Two words that are enough to cause disappointment when it comes to your travel plans are “delays” and “cancellations”. Unfortunately, many of us know that feeling when your excitement is suddenly dashed due to travel disruption, with 40% of worldwide travellers having been affected by delays of more than an hour in 2023, and 30% experiencing cancellations here in the UK according to data from TravelPerk.
As much as travelling can be an exhilarating experience, it sometimes feels inevitable there will be some sort of disruption. However, there are some things you can do ahead of time that can minimise the chances of this happening regularly to you. Being well-prepared can significantly ease the stress involved, something I’m sure we all would prefer when starting a long-awaited holiday.
Try Flying at Quieter Times
There is definitely something to be said about the time of day you decide to fly and the level of disruption you may experience. Of course, the airlines know there are popular times, days, and months, usually reflecting this in the price (such as during the school holidays). However, not only does choosing a quieter time mean a (hopefully) cheaper ticket, but it can also mean fewer delays.
Try to avoid peak travel times such as the school holidays, bank holiday weekends, and the rush hours of early morning or late afternoon flights when booking. If you can manage a mid-week flight, this can often lead to less crowded airports and more on-time departures. Flying late at night or early in the morning might not only cut down on your waiting time but can also potentially slash your flight costs. According to Skyscanner, midweek flights on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday can be the cheapest whilst weekends, Fridays and Mondays will cost more as they are generally more popular.
When planning your trip, consider the destination’s peak seasons too. Avoiding popular travel periods can reduce the chances of facing overcrowded flights and hectic airports, especially when going through airport security. It can be surprising how much of a difference being smart with your flight choices can impact the chances of delays. According to data from Expedia, March is the most reliable month to travel with the shortest average length of delays compared to July which has the highest. They also found flights departing before 11am are 11% less likely to be impacted by cancellations.
The Ever Changeable Weather
There’s nothing we like more than talking about the weather, but when it comes to potentially disrupted travel plans, we all hope for good conditions. Sudden changes in weather conditions can impact both departures and arrivals significantly.
It’s a good idea to start monitoring the forecast about a week before your departure to get a sense of any potential disruptions. According to The Met Office, flights can experience more delays simply because fog, snow, ice and crosswinds mean there has to be an increased gap between planes landing, reducing the number of aircraft arriving that the airport has to manage. This is of course for safety reasons, so if your flight is in Winter or on a day experiencing extreme weather, you may face a longer wait.
The Met Office or BBC Weather offer detailed forecasts that can be great for planning ahead. Additionally, setting up alerts for your specific flight path can keep you informed about conditions not only in the UK but also at your destination and transit points. This proactive approach allows you to anticipate issues and either adjust your plans accordingly or prepare for possible delays, ensuring that you’re not caught off guard by adverse weather conditions.
Plan Your Trip to the Airport
Just like checking the weather, planning your trip to the airport is a crucial step in managing travel delays and ensuring a smooth start to your journey. The last thing you want is to get stuck in traffic unexpectedly when you have a flight to catch. Various things like busy traffic conditions, disrupted public transport schedules, and potential roadworks can all have their impact.
As it is difficult to control what happens on the road, leaving with plenty of time before your flight is always the best idea, arriving at the airport at least two to three hours before your flight, accounting for extra time during peak travel periods or if you’re travelling from a distance. Using apps like Apple or Google Maps, Waze or Citymapper will give you real-time traffic updates and suggest the best routes or times to leave. If you are travelling by public transport, check the schedules and reliability of services like National Rail or local buses well in advance.
Of course, it might be worth considering an overnight stay at airport hotels for extremely early or late flights if your budget allows. This can alleviate the stress of last-minute rushes and ensure you begin your travel well-rested and on time.
What To Do If Your Flight is Delayed or Cancelled
Sometimes, even if you’ve kept in mind all of the above, your flight can be unexpectedly delayed or even cancelled. Knowing your rights and the next steps to take can help minimise disruption to your plans.
Speak to your airline immediately to understand the options available to you. According to ABTA, you’re entitled to care and assistance while you wait if your flight has been delayed by:
● 2 hours or more for flights of 1,500km or less
● 3 hours or more for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km
● 4 hours or more for all other flights
This means food, drink and access to communications plus accommodation and transfers if the flight is delayed until the next day or later. Refunds are generally offered for delays that exceed 5 hours. According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), if your flight is cancelled your airline will also need to provide care and assistance, which many will provide vouchers to buy food and drink with. You can find out more about cancellations on the CAA website here, whilst Citizens Advice also has information that can help with claiming compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight.
How Travel Insurance Can Help
If you do experience delays or cancellations, this is where having good travel insurance can help reduce the financial impact. A comprehensive travel insurance policy can cover non-refundable expenses your travel provider or credit card company may not be able to help with, such as pre-booked hotels, tours, and flights if you need to cancel for a covered reason.
Particularly, providers like Staysure offer travel insurance policies tailored to include coverage for both delays and cancellations. This coverage ensures that you’re not left out of pocket if unforeseen circumstances affect your travel plans. If you have a single trip policy and you need to move your travel dates, for instance, you can adjust your policy start date as long as it is within 18 months of when you bought the policy. This means you have one less thing to worry about when rebooking your holiday.
Stay Calm and Be Patient!
Experiencing delays or cancellations can be frustrating, but maintaining your composure is key to managing the situation effectively. Remember, airline and airport employees are working under stressful conditions, especially during disruptions, so approaching them with patience and understanding can often lead to more helpful assistance.
Take deep breaths, keep a positive mindset, and use the time to catch up on reading, listen to music, or plan your activities for when you do reach your destination. By staying patient, you ensure that the experience remains as stress-free as possible.
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