Fresh Stats on the Summer of Flight Delays

July 19, 2007 at 12:14 PM | by markj | 1 Comment

Everyone is really starting to pile on this whole "Summer of Flight Delays" theme. Today, the Wall Street Journal's Scott McCartney tires to answer the question of why. Why have canceled flights more than doubled from June 2006 to June 2007 (20,301 to 8,710). The answer seems to be more storms, too many jets on the tarmac, and "an occasional problem with Canadian airspace crucial to Northeast traffic."

Canada is really sticking it to the U.S. this summer are they not? First they travel south with their powerful loonie and now they are contributing to stateside summer flight delay headaches?

However, the real issue here is who is holding it together through these trying travel times. The answer is simple, details are here.

Southwest is doing the best job of not canceling flights and getting folks from point A to point B on time.

As for JetBlue and American Airlines? They both canceled over 3% of their flights in June and managed to be on time only around 60% of the time. Sorry Jessica and JetBlue supporters, but these two airlines got schooled by US Airways in June--yeah.

And Skybus? Not enough data available to score them yet, but yesterday, July 18, which was a stormy day here in the Northeast, they canceled 0 of 28 flights. However, they only managed to get 50% of those 28 flights to terminal on time. Not good. Then again, JetBlue's tally yesterday--577 flights, 113 canceled, and only 33% on time.

So how did the champions fare? Southwest scheduled 3367 flights yesterday, 9 canceled, and 66% on time. Looks like the WSJ data analysis triangulates--isn't that what they call it?

Related Stories:
·Why Fliers Find Summer Travel Growing Tougher [WSJ Subscription Needed]
·Flight Stats [Official Stats]

[Photo Credit: WSJ via FlightStats.com]

Planes, trains and automobiles

Most airlines can't afford for a flight to take off if they haven't sold enough seats. This doesn't just apply to 'budget airlines'.

In Europe the likes of Easy Jet and Ryan Air will cancel a whole days flights at the drop of a hat, literally within a coupe of hours of a problem developing. It seems any excuse will do.

I have been left in the lurch at Barcelona and Amsterdam, when air traffic control computer problems delayed flights.

Stranded at Barcelona, I was told (even though there were 5 or 6 flights a day to my destination) it would be three days before I could get on an available flight.

My advice is

Before you fly, check reliability of your chosen airline. There are web sites that will tell you all you need to know about your airline and its flight reliability. Airlinequaity.com and flightview.com are both useful, and I am sure there are others as good or better.

Hub airports have their problems, but it is more likely they will have aircraft and aircrew that can be shuffled around.

Always have with you a list of the freephone numbers of all major car hire and Hotel groups.

Don't prevaricate, and don't believe anything you are told. Decide what you are going to do, and go for it.

Immediately there is a problem reserve a car at that airport (with Hertz you will not be billed for a 'no show') If you are stuck overnight, you may need to go miles to find a hotel (particularly one not at rack rate). You may even need to drive to another airport, or all the way home.

Team up with at least one other passenger. Not only can two can shout louder than one, you can split costs, tasks and queuing (just for information) with them.

If you have to book a flight with another airline? A return ticket with Saturday night or minimum stay, will probably be the best deal. It may also enable you to re-plan the canceled flight to work with the inbound leg of new ticket.

Ashton Denton
England

July 20, 2007 at 6:22 AM

1 Comment

Return to » Fresh Stats on the Summer of Flight Delays

Ashton Denton
Jaunted Member
Planes, trains and automobiles
Many cancellations are a scam.
Most airlines can't afford for a flight to take off if they haven't sold enough seats. This doesn't just apply to 'budget airlines'.
In Europe the likes of Easy Jet and Ryan Air will cancel a whole days flights at the drop of a hat, literally within a coupe of hours of a problem developing. It seems any excuse will do.
I have been left in the lurch at Barcelona and Amsterdam, when air traffic control computer problems delayed flights.
Stranded at Barcelona, I was told (even though there were 5 or 6 flights a day to my destination) it would be three days before I could get on an available flight.
My advice is
1. Before you fly, check reliability of your chosen airline. There are web sites that will tell you all you need to know about your airline and its flight reliability. Airlinequaity.com and flightview.com are both useful, and I am sure there are others as good or better.
2. Hub airports have their problems, but it is more likely they will have aircraft and aircrew that can be shuffled around.
3. Always have with you a list of the freephone numbers of all major car hire and Hotel groups.
4. Don't prevaricate, and don't believe anything you are told. Decide what you are going to do, and go for it.
5. Immediately there is a problem reserve a car at that airport (with Hertz you will not be billed for a 'no show') If you are stuck overnight, you may need to go miles to find a hotel (particularly one not at rack rate). You may even need to drive to another airport, or all the way home.
6. Team up with at least one other passenger. Not only can two can shout louder than one, you can split costs, tasks and queuing (just for information) with them.
7. If you have to book a flight with another airline? A return ticket with Saturday night or minimum stay, will probably be the best deal. It may also enable you to re-plan the canceled flight to work with the inbound leg of new ticket.
May all your delays be little ones
Ashton Denton
England

July 20, 2007 at 6:22 AM

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