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It happens all too often these days. You rush to the airport to catch a flight, only to be greeted with flight boards that read 'delayed' or 'cancelled.'
So what can you do? There are a few simple rules to follow that should keep your travels, hassle free. First, try to book your flight first thing in the morning. A lot of times, delays happen not because of problems getting out of the airport, but rather problems getting in. If you grab the first flight of the day, the plane will already be at the airport the night before, hours before your flight.
You also have a number of other flights and options throughout the day if for some reason your flight is delayed. E-tickets are becoming more popular, but they are not always best when faced with delays or cancellations. A paper ticket is a negotiable document and in most cases will be honored by other airlines. You can still get a paper ticket if you booked an e-ticket, but many times you will have to wait in lines, and that could cost you valuable time. Alternate cities are also an option. If you live in Chicago, try booking a flight out of Milwaukee.
Or if you live in Denver, try Colorado Springs. In many cases, a short drive to a less-busier airport will actually save you money in the long run, and cut down on the hassles of delays. Finally, check on your aircraft number. Not the flight number, but the aircraft number. The aircraft number will tell you exactly where the plane is at that moment.
For example, if you have 3:00pm flight out of JFK, and the aircraft number shows the plane just left Cleveland en route to JFK at 2:30pm, your flight is going to be delayed, no matter what the flight board says. In this case, a phone call could give you some extra time at home before leaving for the airport. There is no fool-proof way to make sure your flight takes off on time, but these are just a couple of tips that will make sure airline delays don't become a hassle you can't handle.
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