Chris Bianchi shared a valuable piece of travel advice on the popular social media platform TikTok.
Beat the delays: is there a magic flight time to avoid summer storms?
Source: NOAA/Unsplash
Being stuck at the airport due to flight delays can be a frustrating experience but a meteorologist has some advice that may help you avoid this nightmare scenario. According to Chris Bianchi, a meteorologist with NBC affiliate 9News in Denver, the timing of your flight can significantly impact the likelihood of encountering delays.
Bianchi shared his insights in a TikTok video that has since gained over 7,600 likes and 300 comments. He cautions against booking flights in the afternoon or, especially, at night during the summer months in the United States. This is because the chances of encountering thunderstorms somewhere in the country are quite high during these times of day, which can significantly disrupt flight schedules.
Bianchi warned:
"If you get a thunderstorm in the wrong place and it impacts your flight, you could be completely screwed."
He learned this lesson the hard way when he broke his own rule and ended up stuck at NYC's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) for hours in the early morning as part of a long delay.
The meteorologist's advice is designed to help travelers make more informed decisions when booking their flights, particularly during the summer months when weather-related disruptions are more common.
Afternoon and evening flights, along with delays, can sometimes be unavoidable. That's why Bianchi emphasizes the importance of being prepared. He recommends downloading flight radar apps like FlightAware and Flightradar24 to track the status of your inbound flight.
Source: Liv Bruce/Unsplash
While afternoon and evening flights might be more tempting due to scheduling, avoiding these peak times, especially during summer, can significantly reduce your chances of encountering delays caused by thunderstorms. Many major air hubs across the United States can be a hassle to navigate with a delayed flight. ParkingNearAirports.io's convenient off-site parking options, including long-term parking near MSP Airport and LaGuardia off-site parking, can help ease the stress of air travel by providing a smooth booking experience and affordable airport parking rates, so you can focus on getting to your destination on time.
Bianchi suggests checking the weather in the departure cities of your flight, such as Chicago or Minneapolis, if your flight is coming from those locations. This is because if there is inclement weather in those places, there's a high likelihood that your flight will be impacted.
As a backup plan, Bianchi advises travelers to book a second, fully refundable flight a few hours later or even for the following day. Otherwise, he cautions, you may find yourself in a situation similar to his, waiting patiently at a deserted Terminal B of LaGuardia Airport at 1:45 in the morning for your 4 a.m. flight back home to Denver.
In general, Bianchi recommends booking flights early in the morning, as the plane is more likely to be at the airport from the night before, and delays haven't yet compounded.
Bianchi's advice comes as the industry prepares for a record-setting summer and a busy July Fourth, during which the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) predicts more than 32 million travelers will fly over the holiday period from June 27th to July 8th.
