Choosing a flight is easy. Once you've selected your preferred departure times, you also need to know if the carrier has a good on-time arrival and departure record. Some airlines have consistently piled up a record of late arrivals and departures. This could make you miss an important meeting or a connecting flight. Do a quick review of airline records and consumer complaints, before you book your next flight. Read on to learn how.
Check the Department of Transportation's web site to see airline performance data. This site has on-time arrivals and departures monthly updates. Flight cancellation information is also available here.
Get information about airlines that are expected to go out of service or have ceased operations at this website too.
Review the data at the Bureau of Transportation Statistics about airport delays for the nation's largest airports. The hub airport for each airline should be taken into consideration. Weather and airport maintenance issues can affect an airline's on-time flight history too.
Get details on consumer complaints about specific airlines at the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. These reports often provide information about delayed departures and arrivals that is not reported elsewhere.
Consider the time of departure. That creates problems for many airlines. Avoid certain flights, including the first and last flight of the day. Connecting flights and regional carriers often create challenges for travelers.
Choose your next flight with the information that you found. You cannot always avoid airline delays. However, having the information about previous problems in specific airports and for specific airlines helps you improve your chances of arriving and departing on time.
