Guide to Flight Delays and Cancellations

Book a different airline if yours is historically tardy

If your home airport is served by a number of carriers, look into their on-time performance history. This will tell you a lot about your chances of facing delays and cancellations. If your chosen airline has a consistently bad track record, consider switching to a different carrier. Find data on the overall efficiencies (or lack of) at your home airport and a nearby alternate airport too.

I recommend: Check the Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report for the airlines that do the best job of arriving on time, keeping track of checked luggage, and accommodating booked passengers. Use FlightStats to rate specific flights based on their on-time performance. Consider flying out of alternate airports.

Go non-stop if at all possible

Depending on your geographic location, this might be easier said than done, but if non-stop flights are an option, book them. You’ll reduce the chances for mid-journey flight delays and cancellations, and if you check luggage, there’s a much better chance it will arrive when you do.

I recommend: For speedy air searches that include non-stop flights, let SideStep or Kayak do the work of scanning multiple Web sites. Be sure to click the “show nearby airports” option. Check out Southwest Airlines, known for its non-hub approach to air routes.

Don’t check your luggage

Your chance of remaining flexible in the face of unexpected delays and cancellations improves significantly if you travel with only carry-on bags. You might have to do some efficient rearranging of your wardrobe (maybe buy a new carry-on bag), and use laundry or dry cleaning services at your destination, but it will be worth it.

I recommend: Look for quality carry-on luggage at The Luggage Catalog, Discount Luggage, Luggage Pros, eBags, Irv’s Luggage Warehouse and Altman Luggage. If your bags simply won’t pass muster as a carry-on, consider using one of several luggage-forwarding services that will collect, ship and deliver them to your destination. Check out The Luggage Club, Luggage Forward, Sports Express, and the Luggage Concierge. Ask about corporate and volume discounts too.

Have a Plan B and beyond

Armed with the knowledge that the airlines aren’t legally bound to accept much responsibility for getting you where you need to go (unless they bump you involuntarily), your best bet is to make sure you know what your options are if you’re stranded.

I recommend: Have an alternate flight plan in mind when you set out, preferably one that uses a different hub. Find the best flights and connections for over 600 airlines at dohop.com. Let the Official Airline Guide (OAG) scan the best flight options for you. Then program the airlines’ toll-free numbers into your cell phone.

Track your flights

You’ll have a strong advantage if you know whether or not the flight you’re waiting for has left the ground (and that information can also be valuable for those awaiting your arrival). Knowing about weather-related airport delays around the country is important too.

I recommend: To track airline flight departures and estimated arrival times, check out Flight Aware (view current airport activity too), Flight Explorer  (includes national weather map) and Flight View (includes a delay status map of US airports).

Wait it out at an airport club

In today’s chaotic air travel environment, it’s a given that you’ll eventually face lengthy airport delays, so why not pass the time in the comfort of an airport club lounge? Even if you’re not a member, most clubs will let you in the door on a day pass, typically at a one-time cost of $25-$50.

I recommend: Look into one-day passes for Alaska Airline’s Board Room, Continental Airline’s President’s Club, Delta’s Crown Room, Northwest’s World Club, United’s Red Carpet Club, US Airways Club.