A word of advice for anyone who dreads being stuck in the purgatory of an airport terminal, gazing wistfully at the departures screen: avoid Chicago.
We analyzed data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics for 29 major U.S. airports to highlight which have experienced the least and most delayed departures over a 12-month period (July 2013 to June 2014). And both of the Windy City’s major hubs are among the worst offenders.
At Chicago’s Midway International Airport, one in three planes left behind schedule, earning it the title of tardiest airport—for a second year in a row. Nearby O’Hare International Airport landed at No. 4, with more than a quarter of its flights running late.
Airports, admittedly, are largely at the mercy of air traffic control and weather when it comes to delays, says aviation consultant Mike Boyd. “The airport itself has really no control whatsoever on reducing delays,” Boyd says. “They care, but they can’t do anything.”
Nor can you always control which airports you fly through. Yet you can plan your travel in a way that lessens your chance of sitting at the gate. For each airport, we identified the time of day to depart. Hint: the times to avoid are often in the afternoon and evening, thanks to the domino effect of cascading delays. “An earlier flight always makes more sense than a later flight,” Boyd says. “But that’s still not a guarantee.”
To find out your odds, see where San Francisco, Dulles, Orlando, and other major hubs rank among the best and worst airports for avoiding delays.
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10. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Flights Delayed: 22.1%
Though ranked second-worst for delays just two years ago, this year the gateway to the Golden Gate scored only a few percentage points lower than the 10th-best airport. Unlike all other destinations on this year’s list, SFO’s delays peak around lunchtime and actually improve as the day goes on.
Best Time Window: Before 10 a.m.
Worst Time Window: Noon–3 p.m.
8. (Tie) Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Flights Delayed: 22.3%
If your flight from this outlying D.C. airport is delayed, chances are good you won’t just be late: you’ll be really late. Dulles has posted delays as much as 28 percent longer than the national average. In September 2013, for instance, typical setbacks lasted about 70 minutes.
Best Time Window: Before 11 a.m.
Worst Time Window: 6–7 p.m.; 8–9 p.m.
8. (Tie) Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Flights Delayed: 22.3%
Thought theme-park lines were enough to sour a fairy-tale vacation? Try leaving Orlando at dinnertime or later. At least a quarter of flights departing this Central Florida hub run late throughout the evening. But MCO isn’t all wicked: on-time percentages stay above 90 nearly all morning. And the airport’s giant aquarium and King Kong video arcade will help you pass any added wait time.
Best Time Window: Before 1 p.m.
Worst Time Window: 10–11 p.m.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider