How To See If Your Flight Is On-time?

Answer 1

In the old days, passengers would simply call their airline to check to see if their flight is on time. While this is still possible, it is not convenient as passengers may wait on hold, navigate through a phone tree, and have to put up with unreliable voice recognition programs. Thankfully, there are other ways to quickly and reliably check the status of your flight. First, try the airline’s web site as many will provide some type of real time updates. Travelers may also have the opportunity to enter in their email address of cell phone number in order to receive text updates.

Another valuable tool is a website called FlightAware.com. This site uses data from the air traffic control system to precisely locate any commercial flight. One of its many features allows users to track the inbound aircraft that will be used for your flight. In this way, travelers can make their own judgment as to whether or not their flight is truly on time. To do so, consider the arrival time of the aircraft being used for your flight, and add 45 minutes to an hour in order to account for the time necessary for the aircraft to get to the gate, the passengers to depart, the plane to be serviced, and the departing passengers to board.

Unfortunately, none of these systems are foolproof. Airlines may substitute one aircraft for another to avoid a delay, and mechanical delays may be repaired ahead of schedule. In this way, it is occasionally possible that an airline will “un delay” a flight and board it earlier than previously indicated. By using all available resources to keep track of the status of your flight, you can arrive at the gate in time for your flight, or make alternate plans if necessary.