The Best Time of Day to Fly to Avoid Cancellations, According to New Data

Flight cancellations and delays have become a frustrating, seemingly unavoidable part of air travel this summer. While any flight is liable to get canceled, especially as the aviation industry is facing several operational issues right now, experts say there are a few booking strategies that could help lessen the chances of having your flight get nixed from the airline’s schedule.

Although it’s not a guarantee, booking a flight earlier in the day can help avoid the ripple effect that snarled operations routinely cause. And at least for now, it’s one of passengers’ best strategies until airlines can hire enough crew, as well as take other additional measures to smooth out the crisis. “This [situation] has been building since early April and resources are now exhausted and new [employees] are still coming through their training and security checks. That takes time,” says John Grant, chief analyst at data firm Official Aviation Guide (OAG).

We took a look at recent airline data in the U.S. and Europe to identify the best times to fly in order to avoid cancellations. Specifically, very early morning or mid-morning, as well as a small window in the early afternoon, seem to be the timeframes with the fewest hiccups. “The later in the day the departure, the greater the probability of cancellations, as airlines see resources running down,” Grant says.

Here’s all the information you need to be strategic as you book to give yourself the best chance of a smooth takeoff.

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Posted from Conde Nast Traveler