It can be very frustrating to arrive at an airport only to find out that your flight is delayed. Fortunately, there is a clever travel hack that reveals flight delays before the airline officially confirms them.
In 2024, the average delay for flights from major airports across the UK was just over 18 minutes. In many cases, the delays were caused by a late-arriving aircraft. According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Gatwick was the UK’s worst airport for flight delays for the second year running.
Holidaymakers are now being advised to use plane-tracking apps such as FlightAware, FlightRadar24 and Plane Finder to monitor their flight. They help to give the exact location of the plane assigned to flight, which often helps spot a delay an hour before official announcements.
Ski Vertigo, a travel expert, says: “It’s surprisingly easy. With a few taps, you can check where your incoming aircraft is and how far behind schedule it’s running – long before you hear anything from the gate.”
The expert adds: “If you’re flying during peak travel seasons – like July or December – this trick is especially useful. Queues grow quickly when delays hit, and early knowledge means faster rebooking or better seats.”
The flight-tracking apps shows a plane’s real-time position, speed and delays from its previous journey. This allows travellers to connect the dots and calculate delays before the airline announces them.
Ski Vertigo explains: “It puts the power back in your hands. You’re not waiting for the airline to finally update you – you already know.”
The experts advise to search for your flight on a tracker app by entering the flight number. You can then view the aircraft’s inbound journey.
If it is running late, then your flight will also be delayed. Some apps also show the estimated turnaround time, which includes refuelling, cleaning and boarding the aircraft.
Some apps also give live alerts so you can track updates on gate changes, delays or aircraft swaps. They also offer revised arrival times which can help you plan accordingly.
