Choosing a travel destination is one of the toughest parts of travel planning, selecting a flight that meets your budget and travel times is almost as challenging. One question we often get, “When is the best time of day to fly?” Our answer, “It depends…” Let’s explain.
Best Flight Times When Leaving Home
When you are departing from your origination point (AKA: home), many prefer to fly first thing the morning. Just like us after a night of good sleep, airline circulation is freshest in the morning. If your flight departs in the morning, you are less likely to be affected by delays that stack up during the day and push back or cancel departure times. Alternatively, some desire a late morning or early afternoon departure because they spend the night fretting about sleeping in too late and missing their early morning flight!
Best Flight Time When Flying Back Home
To maximize a trip depart in the late afternoon or early evening. This way, you can enjoy one more relaxing date and sneak in one more activity or sightseeing trip. If your hotel has a late checkout option, take advantage of it or ask them to hold your luggage at the front desk while you go out and explore before your flight.
Of course, choosing your flight time isn’t always a luxury. Airlines are limiting their flight choices more and more today to ensure fuller, more profitable flights. You may also be restricted by your home schedule. The good thing is that when you use offsite airport parking, you can arrive and depart whenever it works for you as offsite airport shuttles in Minneapolis typically run 24 hours a day.