Cirium is an aviation analytics company that combines data and analytics to assist the global travel industry. Founded in 1909 (initially launching the world’s first weekly aerospace magazine), it has evolved into a leading aviation industry insights and analytics provider.

Platinum Award for Operational Excellence 

Delta received the Platinum Award for Operational Excellence for the fourth year in a row, with an 83.46% on-time performance across over 1.7 million flights. The airline demonstrated remarkable resilience when faced with a significant setback in July 2024 due to a global CrowdStrike software disruption. Delta quickly recovered and returned to industry-leading performance levels by August with an 80.9% on-time rate, followed by an even stronger 87.81% in September. 

Global On-Time Award 2024

Aeromexico achieved an outstanding 86.70% punctuality rate across nearly 200,000 flights. Aeromexico’s achievement reflects its strategic investments in fleet modernization and technological advancements, including the expansion to 113 aircraft with an average age of just 7.1 years.

Regional Airline On-Time Winners 

North America

Unsurprisingly (thanks to its Platinum status), Delta Air Lines dominated the North American market, maintaining exceptional service standards despite operational challenges. Delta continues to excel thanks to its comprehensive training programs and culture that prioritizes safety and punctuality. 

The top ten North American airlines were: 

1. Delta Air Lines  83.46% 
2. United Airlines  80.93% 
3. Alaska Airlines  79.25% 
4. American Airlines 4 77.78%
5. Southwest Airlines 5 77.77% 
6. Spirit Airlines 6 76.05% 
7. JetBlue 7 74.53% 
8. Frontier Airlines  71.57% 
9. Air Canada  71.36%
10. WestJet 70.99%

Asia 

Japan Airlines led the region with an 80.90% on-time rate, demonstrating Japanese efficiency and precision in aviation operations. 

Europe

Iberia Express topped European carriers with an 84.69% on-time rate.

Central America

Copa Airlines achieved an impressive 88.22% on-time performance.

Middle East & Africa

FlySafair emerged as the regional leader with a remarkable 93.82% on-time rate.

Airport Excellence

While airlines have a lot to do with how punctual their flights are, the airports themselves also play a significant role in punctuality.  These are the winners for airport excellence in on-time flights. 

Riyadh King Khalid International Airport – Saudi Arabia 

The inaugural Airport Platinum Award went to Riyadh King Khalid International Airport, recognizing its exceptional performance in maintaining high punctuality standards, with an 86.65% on-time performance rate. 

US Airport – Honolulu International Airport

The airport in the US with the highest on-time performance rate was Honolulu, with an impressive 85.45% rate, followed by Salt Lake City, with an impressive 83.80% rate. 

Medium Airport – Panama City Tocumen International Airport 

Medium-sized Panama City Tocumen Airport had an outstanding 90.34% punctuality score. 

Small Airports: Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport – Ecuador

Smaller airport Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmedo Airport achieved an impressive 91.38% on-time rate.

The post The World’s Most Punctual Airlines appeared first on SmarterTravel.

In a statement released Monday, Apple explained that those using AirTags in their luggage will get a link generated in the Find My Item app. “Recipients of a link will be able to view a website that shows the location of the item on an interactive map. The website will automatically update when a new location is available and will show a timestamp of the most recent update.” You can then share the location with the airline, allowing them to find your luggage and reunite you with it. Currently, only the traveler can see the location, and Airlines are helpless when it comes to locating it. 

If you’re worried about privacy (and who isn’t these days), you don’t have to. Once passengers are reunited with their item, the shared location will automatically be disabled, and the owner can also disable it at any time. 

The airlines currently participating in include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United, Virgin Atlantic, and Vueling. The technology will first work at select airports of the airlines, with system-wide usage in 2025. 

More airlines are also expected to follow. Apple’s statement also said that “additionally, SITA, a leader in air transport technology, will build support for Share Item Location into WorldTracer, the baggage-tracing system used by over 500 airlines and ground handlers at more than 2,800 airports around the world.”

AirTags can be bought in packs of one or four, and are only compatible with iPhones.

The post Apple and Airlines Team Up to Track Lost Luggage appeared first on SmarterTravel.

One of my biggest pet peeves when I am flying is people who cannot follow the rules when it comes to boarding (and disembarking, for that matter). I was thrilled to see that American Airlines is on my side and is testing a new boarding process technology that will crack down on people who try to board earlier than their assigned boarding group. 

The new technology will create an audible alert to the boarding agents, letting them know the passenger is boarding earlier than their boarding group. Agents will then (presumably) ask the passenger to step aside and wait for their correct boarding time. According to a report by CBS News, “gate agents still retain some discretion over the boarding process.” In other words, if they get the alert, it is up to them to decide whether you must wait to board. If you are traveling with a group and have a later boarding group than everyone else, they may let it slide (but they may not!) 

