The best time of day to fly if you want to avoid flight cancellations
Air travel has been rife with cancellations, complications and a myriad of challenges recently, in large part due to COVID-19 and the fallout from the pandemic.
Thankfully, Expedia today released its 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report, which provides travellers with top tips on how to save money and avoid hassles based on comprehensive research.
One such tip, surprisingly, includes a specific time of day that experts advise is the best time to fly if you want to avoid having your flight cancelled.
READ MORE: 10 things we've learned from Meghan Markle's Variety cover story
Expedia says flying at midday reduces your risk of cancellation, and February is the month cancellations are least likely to occur. Pexels
According to Expedia's research, flight cancellations are most likely to happen in January, but in February, they're least likely to occur.
February is also the month where flight delays historically have been shorter, especially compared to the month of June.
As for time of day, Expedia says departing at midday reduces the chance of cancellations, noting that flights that depart between 3pm and 9pm have a 30 per cent higher chance of being delayed, than those that depart at midday.
READ MORE: Woman fired from her six-figure job over a TikTok video
It's worth noting, however, that when Expedia says midday, they mean any time between 9am to 3pm.
The day you fly also makes a difference when it comes to saving money, with Expedia advising to depart at the end of the week for a chance to save, on average, up to 20 per cent on your fare.
Flying domestically on a Saturday instead of a Monday on average saves you 20 per cent, and internationally, flying on a Friday instead of a Sunday saves you 10 per cent on average.
READ MORE: Study confirms dogs can judge you for your competence
The report also suggests booking domestic flights at least three months in advance, and six months for international. Pexels
It also matters when you book your fare, with those booking on Sunday saving up to 20 per cent on average for both domestic and international flights, when compared to those who booked on a Friday.
Expedia also says further savings will be found if you book at least three months before flying domestically, which, on average, will shave 30 per cent off your fare – at least that's compared to the fare prices of those who booked their flights last-minute.
For international flights, booking six months beforehand – at least – is recommended to save, on average, 25 per cent on your fare.
