. And while it’s likely that Southwest will be working extra hard to avoid a repeat incident this winter, you may not want to take your chances.
And according to historical data, Southwest flights still have a 31.8% chance of being delayed, making the airline almost as unreliable as Frontier.
3. JetBlue
Another less-than-reliable airline with a high chance of delayed flights is JetBlue. This New York-based carrier does not have the best track record when it comes to on-time flights.
Although it’s not quite as bad as Frontier or Southwest, flying on JetBlue means that you still have a whopping 30.8% chance of flight delays when you travel.
4. Allegiant Air
Next up on the list of airlines likely to have delays is Allegiant Air. This budget airline is not particularly reliable, so even though you may save money booking your flight, you might also have to contend with unexpected delays.
Allegiant Air flights have a 29.2% chance of being delayed.
5. Spirit Airlines
Finally, we have Spirit Airlines. Although this budget carrier is the butt of many jokes for being a less-than-ideal way to travel, it’s actually not as bad as some other U.S. airlines when it comes to delays.
When flying with Spirit, you have a 28.1% chance of experiencing a flight delay.
Which Airlines Have The Least Delays?
So now that you know which airlines are most likely to experience flight delays right now (and which airlines to avoid!), here are the airlines with the least delays.
Although you might be tempted by ultra-low fares with an airline like Frontier or Spirit, it can be worth the extra money to book with a more reliable airline.
Here are the top three airlines with the least delays right now:
Alaska Airlines: 20.3% chance of delay
Delta Air Lines: 19.1% chance of delay
Hawaiian Airlines: 15.6% chance of delay
Flights can be delayed for many reasons, including problems with the aircraft, staffing issues, weather, and more, but these three airlines experience the fewest delays.
There’s no surefire way to avoid flight delays (as nice as that would be!), but you can check out this guide for some more tips on how to escape the dreaded delay or cancellation.
If you’re planning to travel to Hawaii this summer then you’ll be in good company. The number of travelers visiting Hawaii this year is expected to exceed 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
Hawaii is a notoriously popular vacation destination and for good reason. Offering sun, sea, sand, and amazing sites, there’s no better place to relax and unwind.
But when a destination is popular, that inevitably means that you will encounter crowds during your trip. Particularly at the airport.
Anticipating high passenger volumes, The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is offering some key advice to travelers departing from Hawaii’s airports this summer, to make your journey go as smoothly as possible.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Leave Plenty of Time For Security
When airports are busy, it takes more time for TSA to process travelers efficiently.
The TSA are advising that, during peak travel periods, there may be times when the number of passengers who need to be screened is greater than the capacity of the security screening checkpoint.
In these circumstances, you may be asked to wait upwards of 30 minutes before you are invited to pass through the security screening checkpoint.
To avoid missing your flight, therefore, you should arrive at the airport earlier than you might normally, leaving plenty of time to pass through security.
This will be easier if you plan ahead: Think about how you will get to the airport, know your flight information, and be ready for each step of the airport travel process.
The busiest times at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) checkpoints are between 10 am and 2 pm, and then again between 5 pm and 8 pm.
If you are keen to avoid the queues and the crowds then try to plan your flight so that you travel outside of these times.
As an added benefit, very early morning and late-night flights tend to be a little cheaper than their peak-time counterparts.
You might also wish to consider flying out of your chosen Hawaii airport on either a Tuesday or a Wednesday. This is because the busiest days to travel both locally and nationally are Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday.
Register For TSA PreCheck
If you don’t want to wait around in the regular security check line, you might consider enrolling in TSA PreCheck.
This is a program that speeds up the airport security checkpoint screening process by allowing travelers to keep on their shoes, belt, and light outerwear. They can also keep their laptop and travel-sized liquids in their carry-on bag.
More than 15 million Americans are enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program and children up to the age of 17 can use the TSA PreCheck lane when they are traveling with a parent or guardian who is registered to the scheme.
If you are already registered and eligible to use TSA PreCheck then make sure that you know your Known Traveler Number (KNT) and that your airline profile is up-to-date with this information.
You can then pass through the TSA PreCheck lane at the airport security checkpoint. TSA agents aim to process travelers using this lane within 5 minutes.
Be Prepared
If you’ve passed through airport security before then you’ll already know the drill: remove your shoes and belt, take your electronics and liquids from your bag, and empty your pockets.
Don’t wait until you’re at the front of the queue to start this process: be prepared before you enter the queue so that you can get through as quickly as possible.
If you’re unsure about what you can and can’t take through security in your carry-on, advice from the TSA is that you download the MyTSA app and use the ‘What Can I Bring?’ feature to assist with your packing.
If you need real-time assistance then @AskTSA is available on Twitter for advice.
We all know that sinking feeling. You hear your flight number in the dreaded delay announcement over the PA system – or worse, a cancellation. You’re going to miss your connection to sunny paradise.