After testing the new protocol at three airports (Albuquerque International, Tucson International, and Ronald Reagan Washington National), they are expanding to 100 airports nationwide before the Thanksgiving travel rush. Julie Rath, American’s Senior Vice President of Airport Operations, Reservations and Service Recovery said in a statement that they’ve heard from their customers “that the ability to board with their assigned group is important to them because it’s a benefit associated with their AAdvantage status or fare purchase,” and that “the initial positive response from customers and team members has exceeded our expectations, so we are thrilled to leverage this technology to deliver for them ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.”

The airline states that “the new technology is designed to ensure customers receive the benefits of priority boarding with ease and helps improve the boarding experience by providing greater visibility into boarding progress for our team.” 

Airports included in the expansion are Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), which is the busiest airport in the country.

The post American Airlines is Cracking Down on Boarding Group Cheaters appeared first on SmarterTravel.

This regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires all airlines operating flights to, from, or within the United States to provide a full refund if passengers cancel their flight within 24 hours of booking. This applies even to non-flexible fares that normally don’t allow changes or cancellations.

Under the rule, airlines must refund the full fare to the original form of payment (not via a travel voucher or flight credit) if a ticket is canceled within 24 hours of purchase—even for nonrefundable fares.

How Can This Rule Save You Money?

Imagine you bought a plane ticket, and then the next day, the airline has a big flight sale and the price for your itinerary is now lower than what you paid. If it’s been less than 24 hours since you bought your ticket, you can simply cancel the ticket and then rebook at the lower price without worrying about change or cancellation fees. 

We recommend checking the price of your ticket a few times throughout the 24 hour period after you book to see if fares decrease—this strategy often pays off, and you’ll be able to rebook and save.

Knowing about the 24-hour rule can also give you peace of mind if you see an incredibly low fare that you want to jump on. Rather than waiting on approval from your boss for time off or for your travel companion to get back to you (and potentially missing out on that cheap flight), you can simply book the ticket, and if it doesn’t work out, cancel it within 24 hours for no penalty.

If you booked a ticket quickly, you can also take advantage of the 24-hour period to double-check the information on your reservation (like making sure you didn’t misspell a passenger’s name)—something that airlines could charge you to correct.

Important Exceptions to the Rule

There are three important exceptions you should know before taking advantage of the 24-hour rule.

1. This rule only applies if you’re booking directly with the airline. If you book through an online travel agency like Expedia, you’ll have to abide by the company’s refund policy (which is usually not as lenient.) 

2. Airlines can offer customers the ability to hold a fare for free for up to 24 hours instead of providing a refund within 24 hours. Be sure to check that the airline you’re booking with doesn’t offer this before you buy your ticket—for example, American Airlines offers a free 24-hour hold on select flights. If the airline does provide this service, you can still save money by putting the fare on hold and waiting to see if the price drops within 24 before you buy the ticket. 

3. The 24-hour rule only applies to flights booked at least seven days before departure, so know that you won’t be able to get a refund if you book a ticket less than a week before your flight.

How Do You Cancel Under the 24 Hour Rule?

You don’t need to do anything special to get your full refund when canceling a flight reservation within 24 hours. Simply cancel your booking as you normally would, and the airline should promptly refund your original form of payment. 

The post Everything You Need to Know About the 24-Hour Rule appeared first on SmarterTravel.

The TSA chose Barni through a two-round public vote on their social media platforms. This annual contest, coinciding with National Dog Day on August 26, celebrates the agency’s hardworking canine officers.

Barni has been employed by the TSA since 2022. The chocolate brown dog works with his handler, Michelle Cogle, to sniff out traces of explosives at the airport. “Because he is so very handsome, he attracts attention from passengers who we screen as they work their way through the security checkpoint line,” says Cogle. “He loves his job keeping travelers safe and he enjoys meeting and sniffing passengers.” 

Barni enjoys frequent breaks while on the job to play with his favorite toy, a squeaky ball. Of course, Barni isn’t the only adorable TSA K-9 officer around. The agency has trained over 1,000 canine teams that work at airports and mass-transit facilities across the country. These dogs are trained to detect the scents of explosives and explosive materials on and inside stationary objects as well as moving objects, such as passengers and luggage. 

If you want to see more of these good boys and girls, be sure to watch the TSA’s website, as their free 2025 Canine Calendar will be released in late fall. Click here to get the 2024 calendar.

