How to avoid flight delays and cancellations and get refunds

Despite “record levels of air travel” in 2024, the U.S. flight cancellation rate — 1.4% — is the lowest in decades, according to the Department of Transportation. That’s the good news. The bad news is that extreme weather or technical issues like the Microsoft/CrowdStrike outage can lead to major airline shutdowns that could happen at any time.

If your flight is canceled, you should be able to get a full refund. The Biden administration announced in April that airlines must now “promptly” provide automatic cash refunds when flights are canceled.

Aside from natural and man-made disasters, there are some practical tips you can use to avoid air travel delays and cancellations. With careful planning, you can avoid the headaches and arrive at your destination on time, or at least give yourself the best chance of doing so.

For more air travel tips, check out the best way to pack your carry-on and the benefits of eSIMs for travelers.

1. Don’t fly too early or too late

Airports can be busier at certain times of the day. Flights start filling up around 3pm, and flights departing after this time are 50% more likely to be cancelled.

However, it’s best not to fly too early if you can avoid it. Airports tend to be busiest early in the morning, from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., so you’ll likely spend more time waiting in TSA lines during those hours. If you want to avoid crowds and have a flexible schedule, try booking a flight for the middle of the day, a little before or after noon.

2. Book a nonstop flight or allow extra time for layovers

A layover can make a long trip even longer. Layovers can last up to four hours for domestic flights and up to 24 hours for international flights.

You can save money by booking a flight with an extra stopover, but you might regret it if your connecting flight is delayed. By booking a nonstop flight, you’ll spend less time in airports and arrive at your destination sooner. You may end up paying less than you expected if you book your flight in advance.

3. Install your airline’s app on your phone

Most airlines offer a mobile app that allows you to check in for your flight in advance. Typically, this feature is available 24 hours before the plane takes off, which means you can save time by doing this step at home. Plus, you’ll be able to track the status of your flight and reschedule in case of a flight delay or cancellation.

4. Check the weather in advance, at both airports

Bad weather is the cause of 75% of flight delays. This figure can vary depending on the city and time of year, but it’s always a good idea to check the weather a few days before your flight. Be sure to check both the departure city and the destination city.

For example, a friend is picking you up at your destination and you expect a storm when you arrive. You can plan accordingly and save your friend time by telling them to come to the airport later.

5. Not checking in luggage

Not only do checked bags become more expensive, but they are also another potential source of delays. You have to spend a few extra minutes checking in your extra bags before your flight, and you may spend a lot more time waiting for them to be removed from the baggage carousel.

You can avoid these extra steps if you can fit everything into your carry-on and personal belongings. That way, you’ll have one less thing to worry about once you arrive at your destination. Plus, it’s always nice to travel lighter.

6. Choose an airline with a lower delay and cancellation rate

Some airlines do a better job of getting passengers to their destinations on time. In February 2024, Delta had the highest percentage of on-time arrivals — 88.4% — according to the Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report. American, United and Southwest Airlines all scored 83% or higher. Meanwhile, JetBlue, Spirit and Frontier Airlines all scored below 70%.

The same report noted that Allegiant Air had the fewest number of canceled flights, although it had significantly fewer total flights than American, United and Southwest Airlines. JetBlue had the most cancellations, at 1.4%.

Here are the on-time arrival percentages for major U.S. airlines, according to the DOT.

Percentage of on-time arrivals

Airline company	Arrived on time
Delta	88.40%
American Airlines	84.10%
United Airlines	83.20%
Southwest Airlines	83.10%
Allegiant Air	82%
Alaska Airlines	80.60%
Hawaiian Airlines	80%
Frontier Airlines	79.80%
Spirit Airlines	77.80%
JetBlue	74.30%

7. Prepare to spend more time in these airports

The United States is home to some of the largest airports in the world, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport topping the list. In 2023, an estimated 104.6 million people passed through Hartsfield-Jackson. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport handled nearly 82 million passengers, and Los Angeles International Airport handled 75 million.

If you’re flying out of Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, or JFK International Airport, your flight is more likely to be delayed due to weather. Federal Aviation Administration data shows that New York City area airports collectively experience twice as many delays as the second-largest city on the list (Chicago). Delays are most severe in April, May, and June.

And if you’re flying into Florida, be prepared for delays. Six of the top 10 U.S. airports with the most delays are in the Sunshine State.

Here are the U.S. airports with the lowest and highest percentage of flight delays in 2023, according to InsureMyTrip.

Airports with the lowest percentages of delayed flights

Airport	City	Delayed flights
MSP	Minneapolis-St. Paul	14.63%
SLC	Salt Lake City, Utah	15.14%
DTW	Detroit	16.19%
SEA	Seattle	16.39%
ATL	Atlanta	16.52%
BOI	Boise, Idaho	17.78%
DAI	Washington DC	17.83%
SJC	San Jose, California	17.96%
DCA	Washington DC	18.03%
PDX	Portland, Oregon	18.06%

Airports with the highest percentages of delayed flights

Airport	City	Delayed flights
SJU	San Juan, Puerto Rico	30.97%
FLL	Fort Lauderdale, Florida	27.33%
MCO	Orlando Florida	26.58%
PBI	Palm Beach, Florida	26.50%
THE ACE	Las Vegas	25.53%
TPA	Tampa, Florida	23.94%
JAX	Jacksonville, Florida	23.53%
Disappeared	Miami	23.46%
BOS	Boston	23.38%
BDL	Windsor Locks, Connecticut	23.35%

8. Know your rights regarding flight refunds

If your flight is canceled, you can get a cash refund. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, you are eligible for a full refund if your flight is canceled — “for any reason” — or significantly delayed. The new policy was announced in April 2024 to help protect consumers from surprise airline fees.

In some cases, you may also be able to get a partial refund of your ticket price. If your seat is downgraded or you don’t get services you paid for in advance, such as onboard Wi-Fi, you should be refunded the difference.

For more travel tips, check out how to use AI to plan your summer trip and five great gadgets to help you stay connected while you’re on the go.