It’s a stressful, time-sucking start to what was supposed to be a relaxing summer holiday.
As the summer travel season kicks off, travelers are getting nervous about the trademark peak crowds and cancellations at airports all over the world.
Since there’s nothing to be done about severe weather events or airline-issued cancellations, what can anyone do to ensure their trip runs as smoothly as possible?
Travelers can strategically avoid traveling through the worst U.S. airports for delays and cancellations in May.
Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
Late last year, DFW was named the best large airport in North America by Airports Council International. But lately, it’s been causing serious travel headaches for passengers.
Earlier this spring, 28.5% of flights were significantly delayed or canceled, with many travelers experiencing missed connections and overnight stays for rebooked flights. This represents a significant increase from last year’s 22.8% disruption rate.
While flight cancellations have come down from 4.6% to 1.3% over the past three months, delays and missed connections remain a serious problem.
A significant portion of DFW delays can’t be predicted or resolved. Weather in this region is notoriously unpredictable, from unforeseen winter heat waves to sudden April hail storms.
May also sits in the middle of peak tornado time for the North Texas region, with 26 tornadoes so far this season. The 2023 tornado season is predicted to be especially active. Travelers can expect severe weather related disruptions out of Dallas this month and next.
Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of air travel support service AirHelp, confirmed in a recent comment that DFW delays are a combination of severe weather and staffing problems.
While DFW airport has been catching up with hiring this year after almost two years of severe understaffing issues, DFW-based airlines are still behind the curve.
Since last year, both Southwest and American Airlines have been dealing with pilot shortages, union negotiations, and picketing at DFW.
Last week, pilots for the DFW-based American Airlines voted to authorize a strike, which could create walkout-related delays for DFW passengers in the coming weeks or months.
Pilot shortages have forced some route closures between Dallas and other US cities earlier this year. On top of it all, American recently slashed over 5,000 DFW flights from its summer schedule.
These cuts have put increased pressure on the remaining American routes, as well as other DFW airlines picking up American’s slack to meet passengers’ high demand for summer travel.
John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Many travelers look to New York for affordable international flights to Europe and Asia. However, the cost is not worth the cancellation risk this summer.
Flight Aware ranks JFK among the airports with the highest cancellation rates in April, a trend that is likely to continue into May.
The FAA urges travelers to prepare for disruptions out of New York, predicting a 45% increase in cancellation rates from east coast airports like JFK this summer.
Staffing struggles are one of the only remaining holdovers from the pandemic in US airports. In New York, a shortage of air traffic controllers will continue to drive delays for flights taking off or landing in NYC, including those connecting to popular international destinations this summer.
New York’s air traffic controller shortage is exacerbated by both lacks of maintenance staff and persistent pilot scarcity.
San Francisco International (SFO)
Passengers can expect delays at SFO throughout May due to ongoing runway repairs.
A spokesperson for SFO commented last week: “This is expected to result in slightly longer taxi times for departing aircraft to reach the open runways,” Yakel said.
While delays related to runway repairs are only ranging from 15-60 minutes for now, regional weather conditions like heavy winds and fog continue to cause longer delays, cancellations, and even ground stops out of San Francisco International this season.
Nearly a quarter of flights out of SFO are experiencing significant delays, while 1% of SFO flights have been canceled. In the last week of April, there were 94 cancellations.
We can expect these disruption patterns to continue this month out of San Francisco, affecting regional travel to US, Canada, and Mexico, as well as international routes to Asia.
Travelers can avoid these top three U.S. airports for delays and cancellations this month. Instead, they can opt for direct flights out of low-disruption airports, and long delay-proof layovers in the best airports in the U.S. for stopovers.
Throughout 2022, many U.S. carriers struggled to keep up with an increasing demand for international travel, letting millions down by delaying or cancelling thousands of flights on the daily. Fortunately for customers, one airline in particular has proven to be far more reliable than its competitors, boasting the least delays in North America right now.
Now that over 70% of the world is open restriction-free, and the health crisis is waning across a majority of Western countries, airlines are benefitting from a much-needed surge in flight bookings. The only downside to it? They are also facing severe staff shortages and other operational issues that have got in the way of a full recovery.
Travelers have effectively played russian roulette booking flights in 2022, but some airlines’ performance was markedly worse than others:
The Best And Worst Airlines For 2022
If you’re looking to avoid excessively long delays or last-minute cancellations with limited customer support to top it off, perhaps you should be narrowing down your options to a triad of airlines with an on-time performance of at least 80% for 2022 – or, for the utmost safety and lowest risk of delays, the best-rated carrier this year: Delta Air Lines.
According to the latest data compiled by Cirium, a trusted aviation data analytics company, Delta is the best-performing airline in the United States this year with 84.10% of flights departing on time. In comparison, Air Canada, the worst-performing airline in North America as a whole, managed to fulfill their schedule in only 55.56% of operations.
