Holding patterns at JFK

The guys and gals over at NYC Aviation sure do a great Twitter feed and blog. Recently they highlighted a little-known side effect of Government spending reduction: FAA ATC delays. That’s right America! Our Congress wasn’t able to get funding passed for some key personnel, so they are working fewer hours and there will be more and more delays. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.

The article outlines several things to do to minimize the pain of delays, a lot of which were featured in my 5 Tips From a Pro Traveler post.

• Arrive at the airport early, and be prepared to wait. With some TSA screeners furloughed, it is possible that lines may be longer than usual, and some checkpoints may be closed altogether. Arrive early and minimize the risk of missing your flight. With passenger loads being quite high right now, it may be a while before you are rebooked by your airline. If you are a member of the TSA’s PreCheck, take advantage! If you haven’t already signed up for PreCheck, now would be a really good time to consider it.
• Fly early in the day to avoid cascading delays that may occur. As the day goes on, flights are more likely to be delayed. Nobody likes being on that 5am flight out of LAX, but it may just save the day.
• Consider secondary airports that may be impacted less by delays. For example, consider flying out of Midway in Chicago, as opposed to O’Hare. The larger the airport, the more likely you are to be delayed. It’s a long shot, but ask your airline if they are willing to switch you to a secondary airport.
• If possible, avoid New York! Here at NYCAviation, we are proud of our local airports, but the on-time performance at the three major airports stinks on a good day. If at all possible, route through any other city.
• Fly mainline instead of regional carriers. During times of heavy delays, airlines prioritize flights to maximize available slots. Regional airlines, such as American Eagle and Delta Connection, often fare much worse than their mainline counterpart. If you can book trips solely on a mainline carrier aircraft, do it.
• Bring some snacks that will sustain you during a lengthy delay. Dining at the airport can be an expensive ordeal, so try to bring something to eat with you. Remember, however, no drinks can be brought through security.
• Know you rights as a passenger. The DOT has specific rules for delays, and it never hurts to know your rights. Bookmark this page on your phone, or print a copy.
• Keep calm. A calm passenger is much more likely to receive assistance from an airline employee than someone who is stark raving mad. Remember, this isn’t the airlines fault, and they don’t like this any more than you do. Do NOT take it out on an airline employee.