Please enjoy this Op-Ed contribution from Paul Bernardini, who serves as Head of Marketing and Partnerships at Flighty —  the app that tells you everything about your flight and tracks your lifetime of travel, and which is beloved by travelers and the AvGeek community.

The busy summer travel season is here and with long security lines, packed terminals, and full flights, we’re all looking for ways to make travel less stressful.

Between flight delays, interruptions, and cancellations, it only takes one thunderstorm in another city to quickly ruin your plans. The reasons for a delay or cancellation can vary, but there are ways to get information more quickly so you make the best decision for you and your trip. 

Most travel advice tells you what to do after things go wrong. What matters more is knowing the early signs of a potential disruption before it affects your trip. Here are five ways to stay ahead this travel season.

1. Know what to look for before a delay

Often, the stress begins before arriving at the airport, as uncertainty around delays and connections starts to set in. You should look for red flags that often indicate potential delays before they’re announced, giving yourself more time to adjust plans. The departure board is the last place you want to find out your flight is delayed. By the time it updates, the problem has been building for a while. 

• Track your inbound aircraft. If your plane is already running late flying to your airport, the chances are your flight will be delayed, too. It’s one of the most useful things most travelers don’t check, and airline apps won’t proactively tell you, but the information is readily available in independent flight trackers. 
• Check the weather in three places. Your departure city, your arrival city, and wherever your inbound aircraft is coming from. If your plane is routing through a city with heavy storms in the forecast, that’s a common sign your flight could be delayed. Watching weather patterns can help you prepare for potential disruptions before they happen.
• Trust predictions over announcements. A delay can happen long before an airline announces it. Apps like Flighty flag delay predictions early, often hours before the airlines tell you and send live flight alerts, so you can beat the rush, rebook first, and save your trip while seats are still available.

2. What to know when booking a flight

When booking a flight, decisions like departure time, nonstop options, and your connection can all impact your plans. A flight that looks good on paper may be more vulnerable to disruptions during peak travel periods. 

• Early morning flights are less affected by delays. Take the first flight of the day when possible, as delays build throughout the day. Chances are your plane is already at the airport for early-morning flights. These flights start fresh and have the best chance to be on time.
• Consider nonstop flights. Every connection offers another opportunity for delays, crew time-outs, mechanical issues, security hurdles, or schedule changes. Small disruptions can affect departures throughout the day during busy travel times, especially when flights have tight connections and are at full capacity. While nonstop options may sometimes cost more, they can reduce travel stress and provide a more reliable experience. 
• Be mindful of your connection. A route that looks convenient can be more vulnerable to delays due to risky connection windows that bump up against an airline’s Minimum Connection Time at your connecting airport. Some flight tracker apps, like Flighty, can help you gut-check a connection before you book your ticket to help you know your route is the more reliable choice.

3. Plan with more flexibility

Building extra time into a travel plan can reduce stress and provide more options if delays occur. Even a few extra hours can make a great difference when travel plans unexpectedly change. 

• Create a buffer so you don’t miss the moments that matter most. Arrive a day early for a wedding, concert, sporting event, or a cruise that won’t wait.
• Know your backup plan before you need it. Being proactive and having the next option already in mind helps you move faster when cancellations happen. Seasoned travelers will book a back-up flight using points since points can be fully refunded if you cancel even within an hour of your scheduled departure. 

4. Know the airport you’re flying through

Be mindful about the airports you’re flying through. Every airport offers different tradeoffs, and understanding these tradeoffs can help you make more informed booking decisions.

Larger hubs often offer more flight options when disruptions occur, but they can also experience heavier congestion during peak travel periods. Smaller airports may be easier to navigate, but travelers may have fewer rebooking options if a flight is canceled.

5. Keep everyone updated with live flight status

Traveling is stressful enough without trying to coordinate everyone’s plans. Whether it’s an airport pickup, meeting up after separate flights, or constantly texting to keep family members updated throughout a trip, sharing your live flight status from flight tracker apps will help everyone stay in the know and adjust when plans change. 

Most summer travel delays are unavoidable, but modern travelers have more tools today than ever before to adapt, be informed, make quick decisions, and reduce the unnecessary stress that comes with the peak summer travel season.

About the Author

Paul Bernardini is Head of Marketing and Partnerships at Flighty, where he helps more travelers travel smarter. He’s always glad to hear from companies who want to do the same. Reach him at paul@flightyapp.com.

Flighty, meanwhile, is the first-class flight tracker for people on the move. Trusted by millions of users across the globe, Flighty gives the fastest flight alerts, including Delay Predictions, so travelers are always the first to know and rebook — all in one powerful  and beautifully designed app.

Flighty is an Apple App of the Year Finalist, Apple Design Award Winner, Editor’s Choice Pick, holds a 4.8-star review on the App Store, and is the #1 trusted flight tracker by pilots, crew, and frequent flyers. www.flighty.com