On top of that, research conducted by CasinoBonusCA concluded Air Canada passengers have the highest chance of losing their belongings, dealing a further blow to the once-respected company. The embarassing record of delays and luggage mishandlement has led the flag-carrier to be snubbed at the 2022 World’s Best Airline Awards.
Over summer, the peak of the staffing constraint crisis, Air Canada infamously canceled over 9000 flights, wrecking vacation plans and plummeting to new historical lows in satisfaction rates they have yet to bounce back from. Delta was not immune to industry woes, either, but it’s clear now it’s managed to stave off the worst impacts.
Delta’s On-Time Performance Is Truly Rekarmable
The ranking for airlines with the least and most delays in North America, and their on-time arrival percentage, can be seen in full below:
Delta – 84.10%
Alaska – 81.42%
United – 81.26%
American – 78.77%
Southwest – 74.68%
Frontier – 68.99%
JetBlue – 67.13%
Allegiant – 66.49%
WestJet – 60.66%
Air Canada – 55.56%
In total, 959,987 Delta flights from January 1 to December 15 arrived on time, the second year in a row it is crowned the most punctual airline in the continent. Delta’s yearly results are nothing short of remarkable, considering the widespread disruption and how far they have expanded in 2022, adding multiple countries to an already all-encompassing flight map.
Other than boosting frequency on numerous popular routes, they have launched new flights to some of the world’s most promising vacation spots, including Tahiti, a South Pacific gem famous for its teal-colored waters and pristine beaches, and Tel Aviv, Israel’s most liberal city and one of the top 7 trendiest destinations in Asia.
Elsewhere, they began offering flights with one-ticket rail connections to 20 European cities Americans can’t travel to directly, such as the (de facto) Swiss capital of Bern, and the charming Breda in the Netherlands. As you can see, Delta has kept ahead of travel trends and has spared no effort to fully satisfy customers while other airlines fell short of expectations.
Delta’s On-Time Performance Is Much Higher Than The North American Average
Jeremy Bowen, CEO at Cirium, was greatly impressed by Delta’s ‘excellent punctuality’, stating ramping back up operations ‘so quickly’ is not easy to do after an enforced slowdown. Alaska and United round out the top three, with on-time arrivals at 81.42% and 81.26%, respectively – an equally impressive feat considering their recent setbacks and flight suspensions.
This year, 71.91% of over 5 million flights operated in North America arrived on time, suggesting Delta’s rate of on-time arrivals is well above the continent’s average. It is worth noting the metrics account only for mainline operations: on-time performance data for other routes serviced by regional affiliates were not included in the ranking.
Canada has had a rough relationship with travel this summer and just finished off the season with two of its airports ranking as the worst in the world for flight delays. The overwhelming increase in flight demand this summer has strained the aviation sector all over the globe, but Canada was hit especially hard. Staff shortages have led to all manner of chaos this summer. Cancellations, delays, and lost luggage have become the norm, and travelers have had to accept this as their new reality. Problems are so rampant that only 1 out of 5 travelers in June made it to their destinations without issue.
With the new reality of rampant flight disruptions, travelers may find it helpful to avoid airports and airlines experiencing the worst delays. Currently, Toronto Pearson International and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport rank as the 1st and 2nd worst airports worldwide for flight delays. Both airports performed quite poorly, with nearly half of their total flights from May 27th to September 5th being delayed.
To make things worse, Canada also claimed another spot in the top 10 worst airports in the world for delays. Vancouver International Airport was the 10th worst airport in the world for flight delays this summer.
Airport Stats
#1 Worst Airport In The World:
Toronto Pearson International Airport – 51.9% of Flights Delayed
#2 Worst Airport In The World:
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport – 47.8% of Flights Delayed
Special Mention, #10 Worst Airport In The World:
Vancouver International Airport – 37.8% of Flights Delayed
Canadian Travel Troubles
Canada certainly separates itself from the rest of the world for having immense amounts of flight delays this summer. Claiming 3 out of 10 slots for the top 10 worst airports in the world for flight delays is certainly a way to stand out, but it isn’t the only way Canada has drawn attention this summer. As the rest of the world began to open back up by shedding pandemic-era restrictions, Canada drew attention by becoming the only country in the world to add travel restrictions in July.
Having already separated themselves from much of the world by continuing to bar non-vaccinated visitors, they reinstated a random Covid testing policy. One of the benefits of being vaccinated that many travelers from other countries enjoy is being able to travel without having to take a Covid test. However, Canada’s strict border rules continue to punish travelers regardless of their vaccination status. Interestingly, Travel Off Path recently reported that the province of Ontario ended its requirement for residents to quarantine for five days after testing positive. Therefore, this begs the question, are Canada’s travel restrictions even reliable at this point?
