I’m a travel expert – you should always book the first or last flight of the day… here’s why
A TRAVEL expert revealed why it’s best to book either the first or last flight of the day.
Research has shown that passengers on early morning flights typically experience less disruption than passengers on flights that depart in the afternoon and evening.
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figures out AirHelp show that of scheduled flights from the UK and Ireland between 5am and 9am, an average of 43 per cent were disrupted.
But between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., this value rose to an average of 55 percent.
Flights scheduled between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. experienced the most disruption, with a disruption rate of 66 percent.
However, between 10 p.m. and midnight, that disruption rate dropped to 56 percent.
Tomasz Pawliszyn, Managing Director of AirHelp, said: “When booking flights, passengers can opt for the most cost-effective option and prefer cheaper flights compared to the day or time of their travel.”
“However, peak-time flights increase the risk of disruptions and cancellations, as problems earlier in the day impact flights scheduled in the afternoon and early evening.
“If an early morning flight is not possible, we recommend passengers to book the latest available flight on the chosen day of travel, as the risk of disruption tends to decrease again late at night.
“In any case, it is important that passengers know their rights so that they are well prepared in the event of disruptions.”
Scott Keyes, the founder of Going.com previously explained why a morning flight is more likely to depart on time than one later in the day.
He said Travel + Leisure: “The earlier your flight, the better your chances.”
“That’s because the weather is generally better in the mornings, and also because the plane is usually already at the airport and not arriving from anywhere else, and is therefore at risk if the return flight is cancelled.”
This comes after it was revealed that opting for an early morning unsociable flight could also save money and improve your chances of a better seat.
Frequent flier Zach Griff narrated The dots guy: “Families will likely have a hard time traveling with children at 6am, and only those who don’t mind the 4am (or earlier) alarm can make those early morning flights a success.”
“Airline revenue managers know this and this is usually why the first flight in the morning is the cheapest. Demand is much lower and this reality is often reflected in tariffs.”
Last month, the best day to travel was announced to keep your stress levels to a minimum.
In the meantime, we’ve rounded up a few more ways to avoid the travel chaos this summer.
Here’s how to claim compensation if your flight is cancelled.
Here’s a nifty way to get airports to spend more.
And one designer revealed why they make airport seats so uncomfortable.
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