The Transportation Security Administration is prepared for 270 million air passengers across the country during this summer’s travel season — the highest volume the agency has seen.
But what does the record number of flights mean for air travelers? An increased risk of delays and cancellations compared to the rest of the year.
— an announcement from AAA Northeast
According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, across the United States, from June to August 2023, nearly 73% of flights departed on time, compared to roughly 80% throughout all of 2023.
Early flights are more likely to depart as scheduled. At the 30 largest U.S. airports, from June to August 2023, more than 80% of flights departing between 6 and 9 a.m. took off on time, compared to less than 60% of flights departing between 6 and 9 p.m.
The percentage of flights departing on time peaked during the 6 a.m. hour and dropped every hour until the 7 p.m. hour, which had the worst on-time percentage.
At Bradley International Airport, just over 80% of flights took off on time in 2023. In June, July and August, that average dropped to roughly 74%.
And in 2023, flights during those three months accounted for 43% of cancellations for the entire year.
Three Things You Can Do
Fly Earlier. “The best thing travelers who are concerned about delays or cancellations can do is choose flights earlier in the day, as we consistently see that early morning flights are most likely to take off on time,” said Alec Slatky, managing director of public and government affairs for AAA Northeast.
Get Texts. “Travelers should prepare by signing up for text alerts and downloading apps for the airline they’ve booked and an alternative airline, as that can be the quickest way to rebook if needed.”
Get Travel Insurance. “To protect trips this summer and beyond, travel insurance can offer peace of mind for issues ranging from delays and cancellations to illnesses and lost or stolen travel documents.”
In October, New Regulations Mandate Prompt Refunds
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced a new rule requiring airlines to promptly provide refunds to passengers for significantly changed flights, significantly delayed checked bags or failure to provide extra services they purchased — like Wi-Fi, seat selection or in-flight entertainment.
The rule begins to take effect in October and does not apply to travel occurring before then.
“Travelers taking to the skies this summer should know that this rule is not yet in effect, and does not apply to every type of delay,” Slatky said.
About AAA Northeast
AAA Northeast is a not-for-profit auto club with offices in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire and New York, providing more than 6.5 million local AAA members with travel, insurance, finance, and auto-related services