Canadian Airports Claiming More Chaos
In July, Travel Off Path reported Toronto Pearson was the worst airport worldwide for delays, a title it still claims. However, neither Montreal-Trudeau International Airport nor Vancouver International Airport made the top 10 in that instance. Summer has not favored Canada as it now claims three slots out of the top 10. Canada has had an especially turbulent summer compared to the rest of the world. The full list of the ten worst airports in the world for flight delays over the summer is as follows:
1) Toronto Pearson International Airport – 51.9% of Flights Delayed
2) Montreal-Trudeau International Airport – 47.8% of Flights Delayed
3) Frankfurt International Airport: 44.5% – Flights Delayed
4) Humberto Delgado Airport (Lisbon) – 43% of Flights Delayed
5) London Gatwick Airport: 42% – Flights Delayed
6) Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport – 41.6% of Flights Delayed
7) Munich International Airport – 40.1% of Flights Delayed
8) Manchester Airport – 39% of Flights Delayed
9) Athens International Airport – 38.5% of Flights Delayed
10) Vancouver International Airport – 37.8% of Flights Delayed
Will It Get Better?
Time will tell whether or not Canada can get things under control, but travelers should be prepared for more delays as summer comes to a close. Air Canada recently reported that its operations are improving, but Canadians may still have reason to worry. The data in this article looked at flights from the end of May to September 5th, and peak travel chaos was witnessed during June and July. So, if things were improving, surely August would show better results? Unfortunately, singling out August doesn’t do much for Canada’s benefit.
In August, Toronto Pearson had 51.8% of its flights delayed, almost identical to the percentage of delays from the entire summer.
Montreal-Trudeau International had 51% of its flights delayed in August, performing worse than it did compared to the whole summer.
Vancouver International Airport also performed worse in July than it did compared to the entire summer, with 38.4% of its flights delayed.
Air Canada themselves say that they are showing improvements. However, they have to deal with these three airports regardless of their own attempts to improve.
This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
Air travel in the United States has been rough this summer. Overwhelming travel demand has strained a short-staffed aviation industry, leading to delays, cancellations, and lost luggage. Travelers have been eager to regain their freedom after years of pandemic-era regulations have decimated the travel industry. Unfortunately, airlines and airports were not prepared, and flights have suffered. The big question on everyone’s minds this summer has been, “will my travel plans be disrupted?“
This question is still noteworthy as we transition into the fall. To help answer it, we have determined the U.S. airlines with the most delays and cancellations this month. Using data from FlightAware, we ranked airlines’ performance from August 1st through August 19th. For this article, only mainline passenger airlines with a market cap of $1 Billion or greater were considered. These include; Southwest, American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Spirit, Alaska, Frontier, and Allegiant.
Overall Flights Stats
To understand where each airline’s performance lies, it’s important to look at the averages across all nine airlines.
Total Scheduled Flights: 307,745
Total Cancelled Flights: 6,150
Percentage of Flights Cancelled: 2%
Total Delayed Flights: 78,912
Percentage of Flights Delayed: 26.2%
Average Delay Time: 51 minutes
Top 5 U.S. Airlines With The Most Delays This Month
JetBlue Airways – 34.9% of Flights Delayed (6,540 Total), 62 Minute Average Delay
Southwest Airlines – 34.9% of Flights Delayed (26,788 Total), 42 Minute Average Delay
Allegiant Air – 32.9% of Flights Delayed (2,252 Total), 51 Minute Average Delay
Frontier Airlines – 28% of Flights Delayed (2,611 Total), 59 Minute Average Delay
American Airlines – 24.9% of Flights Delayed (14,900 Total), 54 Minute Average Delay
JetBlue and Southwest had the same percentage of delays. Still, JetBlue’s average delay time was worse than Southwest’s, leading to its ranking as number one. If you are the passenger stuck with a delay, that extra 20 minutes will matter much more to you than the airline’s total delays.
Have Delays Improved?
Compared to July, delays have improved for most of the airlines listed. In July, the top 5 airlines were the same culprits as above, in a slightly different order. The only airlines that did not improve over July’s percentages were Southwest and Frontier. Southwest got worse by 2.9%, but Frontier’s percentage remained consistent at 28%.
While the improvement may give hope that we are moving beyond the travel chaos of summer, the more likely reason is that there have simply been fewer flights than there were in July. In July, there were 479,362 total flights across the nine carriers explored; 55.7% more than we have seen so far in August. However, we still have over a week left in August, so time will tell if the improvements hold.
As travel demand eases, the pressure on the short-staffed aviation industry will lessen. With fewer chances for error, airlines are likely to handle their operations better. Travelers should keep in mind, however, that the system is still struggling. Improvements should be taken with a grain of salt, and travelers should still take precautions going into the fall. Showing up to the airport extra early, avoiding a checked bag if possible, and knowing their passenger rights are all essential steps to ensure a smooth journey.
