Travel experts reveal why you should NEVER fly on a Sunday – and avoid 6pm flights
BRITS planning on booking flights abroad right now are likely to be nervous right now, what with the current travel chaos plaguing holidaymakers.
So a number of travel experts have revealed their top tips on the best flights to book to avoid them being cancelled.
Avoiding certain days of the week can make a huge difference.
And booking flights on a Sunday is a big no-no, according to the latest research.
A study was conducted by the on UK flights between May 7 and June 6, using data from FlightRadar4 and OAG.
It found that 256 flights were cancelled on a Sunday - two per cent of flights - compared to just 157 flights on a Saturday - 1.3 per cent.
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This means flying earlier in the week, such as mid-week or on Saturday is a much better idea than from Sunday.
Aviation expert John Strickland explained that, outside of the peak season, there is "more space capacity" for Saturday flights, "especially for short haul airlines".
He added: “Conversely Sunday is one the busiest days of the week for flights: end of long weekends, longer holidays and getting in position for the working week.”
Another study also found that the worst day of the week to fly was Sunday, as people were the least happy.
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But it's not just the day you fly, but the time of day.
Most experts warn against flying in the evening, as flight cancellations are more likely due to delays building up throughout the day.
This means travelling anytime from 6pm means your flight is more likely to be affected, while travelling late morning is better.
The data showed that 138 flights were cancelled between 6pm to 6.59pm - three per cent of the flights - compared to just 28 cancelled between 11am and 11:59am - 0.75 per cent of flights.
OAG analyst John Grant said: “Simply put, airlines run out of resources such as crew hours or face the risk of aircraft arriving back late and hitting some curfews at some of the more constrained airports, not just in the UK but in Europe as well.”
Former pilot Kathleen Bangs agreed: “The early bird gets airborne, statistically, with less delays and fewer cancellations.
“The later it gets in the day, the more likely your flight is to be delayed or cancelled."
A flight attendant also said that flying earlier will mean not only nicer crew, but much cleaner planes.
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She : "Early morning flights are the best - they’re almost always on time.
"We want to get home or get to our destinations just as much as you do. We’re happier if the flight takes off on time."
