July was the hardest hit by extreme weather last year, with 7,996 delays, according to federal data. It was the worst month for delays since at least 2016. July has been the worst month of the year by that measure in six of the past eight years.
Between June and August last year, there were almost 20,000 delays due to extreme weather conditions. That is more than the number of delays that occurred in the least affected six months.
Why delays are greater in summer
The Department of Transportation defines severe weather delays as those caused by actual or expected “significant weather conditions,” such as a tornado, blizzard or hurricane, that would delay or prevent a flight from operating.
Delays caused by non-extreme weather conditions are classified in a separate category that also includes airport operations, heavy traffic and air traffic control. Department of Transport statistics show that weather conditions are responsible for the largest share of these delays (often more than 60%) between May and August.
Summer thunderstorms are accompanied by “lightning that can disrupt airport operations and in some cases completely shut down arrivals and departures at major airports,” Robert W. Mann, a consultant and former airline executive, said in an email. Bad weather can disrupt traffic along busy air corridors. He said such summer conditions are more likely and more widespread than winter disruptions, making delays more common in the summer.
Kathleen Bangs, a spokeswoman for flight-tracking service FlightAware and a former airline pilot, said the arrival of lines of thunderstorms can force an airport to quickly adjust its operations, including the direction in which planes take off and land.
“It doesn’t happen often in the winter,” she said. “There aren’t that many rapid changes in such a short period of time.”
Little protection against weather delays
For summer travelers, the combination of storm delays and full flights could add to the frustration. Mann noted that there will likely be fewer empty seats to accommodate passengers whose flights were canceled or who missed connections.
“With so many people traveling in the summer, your options can be pretty limited,” said Katy Nastro, a spokeswoman for cheap flight alert service Going.
Airlines are also limited in their liability for weather-related delays. Major carriers have committed to providing some measures for their customers, such as offering meal vouchers and hotel stays in the event of cancellations or significant delays due to “controllable” circumstances.
“Unfortunately, this uncontrollable scenario gives you the least rights,” Nastro said.
However, regardless of the reason, if a flight is canceled or significantly delayed and a passenger ultimately cannot travel, they are entitled to a refund. Once a new DOT rule goes into effect later this year, those refunds will have to be issued automatically.
How to avoid flight delays
Air travel experts recommend that passengers keep a few tips in mind to give themselves the best chance of sailing smoothly during the stormy months.
According to Nastro, if travelers are still planning their trip or have the ability to change an existing trip, they should take the first flight of the day they can find. The chances of bad weather are lower, and planes are usually waiting at the airport, limiting the chances of delays. And if something were to go wrong, travelers would still have time to try to catch later flights.
Another benefit of morning flights? “The trip will almost always be more pleasant,” Bangs said.
Travelers should also take nonstop flights whenever possible to avoid the risk of disruptions during layovers and potentially missing connecting flights.
Bangs recommends checking the National Weather Service’s national weather forecast chart and a Federal Aviation Administration page that shows the state of the country’s airspace. If there are major storms or delays where you’re going, that can give you a chance to proactively make alternate arrangements.
“It gives you information that allows you to start looking further ahead,” she said. “I think of the country as a kind of big chessboard and you can get a few moves ahead by knowing what’s going on.”
If you know before you get to the airport that your flight will be delayed, experts advise you to play it safe and arrive on time as long as the posted delay is two hours or less. If you want to stay home, use a flight tracking site like FlightAware or Flightradar24 to track your plane’s location, and be sure to sign up for airline notifications.
“Be very careful about your travel choices,” Henry Harteveldt, a travel analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, told The Washington Post last year. “Ultimately, the airline is not responsible for making sure you’re on the plane. That’s up to you. When it’s time to leave, the plane will leave.”
Andrea Sachs contributed to this report