Top 5 U.S. Airlines With The Most Cancellations This Month
American Airlines – 3.5% of Flights Cancelled (2,157 Total)
Southwest Airlines – 2.5% of Flights Cancelled (1,978 Total)
United Airlines – 2.0% of Flights Cancelled (909 Total)
JetBlue Airways – 1.8% of Flights Cancelled (342 Total)
Allegiant Air – 0.9% of Flights Cancelled (65 Total)
American, Southwest, and JetBlue have worsened compared to July by about 1%, 1.1%, and .4%, respectively. United and Allegiant have both improved by .4% each.
Surprising Top Performers For Flights
The best-performing airlines for cancellations and delays may surprise you. Out of the nine carriers, Spirit Airlines was the best performing airline for delays, with an 18.1% flight delay rate (2,609 total). Their average delay time was 53 minutes, which is only two minutes more than the average of all the airlines combined. Alaska Airlines was the best-performing airline regarding cancellations, with a .4% flight cancellation rate (63 total).
The aviation industry has been hectic this year. It will likely continue running into operational issues in the coming months, as the core problem of short-staffing remains. As demand eases into the shoulder season, the chaos may temporarily subside. However, until airlines and the aviation industry overall can recover their staffing, travelers should expect disruptions.
This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
Air travel in the United States and the rest of the world has had a rough summer, with some airports even capping the number of flights allowed per day. Demand has skyrocketed after years of being unable to travel due to the pandemic. Now that the world is easing restrictions and opening back up, travelers are desperate for a taste of freedom again. Unfortunately, the aviation industry has struggled to meet the overwhelming demand due to staffing shortages. As a result, delays, cancellations, and lost luggage have plagued travelers all summer. Using data from aviation analytics company OAG, we have determined the U.S. airlines with the most delays and cancellations for July.
According to OAG, gate arrival times within 15 minutes of their originally scheduled arrivals are considered on time. Similarly, as long as a plane departs within a 15-minute window of its originally scheduled departure time, it would be regarded as an on-time departure. Keeping this in mind, the following U.S. airlines had the most delays for July.
Top 5 U.S. Airlines With The Most Delays In July
Allegiant Air – 39% of Flights Delayed (4,811 Total Flights Delayed)
JetBlue Airways – 35% of Flights Delayed (10,142 Total Flights Delayed)
Southwest Airlines – 32% of Flights Delayed (39,187 Total Flights Delayed)
Frontier Airlines – 28% of Flights Delayed (4,048 Total Flights Delayed)
American Airlines – 27% of Flights Delayed (47,170 Total Flights Delayed)
Have Delays Gotten Any Better?
Yes and no. The airlines above ranked against each other in about the same order in June. However, each airline’s percentage of flights that were delayed has started to decline, with the exception of Southwest. Although it did improve, Allegiant Air has claimed the title for most delays from a U.S. airline for two months in a row. In June, Allegiant Air had 41% of their flights delayed. Jetblue was also the 2nd worst for delays in June, with 39% of their flights delayed. Frontier and Southwest were nearly tied at 30.7% and 30.4%, respectively. Finally, American had 29.2% of their flights delayed in June.
Most Improved From June to July for Delays
JetBlue Airways – 4% Improvement
Frontier Airlines – 2.7% Improvement
American Airlines – 2.2% Improvement
Allegiant Air – 2% Improvement
Southwest Airlines – 1.6% Worse
Top 5 U.S. Airlines With The Most Cancellations In July
Delays aren’t ideal when trying to get away on a much-needed holiday, but cancelations can completely ruin a trip. The U.S. airlines with the most cancellations for July don’t follow the same trend as delays, with Southwest and Frontier not even making the top 5.
American Airlines – 2.4% of Flights Canceled (4,240 Total Flights Canceled)
United Airlines – 2.4% of Flights Canceled (3,075 Total Flights Canceled)
Allegiant Air – 1.9% of Flights Canceled (237 Total Flights Canceled)
Delta Airlines – 1.7% of Flights Canceled (2,376 Total Flights Canceled)
JetBlue Airways – 1.6% of Flights Canceled (469 Total Flights Canceled)
Have Cancelations Gotten Any Better?
Cancelations have improved between July and August, with each airline making improvements throughout the month of July. American was the worst airline for cancelations for both months, with 4.3% of its flights canceled in June. Allegiant trailed close behind at 4%, followed by Delta at 3.7%, United at 3.3%, and JetBlue at 2.9%. As demand for travel continues to ease as fall looms, the downward trend in cancelations is likely to continue.
Most Improved From June to July for Cancelations
Allegiant Air – 2.1% Improvement
Delta Airlines – 2% Improvement
American Airlines – 1.9% Improvement
JetBlue Airways – 1.3% Improvement
United Airlines – .9% Improvement
As travelers continue to navigate the chaos seen this summer, it is important to know their passenger rights, tips for making it through the chaos, and how to minimize their chances of losing luggage. From the data above, things seem to be improving slightly. However, travelers should still take precautions as airlines struggle to keep up.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
More than six years since it unveiled its plan to launch a U.S.-style Travel Authorization scheme, which many now deem a ‘tourist fee’, Europe has decided to push back the date – once again – on top of multiple previous postponements dating back to 2020. Instead of early 2023, the so-called ETIAS will now be operational only from November 2023.
