Winter Travel, Delays, and Cancellations – How FlightAware® Can Help

In many locations, November, December, January, and February offer harsh weather conditions. These winter months can lead to disruptions which could tempt travelers to stay inside and wait for more welcoming spring conditions. Whether it’s a holiday vacation to see family and friends or a much-needed winter getaway to a warmer climate, the FlightAware app can help travelers navigate winter travel challenges and delays.

Using FlightAware to Make Your Next Trip Go Smoothly

Weather conditions can significantly impact air travel and seasonal challenges can place additional stress on operations. FAA data indicates that weather is a contributing factor in over 70% of delays and that, in 2022, weather delays were most prevalent in winter. These conditions not only affect flight schedules but also increase demand for ground operations and aircraft maintenance. For travelers, this can translate into airport delays and adjustments to tightly-scheduled time commitments.

In late December 2024, a storm surge throughout the East Coast emerged the week before Christmas. According to FlightAware data, over 9,000 flights in the U.S. were delayed Saturday, December 21.The combination of holiday travel stress and unforeseen events can have a very intimidating effect on flyers planning their next vacation.

Although weather events are out of airlines’ and passengers’ control, familiarization with the FlightAware app can keep travelers a step ahead—whether monitoring a potential snowstorm or tracking a delayed connection. The more understanding travelers have of the “beehive” network that is commercial aviation, the more effectively and swiftly they can act at the airport.

Here are some helpful tips for using the FlightAware app on iOS or Android.

Flight Monitoring on the FlightAware App

Find Your Flight

Search by Flight Number or Route: Open the app and use the search bar to enter your flight number, departure or arrival airport

Tap on the Flight: Select your flight from the search results to view the status

“Where is my plane”: Gives you a transparent, real-time view of your flight’s journey, helping you anticipate delays or schedule changes.

Set Up Alerts 

Tap the Bell Icon: On the flight details screen, tap the bell icon to set up alerts for that flight

Choose Alert Preferences: Select whether you want to receive notifications via email or text message, or both 

Receive Notifications: The app will then notify you of departures, arrivals, delays, and cancellations for your flight 

Monitor Airport Activity                             

Check an Airport's Status: Type an airport code into the search bar to see all inbound and outbound flights 

View Real-Time Information: The app provides real-time data on departures, arrivals, and potential delays at the airport

Use Additional Features 

Misery Map: For a broad overview, access FlightAware's "Misery Map" to see a quick glance at airports and routes with significant delay impacts 

My FlightAware: Create an account and save frequently tracked flights and airports for easy access 

Real-Time Maps: Use the app's various overlays to view weather radar or flight paths in real-time

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