Some airlines are more likely than others to experience delays on Labor Day Weekend. That’s according to recent Bureau of Transportation Statistics data compiled by Price4Limo.
The best airline to fly with is Hawaiian Airlines, which had the lowest cancelation and detour rates over Labor Day weekend last year. Hawaiian averages only 6% delays on departures.
Delta Air Lines is the most trustworthy of the four major U.S. carriers with an average departure delay of 9 percent, while Alaska Airlines rounds out the top three most reliable carriers for Labor Day with an average departure delay of 11 percent.
At the other end of the spectrum, JetBlue performs the worst. During Labor Day weekend, JetBlue typically experiences 20% more delayed flights. Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines, two ultra-low-cost airlines, are not much better at 18%.
United Airlines (14%) is in the middle of the pack, followed by Spirit Airlines (15%), American Airlines (15%), and Southwest Airlines (17%). Remember that over the Labor Day weekend, Spirit had the highest average cancellation rate.
Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is the best airport for on-time departures over Labor Day Weekend, with an average of 93 percent.
Both Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) perform admirably, scoring 91 and 90 percent, respectively. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Detroit Metro Airport (DTW), and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) also met the 90 percent mark.
Luis Muñoz Martín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the most affected by delays (20%), followed by Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) at 18%. Boston Logan International Airport, Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), San Antonio International Airport and San Antonio International Airport tied for third-to-last place with 17 percent of delayed Labor Day departures.
You’ll have a better chance of arriving on time over Labor Day Weekend if you plan your trip for the right day.