For more than half a decade, the European Union has mulled over the introduction of the measure, set to tighten rules for travel into the bloc. Currently, Americans, Canadians and many other non-EU citizens only need valid passports visiting the continent. Once the ETIAS are launched, they will need to apply for an additional online permit in advance.
Why, then, has the roll-out been so slow? More importantly, will the ETIAS ever be launched at all?
How Does The Travel Authorization Work?
While it was set to debut as early as January 2023, the ETIAS launch date has now been moved to November. In fact, it won’t be an official requirement in 2023 at all: a six-month grace period will be observed, meaning Americans won’t need to formally apply for a Travel Authorization possibly until May 2024.
According to ETIAS Visa, a platform specialized in Europe and ETIAS News, the European Commission has chosen November as the definitive date for the roll-out, though it will be gradual. As noted above, applying for an ETIAS will not be mandatory until after six months have elapsed from the implementation date.
Application will possibly involve filling out an online form, with details such as full name, nationality, age, as well as truthfully answering questions pertaining to character, immigration, and criminal records. It may sound burdensome, but it is anincredibly straightforward process, usually taking a few minutes to complete.
Of course, travelers who are curious to find out how the new EU ‘e-permit’ works are more than welcome to request their first ETIAS in November. As ETIAS Visa reports, the Travel Authorization will remain active for 3 years from issuance, or it may be rendered invalid sooner if the permit holder’s passport expires before that. Of course, it will not be free.
Much like the U.S., which only recently doubled the fee for its own Travel Authorization, Europe expects Americans and other foreigners to pay in order to be granted a leave to enter. At this moment, a single ETIAS will cost $8, much cheaper than other e-permits required by America, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.
How Does The ETIAS Change Europe Travel?
Europe is known to be have a tough stance on immigration. Even though they already carefully monitor every movement into and out of the Schengen Area, their famous border-free zone, the continent’s leaders are stepping up security efforts now that international travel has resumed. This includes the controversial ETIAS.
First of all, how does Schengen even work? In summary, it is an agreement signed by 26 European countries allowing people to move freely without any identity checks. Essentially, driving from Spain to France is as bureaucratic as crossing the California-Nevada border. Normally, there are no identity checks whatsoever, as all Schengen countries share a continuous customs territory.
Once they have cleared security at their initial point of entry, Americans can come and go as they wish within the Schengen Area. However, as per EU rules, they can remain in Schengen for up to 90 days only, out of every 180-rolling period. In other words, when staying for a full three months in Schengen, U.S. citizens must then leave the zone for a further three until they can be allowed back in.
This gives the clock time to reset, and a brand new 3-month period to start. Countries belonging to the Schengen Area include the popular tourist hotspots of Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany and The Netherlands, and will soon feature Europe’s most sought-after destination: yes, Croatia is joining the group soon.
More importantly, these rules will not change once the ETIAS starts being enforced. Americans will still only be allowed to visit Europe within the time-frame mentioned above, regardless of the three-year validity of their travel permit. You can learn more about the Schengen Area, and the freedoms it promotes, visiting the official website.
Will The ETIAS Really Be Launched In November 2023?
Well, that is a tricky question. The ETIAS is a multi-million project whose impacts will be felt across the entire EU and EU-associated countries, such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and others. To put it simply, it is not as simple as merely setting up a random web-page to accommodate the service: it is a mechanism that will change Europe travel forever.
Preparations have been underway for years, and the fact that countless delays have occurred are a testament to how complex, and challenging, reforming an immigration system is, especially in a collective as unique as the EU, where major decisions must have unanimous approval of all members.
Taking this into account, the ETIAS is in fact moving pretty quickly. Perhaps not as fast as Brussels would have hoped, after two years of stagnation due to Covid and other intra-EU disagreements, but the EU does look determined to deliver on this project sooner rather than later. Whether it’s 2023 or 2024, the ETIAS is being brought in.
That said, there may be some operational issues that could be slowing down the process more than the Commission would have liked. One of them may be, surprise, Brexit, a term referring to the UK’s withdrawal from the bloc which was finalized in 2020 after a painful five-year divorce. Prior to Brexit, Brits were able to move freely across the EU.
Now, their passports must be checked thoroughly at every entry point, like Americans’ and any non-European citizens. This has proven a problem, considering that UK-EU traffic is heavy, particularly via land: in recent weeks, the UK’s Dover Port, a gateway to France, has declared a ‘critical incident‘ due to the extremely long wait times travelers are facing.
Brits can’t just scan their way into the EU anymore: border officials must ensure they comply with the bloc’s rules, such as not having been present in the Schengen Area for longer than 90 days in the last 180 days, checking they have enough funds to support themselves during their stay, having a return ticket etc – and this has created a massive backlog.
