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Delays to flights…
…we all hate them, but we’ve sort of come to accept that they’re just part of the travel process, haven’t we?
It’s sometimes more surprising to hear that someone’s flight plans have actually gone to plan!
As an independent travel agent, I manage my clients’ holiday bookings from the initial enquiry, all the way through until they’re back home, safe and sound.
My clients trust me to keep them informed about what’s happening with their flights, and I try to keep them ahead of the game (even ahead of the announcements!) so they can relax in the lounge without having to scrabble around for bits and pieces of information.
The recent scenes at Manchester Airport, where holidaymakers were turning up only to be turned away, weren’t good to see at all, but many of my clients didn’t even make that wasted trip to their departure airport in the first place, as I had already warned them well in advance of what they would face – cancelled or severely delayed flights.
My extensive access to up-to-date flight information allows me to do this, and my commitment to customer service keeps me on my toes and my clients well informed.
So, why do flights get delayed so frequently then?
I had to smile this week when I saw that EasyJet had apologised for announcing that a Jersey to Gatwick flight was delayed due to ‘snow on the runway…’
…in August…
This was down to human error apparently, but what about some of the other, more genuine and less amusing reasons?
What can you expect to hear when you’re looking for answers, as to why your flight was delayed?
Maintenance Issues – It’s reassuring to know that pilots always carry out final checks before departure, but if they find something that may need the attention of the ground crew, there’s always potential for this to cause a delay.
Much better to be safe than sorry though…
Crew shortages – Just like any line of work, airlines are dependent on their staff turning up on time, and this includes cabin crew. On rare occasions, flights may be delayed as replacement staff are found to serve your flight.
You’re not exactly going to bring that G&T to your own seat, are you?
Strikes – We’ve seen this recently in the UK, or at least the very real threat of this, and strikes can definitely cause widespread delays.
The threat of strikes, as well as a lack of security and baggage staff, are hangover effects from the pandemic.
What else could your flight be delayed for?
Baggage loading, cleaning and preparation, extreme weather, low visibility, airport operations, air traffic control restrictions, security concerns…
…and the most common reason of all – late arriving aircraft.
It might not surprise you to find out that the most common reason for a flight to be delayed is other flight delays!
The knock-on effect of one delay often causes further flights to be delayed. 40% of delays are actually due to late arriving aircraft, so the domino effect can cause issues for plenty of passengers.
What’s the reason for me telling you all this?
Because you may be entitled to compensation in some circumstances, and you may be given food and drink vouchers, or even overnight accommodation in others.
You can see the ins and outs of this here:
Or you can leave all that to me, Lorraine Robinson – Collective Travel, when you book your next holiday through me.
In the meantime, let me know if you can beat the ‘snow on the runway in August’ excuse…
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