Airlines are forced to deal with an array of issues which can cause delays, from the weather to technical problems, but there are still some things passengers can do to reduce the risk
There’s nothing more disheartening than a long wait at the airport due to a delayed or cancelled flight, so seasoned airline captains have shared their top tips on how to avoid delays when flying.
Nick Eades, a captain turned author who holds the record for the most flights on the Boeing 747, suggests that the key to avoiding timing issues begins before you even reach the airport — with the flight you book.
He advised: “If you’re flying short-haul, you should go with an early morning flight when the chance of delays is greatly reduced,” as reported by the Telegraph. This is because airlines like Ryanair often use the same planes multiple times in one day. Any issues they encounter earlier on will cause knock-on delays later.”
Another captain turned author, Robert Johnson, emphasised that timing is also crucial when it comes to avoiding crowded airports. He stated: “Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally less crowded and fares are lower”, reports the Express.
Robert further suggested that for a quieter experience, consider flying from a business-focused airport like London City during the weekend. Meanwhile, veteran flight attendant and trade union representative Kris Major encourages passengers not to vent their frustrations on cabin crew during delays.
“We don’t want to be late either and we’ll be doing whatever we can to prevent that,” a pilot reassured as reported by The Telegraph. Offering insights into the dynamics aboard delayed flights, he added, “If [the cabin crew] have any information, they will tell you.”
For those dreading the discomfort of turbulence, the seasoned flyer Nick suggests choosing seats at the plane’s front or close to the wings, explaining: “Before the flight, we will study weather patterns and forecasts so we can minimise the risk of turbulence.”
Passengers might feel the shakes more intensively in certain areas of the aircraft, with Nick sharing: “Sometimes the cabin crew would call us to say that it’s bumpy at the back, but we might not always be able to tell that from the flight deck.”
And for the jet lag weary, Robert Johnson advises a strategic 45-minute nap upon arriving in a new time zone, which he describes as “game-changing” for refreshing energy without plunging into deep sleep.
Airports such as Heathrow and Manchester are expecting their busiest Christmas periods on record, after both also smashed passenger numbers in November. On Christmas Day, Heathrow Airport expects the number of passengers to increase by 21 per cent, in comparison to 2023.
Manchester Airport, on the other hand, is anticipating 1.1 million passengers in the two weeks over Christmas and New Year, including 25,000 heading to Lapland.
Chris Woodroofe, Manchester Airport’s managing director said: “It’s also always a popular time to fly and, having broken our passenger records every month for well over a year now, we expect this Christmas to be the biggest and busiest we’ve ever seen with over a million passengers flying in the two-week festive period.”