Is The EU Prepared For The Extra Documentation Check?
Now that tourism has resumed, the impact of Brexit is finally being felt at the EU’s external borders with the UK, with the French Transport Minister blaming Brexit directly for the travel chaos. You can see what we are getting at: Europe is probably not prepared for further border checks right now, including ETIAS. More worryingly, the UK impasse is only one example.
Several other non-EU citizens that travel to Europe frequently – Serbians, Montenegrins, Bosnians, Albanians – will be subject to the ETIAS system, not to mention those coming from across the pond. From our understanding, Europe can’t take any chances in aggravating the current travel disruption by adding new border requirements when airports are already crumbling under pressure.
After all, this crisis could last another year, exactly the amount of time the ETIAS launch has been delayed for. This is, of course, our view on the topic. The EU has not issued a formal statement detailing why the launch was delayed. At the same time, it is clearly visible the continent is struggling with infrastructure and staffing issues due to a pent-up travel demand, besides dealing with other major concerns.
Needless to say, Europe already has a lot in their plate right now, and we can understand why something as monumental as a Travel Authorization scheme is not an immediate priority. As things stand, the ETIAS will start receiving applications in November 2023, and all eligible, non-visa requiring tourists will be encouraged to obtain one.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
Traveling has probably never been more challenging than it is this summer. Unprecedented demand for air travel fueled by low staffing across the aviation industry has made flying a challenge for even the most seasoned traveler.
If you’re going to travel this summer, there are ways however to limit the amount of frustration and headaches you have to deal with. Here are 8 tips for navigating through travel chaos and flight delays this summer.
8 Ways to navigate through travel chaos and flight delays this summer.
Tip #1: Spend extra time researching.
Low prices and deals are hard to find on the surface, but if you dig deep, you’ll still find some deals.
-Use Google Flights to research cheap flight paths.
-Check your hotel across all hotel booking platforms to ensure you’re getting the lowest price.
-In some instances, you may even be better off booking with the hotel directly. Booking directly with the hotel will sometimes give you access to better deals and discounts.
-When booking with airlines, be sure to select reputable airlines that have a strong on-time departure percentage and a low cancellation rate.
Here are 4 airlines that are your best bet for avoiding flight delays:
Delta: Only 19% of its flights were delayed in May and 21% faced a delay in June.
United Airlines: May and June saw just 23% of the airline’s total flights delayed.
Spirit Airlines: 80% on-time performance.
Alaska Airlines: 81% on-time performance.
Here are 3 airlines that have had the most delays in recent months:
Allegiant: 39% of their flights have been delayed.
JetBlue: #2 airline with the most delays. 36% of JetBlue’s flights have been delayed.
Southwest Airlines: This airline has had 29 of its flights delayed.
If your trip allows you to select to travel with an airline that has a lower cancellation and delay rate than another airline, it is recommended that you book with that airline in order to minimize the chances of having your trip disrupted.
Tip #2: Get travel insurance (seriously).
No one thinks they need travel insurance until they are the ones with the canceled flight, lost luggage, or delayed flight. Travel insurance is oftentimes more than affordable and can completely alleviate unnecessary problems travel disruption can cause.
– Or even if you get sick right before the trip and can’t go.
Tip #3: Give yourself extra time.
-There are going to be lines, delays, waits, and lots of frustrating moments, so add extra hours or days
into your itinerary and plan for delays ahead of time.
– Get to the airport extra early.
– Try and fly in a day or two in advance, in case the flight is canceled last minute and you need to rebook.
Tip #4: Take the earliest flight the day that you fly.
If you are traveling by plane and are going to a destination that offers multiple daily flights, try and book the earliest flight of the day. In case you encounter any delay or cancellation, you’ll have a greater chance to get rebooked on another flight.
-Delay times only get worse as the day goes on, though. For every hour later you depart, you can expect an extra minute of delays, FiveThirtyEight reports.
-Delay times hit a peak between 6 and 7 p.m. (reaching up to 20.7 minutes on average!), and they remain above 20 minutes through 9 p.m.
Tip #5: Pack carry-on only.
If you’re planning on going on a summer trip this year, try to avoid checking in any luggage. Airlines all over the world are struggling with delays and cancellations. The last thing you want when your flight is canceled is to wait hours to reclaim your luggage.
-Each airline has its carry-on luggage rule, some are a lot stricter than others, be sure to check with your airline and when booking with an airline, ensure that you are allowed to bring on a carry-on bag with you.
– A rolling carry-on luggage and backpack (personal item) will be your best chance to bring on the most amount of items onto the plane without having to check a bag in.
-Pay for priority boarding so you can ensure that you can fit your items into the overhead compartment.
-Boarding at the end or with a basic fair ticket often means your carry-on items will automatically be checked in due to the lack of space.