The post Meet the Dog Voted TSA’s Cutest Canine appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Cyberattacks on American airports are not a new phenomenon. Major hubs like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta have all fallen victim in the past, and such incidents are likely to continue, potentially causing significant travel disruptions.

The tips that I learned from my experience could help you if you’re flying out of an airport that’s been hit by a cyberattack.

Check Social Media for Updates

There was minimal news coverage of what was happening at the airport, and I found the most accurate and up-to-date information on SeaTac’s X (Twitter) account.

If you hear about a cyber attack, check the official social media accounts for the airport and your airline to find out what’s happening. 

If you’re not at the airport yet and want to know how chaotic it is, searching for hashtags related to the incident can show you real-time videos and stories from travelers already there that will help you know what to expect.

Monitor Your Flight Status

About an hour after being notified that my flight was delayed, I got another email letting me know that my flight was back to its originally scheduled time. You should monitor your flight status closely and plan to be at the airport for your original departure time in case anything changes. 

I flew out on the first day of the cyber attack, when 165 flights were delayed and six were canceled. My flight was delayed about an hour, but the delay was never announced again. When computer systems are down, there can be lags in notifying passengers about departure time changes. 

Allow Extra Time at the Airport

During a cyber attack, computer systems will be down, and passengers and luggage will have to be checked in manually. Even TSA screening may have to be done manually in some cases (in my case, I was able to go through TSA PreCheck as normal), which can take a significant amount of extra time. 

Check Into Your Flight Online

Fortunately, I had already checked in online and saved my boarding pass before the cyber attack struck. Check-in lines at the airport were extremely long for people who did not check-in online, so avoid doing this if you can.

Print your ticket at home (or save your mobile boarding pass to your phone) as you won’t be able to print your pass at an airport kiosk. 

Do Not Check a Bag

Avoid checking a bag at all costs during a cyber attack, as your luggage is very likely to be delayed or lost. A spokesperson for Alaska Airlines told the Seattle Times that staff was manually sorting over 7,000 checked bags at Sea-Tac because a “majority” of checked bags did not make it onto their flights during the cyber attack. 

Download Your Airline’s App

Although the departure and arrival screens were working in the main terminal at SeaTac, the screens were completely black in the terminal I flew out of. 

The televisions over the gates did not show what flight was departing from that gate, and there was no departure board to check flight status or gate. I had to check my airline’s app to find out what gate I was flying out of.

Listen for Information

My departure gate changed about 30 minutes before my flight boarded, and there was only one hard-to-hear announcement about the change. Without screens displaying information, this would have been really easy to miss, and flyers who didn’t hear it, may have missed their flight waiting at the wrong gate. 

The gate change was never reflected in the airline’s app—the only reason I realized my gate had changed was because the airline crew at my gate all got up and left for another gate. Pay attention to all announcements, and be sure to confirm with airline staff that you’re at the correct gate.

Don’t Swap Seats Once Onboard

My flight had to be boarded manually—instead of scanning our boarding passes, the gate agent visually inspected each one before radioing the flight crew which seat number was boarding. After everyone was on the plane, the flight attendants came down the aisle to verify that the correct passengers were in each seat—anyone who swapped seats ended up delaying the process even further.

The post It Happened to Me: What You Need to Know if There’s a Cyberattack at the Airport appeared first on SmarterTravel.

A new study by Upgraded Points uncovers the airports that have received the most TSA-related complaints. Upgraded Points analyzed TSA complaint data from 2015 to 2023 at 44 major U.S. airports, revealing which locations are more likely to leave passengers disgruntled enough to formally voice their concerns. 

If you’ve ever flown through chaotic Newark Liberty International Airport, you may be unsurprised that the New Jersey airport topped the list as the worst airport for TSA complaints. This New York City-area airport fields nearly twice as many passenger complaints as the average airport. The majority of grievances are about TSA PreCheck (44.8 percent of all complaints), customer service (14.6 percent), and mishandled baggage (14 percent).

The 10 Worst US Airports for TSA Complaints

If you’re hoping to sail through airport security on your next trip, flying through Charlotte Douglas International Airport is your best bet. This airport has the fewest TSA complaints, with less than two complaints per 100,000 passengers—about half the complaints of the average U.S. airport. 

The US Airports With the Least Amount of TSA Complaints

How to File a Complaint With TSA

If you feel the TSA has wronged you, you can file a complaint on its website. Complaints must be logged within 180 days of the incident, and the TSA aims to respond within 48 hours.

The post The US Airports With the Most TSA Complaints appeared first on SmarterTravel.

