Airline Arrivals at Record Low

For business travelers, arriving on time to your destination is a major priority, but what if it's not a priority for your airline? According to the U.S. Department of Transportation and FlightStats, this summer's flights have been riddled with delays. While for most of us this is no surprise, it might be comforting to know that the airline with the worst record, Mesa Air Group, is likely not one business traveler's use often.

Unfortunately, Mesa wasn't the only airline with many delays. JetBlue airlines, a subsidiary of Delta, was on-time a mere 64.7% of the time in August of this year; down from nearly 70% last year. Conversely, the airline with the best on-time record is another lesser known carrier, Hawaiian Airlines with a whopping 91% on-time arrival rate. Too bad all of our business travel can't be done in Hawaii.

With the current airline crisis leading to cutbacks and ultimately customer dissatisfaction, it's important for us all to travel smart. You might think that arriving at your destination on-time is completely out of your hands, but you would be wrong. Here are some tips to make sure you're doing your part to arrive on-time:

Avoid connecting flights

You'll always increase the chances of a delay if you have to take more than one flight to get where you're going. Choose a non-stop flight any time you can.

Allow enough time

If you absolutely cannot avoid a connecting flight, make sure you allow for enough time in your itinerary to be delayed. Planning your travel and your meeting for the same day is not a good idea.

Check the flight's rating

Each flight has a rating for how often it's on-time. For example, according to FlightStats, the flight I took from Orlando to Atlanta is on-time 87% of the time; not too shabby. Before you book your flight, check the flight number with FlightStats to make sure it's reliable.

Always check the flight status

You should constantly check the status of your flight before your departure. Check it weeks, days and hours before you fly to make sure it is still in operation and on time.

Travel early

I know, I know, I hate traveling early too but it's worth it. If you can manage to get the first flight of the day, you'll be less likely to be delayed since something usually has to happen before your scheduled departure to slow the airline down. You'll also be able to take a little snooze on the plane. I suggest snagging a window seat and bringing either a pillow or sweater to lay your head on against the window. NOTE: This will probably hurt your neck, so don't do it for prolonged periods of time.

Don't get mad, find solutions

It's easy to get angry with the airline when a flight is delayed or cancelled all together, but that doesn't get you to your destination. If things aren't looking good with the flight you booked, start making other arrangements. Call the airline you made reservations with and see what they can do. If their hands are tied, call another airline. Even easier is to simply open your laptop and visit Kayak for making alternative arrangements.

Get a refund

Even your non-refundable ticket should be refunded if the delayed or cancelled flight causes you to miss anything you had planned. Check out the airline's rules and regulations to find out what you're entitled to.

While we can't possibly make the airlines be more responsible or prevent unforeseen circumstances, we can certainly do our part to make sure we avoid delays and ensure we're not taken advantage of. If a delay is imminent, make the best of it. Once you've corrected the problem either by arranging another flight or some other mode of transportation, make your down time productive. Our article "Productive Layovers: Fact or Wishful Thinking" gives great ideas for making the most of this otherwise unproductive time away from the office.