Tip #6: If you have to check in a bag, be smart about it.
If you can’t pack a carry-on, get super smart about your checked luggage.
-Don’t wait until the last minute to check in your luggage. The earlier, the better.
-Keep all your valuables such as medicine, travel documents, electronics, and valuables with you.
-Get travel insurance that covers lost or delayed luggage.
-Many credit card companies will reimburse you for lost luggage. Contact your credit card company.
-Lock your luggage.
-Tag your bag and make it stand out so you can easily recognize it.
Tip #7: Check on the status of your flights
– Every day leading up to your flight, and then every hour on the day of your flight, keep checking the status. Anywhere from 10%-40% of flights in North America are being canceled or delayed so far this summer, so there is a good chance your itinerary may be impacted last minute.
– Download the airline app. They usually update these apps faster than they update the airline gate/counter
– Check the flight # on Flight Aware. This is another site where airline updates will commonly show before the gate agent is even aware.
Tip #8: Know your rights if your flight is canceled or your luggage is lost.
-Act fast: Open up a lost/delayed luggage claim as soon as you realize your luggage is missing.
-If you paid a fee to check your luggage, you are entitled to a refund in most cases.
-Check coverage and track expenses. Some airlines will reimburse you for any expenses incurred during the process of reclaiming your luggage.
-Have the luggage sent to your final destination and directly to your place of accommodation.
– Travelers in the U.S. need to be sure to know their rights, Airlines have to refund you your ticket in the event of a cancellation.
– Airlines also have to compensate you if your flight is overbooked.
Bottom line:
The travel industry is going to take another few months in order to rebound from the 2-year-long pandemic. Airlines and airports across the globe have to replenish their staff to meet travel demand. Ultimately things will go back to normal, it’s just a matter of time.
Until then, do the best you can do to minimize the chaos you’ll undoubtedly experience at airports.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
Whilst flight delays may be something we have to learn to live with this summer, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do to help minimize the risk of them happening – and there are four airlines in particular that are your best bet when it comes to looking to avoid delays. No airlines have a perfect record so far this summer, but in a climate where the worst performing airlines in the US have experienced delays on between a quarter and a third of all of their flights, choosing the right airline to fly with really could make or break your trip.
Fortunately for travelers, we have the low-down on which airlines have been taking off on time most frequently over the last few months – and which have been subjecting their passengers to the most delays. Here’s a look at which four airlines are best when it comes to avoiding flight delays, and which airlines you should be looking to avoid altogether.
Delta
Delta has been one of the best performing airlines in the US over the past few months when it comes to avoiding delays. The Atlanta-based airline has put some of its rivals to shame, with only 19% of its flights delayed in May and 21% facing a delay in June. Whilst these figures may sound high, the worst performing airline for those months, JetBlue, featured an average percentage of delayed flights that was above 30%, meaning that one in three of their flights failed to leave on time – that’s a lot of angry travelers.
Delta’s comparatively good performance has come at a cost to travelers, as thousands of flights were trimmed from the airline’s route network in order to ensure they could continue to offer a high level of service – a move that looks to have paid off for the country’s second largest airline. Whilst flying Delta doesn’t guarantee an on-time departure, it gives travelers more of a chance of a smooth flight experience than any other airline in the US at present.
United Airlines
Not far behind Delta were United Airlines, who consistently posted the second lowest delay figures of any US airlines over the past few months. May and June saw just 23% of the airline’s total flights delayed – significantly lower than the second worst performing airline Southwest, who had 30% of their flight delayed last month. Despite their solid performance, United have stated that a significant portion of their delays weren’t actually their fault.
Just last week, United’s Chief Operating Officer Jon Roitman blamed the airline’s high delay percentage on air traffic control staffing problems.
“We estimate that over 50% of our delay minutes and 75% of our cancels in the past four months were because of FAA traffic management initiatives – those have been particularly acute in Newark and Florida,” Roitman said, before adding: “These ATC challenges can not only disrupt the schedule, but they also cause us to burn crew time throughout the month.”
Air traffic issues or not, United are one of the safest bets when it comes to avoiding delays this summer.
Spirit and Alaska
Hot on the heels of United and Delta are Spirit Airlines and Alaska Airlines. So far this month, both airlines have seen relatively low delay rates, whilst posting some impressive on-time performance figures of 80% and 81% respectively over the 3rd and 4th of July – the second and third highest totals of any airlines in the US, behind only Delta. Having coped so well throughout the hectic Fourth of July holiday period, Spirit and Alaska are likely to be wise picks for travelers looking to avoid delays this summer.
On the other side of the coin, there are some airlines that should be avoided where possible if you’re looking to get to your destination on time. Allegiant Airlines saw as many as 39% of their flights delayed over July 3rd and 4th, and JetBlue close behind with 36% of their flights delayed. The third worst performing airline was Southwest, who saw 29% of their flights delayed over the same period.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