National Cheap Flight Day highlights a recurring pattern in the travel industry where bargains emerge as seasonal demand fluctuates. As summer leisure trips wind down and holiday travel planning has yet to begin, airlines strategically reduce fares to maintain passenger numbers during this transitional period. This brief window of opportunity precedes a gradual price increase, culminating in peak rates around Thanksgiving.

“Our data shows that airfares are trending downward, and we expect that to continue for the immediate future,” said Glenn Cusano, President of Fareportal, the corporation behind OTA brands CheapOair and OneTravel.

Is National Cheap Flight Day the Best Day to Book?

According to online travel agency CheapOair, August 23rd coincides with a noticeable downward airfare trend. The agency analyzed bookings over the past two months and found a significant decrease in average ticket prices. For U.S. domestic flights, fares have dropped by a third since the beginning of June, while international flight costs have seen a 10 percent reduction. 

However, this dip is more of a general downward trend for fall travel than an indication that August 23rd will be the cheapest day to buy your ticket. Flights are generally less expensive in the fall than in the summer, but to find the best deal, you’ll have better luck setting up airfare alerts (we recommend using our sister site, Airfarewatchdog) and watching prices rather than waiting until one magical date in August to book.

“There is no one day of the year which is the best to book travel, or any ‘golden rule’ about when to book to ensure you get the absolute best deal on airfare,” says Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper. “The reality is that prices for a flight can change multiple times a day, and depend heavily on where you’re traveling to, when you’re traveling and how far in advance you’re searching.”

Berg notes that the end of summer is a great time of the year to snag deals on early fall trips. According to Hopper’s data, plenty of fall deals are available, no matter what date you book. Domestic airfare every weekend of the month after Labor Day is currently averaging around $270 round-trip. 

Looking to take advantage of fewer crowds in Europe while the weather is still nice? Book your trip for the first two weekends of November, when Hopper says you’ll save about 27 percent off your ticket. 

The post The Ultimate Guide to National Cheap Flight Day appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Here’s what you need to know:

Frontier Airlines G.O.A.T Sale

Frontier Airlines’ G.O.A.T Sale is offering tickets for as low as $19 one-way. Some fares are cheaper for members of Frontier’s Discount Den, a fee-based rewards program, so it’s worth price-checking both options. Just be aware that Frontier’s Discount Den costs a hefty $99.99 to join ($59.99 yearly fee plus a $40 enrollment fee), and the discounted fares are usually only cheaper by around $10.

Book By: 11:59 pm Eastern time on August 1, 2024.

Travel Dates: Fares are valid for nonstop travel on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday through November 13, 2024 (exceptions apply).

Blackout Dates: Aug. 29, 2024; Sep. 2-3, 2024; Oct. 11-14, 2024; Nov. 11-12, 2024. 

Best Deals

JetBlue ‘See-ya Summer’ Sale

JetBlue’s end-of-summer sale offers fares as low as $39 one-way. Flight/hotel and hotel/flight/cruise vacation packages are also discounted by as much as $500 during the sale. 

Book By: 11:59 pm Eastern time on August 1, 2024.

Travel Dates: Fares are valid for travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from August 13 through September 25.

Blackout Dates: Blackout dates apply and vary by route. 

Best Deals

The post Two Major Air Sales Happening Now With Fares From $19 appeared first on SmarterTravel.

A widespread outage of CrowdStrike, a major cybersecurity provider, has caused chaos in the U.S. aviation industry today, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations worldwide. The technical issue has affected multiple airlines and airports, leaving countless passengers stranded and scrambling to adjust their travel plans.

CrowdStrike, which provides critical cybersecurity services to many airlines and airports, experienced a significant system failure beginning Thursday evening. The outage has impacted essential operations systems, including those used for check-in, boarding, and flight planning.

Major carriers such as American Airlines, Delta, and United have reported extensive cancellations and delays, and many airports across the U.S. are currently under ground stops or ground delays. Flight tracking site FlightAware reports 23,929 delayed and 2,332 canceled flights today.

CrowdStrike’s CEO, George Kurtz, said early Friday morning, “The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed.”

Aviation experts warn that the ripple effects of this outage could continue for several days, even after the immediate technical issues are resolved. If you’re flying in the next few days, check your flight status before heading to the airport, and be prepared for potential changes to your travel plans. 

Many airlines are waiving change fees and fare differences for all customers who have booked flights departing today, July 19. However, most airlines require re-booking travel by July 24th or 25th. If you wish to change your flight, you should be able to do so directly in the airline’s app or website. Expect significant wait times if you call the airline’s customer service numbers, which are experiencing high call volume due to the outage.

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