Veteran airline captains have revealed the best way to avoid delays when flying.
There’s nothing so demoralising as facing a lengthy wait at the airport when your flight is delayed or cancelled.
But with a bit of luck you might be able to sidestep standing around altogether as former pilots have given their sage advice on the issue.
Nick Eades, a captain turned author who holds the record for the most flights on the Boeing 747, says the best way to fly without timing issues starts before you even arrive at the airport, with the flight you book.
He said: “If you’re flying short-haul, you should go with an early morning flight when the chance of delays is greatly reduced,” reports the Telegraph.
This is because, he says, airlines such as Ryanair will often have the same planes going back and forth several times in one day.
“Any issues they encounter earlier on will cause knock-on delays later,” he said.
Robert Johnson, another captain turned author, says that timing is crucial, too, when it comes to beating the crowds.
He said: “Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally less crowded and fares are lower.”
Mr Johnson added that if you really want a quieter experience, you should look to fly from a more business-focused airport, such as London City, at the weekend.
Meanwhile veteran flight attendant and trade union rep Kris Major urges passengers to not get frustrated with cabin crew when there are delays.
He said: “We don’t want to be late either and we’ll be doing whatever we can to prevent that,” reports The Telegraph.
He also points out that some passengers assume cabin crew are withholding information about why the plane has been delayed and how long it will be.
“If they have any information, they will tell you,” he added.
Those hoping to avoid turbulence have been advised by Mr Eades to sit at the front of the plane, or nearer the wings
He said: “Before the flight, we will study weather patterns and forecasts so we can minimise the risk of turbulence.
“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 passengers worried about jet lag have been told by Robert Johnson to have a “game-changing” 45-minute nap when changing time zones to refresh your energy while not entering deep sleep.