Don’t Let Winter Hold You Hostage: Use Weather Delays to Your Advantage

According to WeatherBill, an online weather risk management service, between June 2003 and April 2007, over 25 percent of U.S. flights were either cancelled or delayed, and more than 55 percent of those disruptions were due to weather. In fact, weather is the leading cause of flight disruptions in the U.S., with 16 percent of flights during the winter being affected, 15 percent during summer, 13 percent during spring and the least at 12 percent during the fall. The best and the worst airlines and airports are listed below.

The truth about weather delays is that the impact of the weather on your flight has a lot to do not just with the weather at your airport, but the conditions along the way, at your destination or anywhere in the system, because the airlines rely on aircraft coming from other cities. That being said, savvy travelers prepare accordingly in order to plan around bad weather or remain productive when delayed.

How to Plan Around Bad Weather

Okay, it might be a little difficult to actually plan around bad weather; however, there are certain steps you can take to minimize the problem. According to the folks at the independenttraveler.com, here are some simple tips to keep in mind.

• Check the Weather. This seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes people make assumptions about the weather at their destination. It's like that song, It Never Rains in Southern California. So wrong!
• Check Your Connections. Sometimes where you are and where you are going are great, but it's a mess in between. Call and see if you can be rerouted through a different airport.
• Check Out Morning Flights. Believe it or not, morning flights are less likely to be delayed because the effect of the weather generally accumulates by the end of the day.
• Check Out the 800 Number. If you find yourself looking at a delay, it's easier and quicker to call the airline's 800 number to make alternate arrangements than to stand in line.
• Check for Updates. Follow up with your flight status often because things change constantly. And make sure your or someone you are traveling with stays near the gate for any important announcements.

What to Do While Waiting for Your Flight

Whether you are sitting in an airport waiting for your flight or are experiencing some down time due to some other reason, there are always things you can do to occupy your time in a productive manner. Here are five things you can do to use your wait time.

• Check Messages. Now is the perfect time to listen to voice mail, check email (if you have the technology), send IMs, or even write a letter.
• Check in with Your Boss or Loved Ones. Are there projects that are pending or loved ones you haven't spoken to in a while? Now is a great time to keep your boss in the loop or call that someone who would love to hear from you.
• Check Your To-Do List. You probably have a long list of things to do. Now is a great time to get some of them done. Need to send an email? Write a letter? Draft a proposal or report? Review your snail mail or a professional journal? Or better yet, write a to-do list.
• Check Out a Book. If you'd rather relax, sitting in an airport gives you ample opportunity to start that book you've been meaning to read (or write?).
• Check Your Stress. Sitting and waiting can cause you to stress out. So instead of chugging down a half dozen lattes, work off your stress by walking. A little extra exercise never hurt anyone.

The whole idea is that even if you are experiencing a delayed flight, there are things you can do to use travel delays to your best advantage. And if you want to track current delays from specific airports, check out travel information at USAToday.com.