Flying is one of humanity’s greatest achievements. It’s also one of the most frustrating things you can ever do.

Flights are delayed, cancelled and rescheduled all the time, messing up your plans in any number of ways. It could be as harmless as losing the time you’d planned to enjoy a cappuccino and read your book. Or it could be as infuriating as missing your connecting flight.

It’s happened to all of us. But with a little preparation and the right information, you could avoid running like crazy around the airport or biting your nails at passport control, wondering if you’ll make it aboard the last train into the city.

Here’s what to do to minimize the possibility of your travel plans falling apart.

Book morning flights

There are plenty of external circumstances that can disrupt flight schedules: bad weather, air traffic, maintenance, suicidal birds etc.

Things tend to start alright, then get worse during the day. That means there’s a bigger chance of delays in the evening (according to the US Department of Transportation data). Nighttime seems to restart the machine and early flights (from 6 am to 10 am) have the highest chance of sticking to their schedule.

Peak hour for delays is around 6 pm, when you can expect to take off 20 minutes later on average. 

The early morning rule is cancelled out in some cities that often experience heavy fogs, such as San Francisco. If you fly from San Francisco, choose the afternoon flight.

Flights scheduled between 6 am and 10 am have the lowest chance of being delayed.

Don’t fly on Friday, fly on Saturday

According to a Business Insider article, 30% of Friday flights don’t make it off the ground on time, making it by far the worst day of the week for flying. Saturday, on the other hand, is a much better option.

Avoid the world’s most delay-prone airports

Statistics have identified the airports where delays are normal and on-time arrivals are the exception. As you will see, most are in China, so consider yourself lucky if your hometown’s airport doesn’t make this list (the data is from 2015).

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta, Indonesia

Xiaoshan Airport, Hangzhou, China

Nanjing, China

Pudong Airport, Shanghai, China

Shenzhen, China

Tianjin, China

Hongqiao, Shanghai, China

Guangzhou, China

Manchester, UK

Fuzhou, China

Bad news for anyone living in China…

Leave at least three hours between connecting flights

This is another trick to ensure that even if your flight is delayed, it won’t ruin your trip. Always leave at least three hours between connecting flights, especially if you have to change terminals at gigantic international airports. You’re better off enjoying a cappuccino with a book in hand than spending an eternity waiting for the next flight.

>>> Read more: 7 really simple ways to feel good after a long flight 

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Spending a lot of time on airplanes increases your risk of gaining weight, a recent study published in The New York Times has revealed. The most at-risk group are business travelers who fly regularly: from a few times a month to almost every day.

The body mass index of travelers who fly at least 21 days per month is higher than that of people who board a plane six times a month or fewer, with the difference being 10 lbs (4.5 kilos) on average, the study reveals.

Other health problems caused by frequent flying:

– Susceptibility to viruses, high blood pressure and diabetes.

– Insomnia, especially if the flight involves crossing time zones.

But ceasing to travel is not an option either. Because,

it turns out that people who travel the most and people who don’t travel at all have equally bad health.

The healthiest option is moderation, as always.

Why does frequent flying ‘help’ you gain weight?

Jet lag and the lack of access to quality food are among the major factors, along with a lack of regular physical exercise. The scientists who conducted the research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the International Society of Travel Medicine emphasize that this aspect of travel has been under-researched and needs more attention from health specialists. 

>>> Read here: 7 really simple ways how to feel good after a long flight

What’s the golden formula?

According to the study authors, the best formula for your health is traveling by plane a few times a year.

Fun fact: Recent studies reveal that, unlike frequent flying, pasta does not cause gain weight.

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1. Jet lag feels worse if you travel from west to east. Recent research has discovered why this happens. Our internal clock has a natural cycle of sleep/wake modes that’s slightly longer than 24 hours. Traveling from west to east makes the day shorter, while traveling from east to west makes the day longer and therefore easier for the brain to adapt to.

2. The human brain is designed to remember novelty, so if you want to remember your vacation for a long time, you should make sure to include a dramatic change of scenery somewhere in the middle. Like, stop sizzling on the beach and take a boat trip way out into the water, or head up to the mountains for a day.

3. When you meet new people, abroad or at a business meeting, you often forget their name the second they introduce themselves. Science says that’s not because you are rude or stupid, but because your brain is focused on another thing: how to make a great first impression. The easiest trick to help your gray matter do its job is to use the person’s name immediately after hearing it (‘So Julie, what brought you to New York?’)

4. Happiness thrives when you spend your money on experiences instead of objects. Experiences give you a reason to wait in anticipation and memories to reminisce upon after the event. Furthermore, experiences are usually short and sharp, meaning you don’t have enough time to adapt to what’s happening and normalize it in your mind, which is what happens when you buy an object.

5. Do you know what’s the best part of your trip? It’s actually not during your trip at all, but in the planning and preparation phase! A 2010 study discovered that going on vacation doesn’t necessarily make you happier (if you consider your experience ‘stressful’ or ‘neutral’, then your happiness levels after you’ve returned from a vacation will be the same as those of a person who hasn’t been away at all). The mere anticipation of the time off, however, results in higher levels of reported happiness. So, why not start planning right now!

6. If you are a nudist, you have a higher chance of being satisfied with your body and with your life as a whole, regardless of how successful or attractive others may perceive you to be. Would you consider this new opportunity to be happier?

7. If you wish you had the guts to parachute out of a plane or go mountain biking on a cliff, there’s one simple thing you should do: hang out with your most extreme friends more often. As it turns out, risk-taking is contagious.

8. Did you know there’s research revealing which languages are the happiest, i.e. contain the largest number of positive words? According to this measure, the happiest language is Spanish, with Portuguese, English, Indonesian and French rounding out the top five.

9. Working during your vacation is worse than you’d expect. A recent study has revealed that sifting through work emails on the beach results in you remembering less from your vacation.

10. There is a correlation between the type of vacation you choose and your personality. For example, introverts are more likely to choose a mountain vacation, while extroverts would opt for a seaside getaway.

11. Frequent flying leads to weight gain. The most at risk group are business travelers who board a plane more than 21 days per month.

Read more: 8 fun facts about Mona Lisa, her smile and missing eyebrows

99 things every seasoned traveler knows

A crazy travel challenges list for the wild-spirited

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If you have flown at least once in your life for more than 3 hours, you know that feeling when you have to get off – as stiff as a fossil, that has stayed in absolute immobility and darkness the last several million years. If you want to sleep, you will need the Holy Trinity: earplugs, eye mask and inflatable pillow.

The stiffness, the pain in the back and the neck, the dehydration and headache – they all can be prevented. Here are a few simple but effective ways how to feel good after a long flight.

1. Don’t cross your legs while seating. This will prevent the blood from flowing through your blood vessels.

2. Don’t drink a lot of coffee or alcohol. Yes, we know it’s tempting because they are free and you don’t really have much else to do but they will dehydrate you.

3. Instead choose water, juice or tea. You can ask for as much water as you need – you don’t have to wait for the designated drinks time.

4. Don’t put your luggage between your legs and the legroom – this will prevent you from moving your feet.

5. When you have the opportunity, stand up and stretch your arms and legs. Then twist the upper part of your body left and right a few times.

6. At least once in two hours get up and walk around the aisles, check if they loaded enough toilet paper in the toilet, stretch a bit (don’t worry – some people are watching you not because it’s weird but because they are jealous).

7. If you want to sleep, you will need the Holy Trinity: earplugs, eye mask and inflatable pillow. They will help you ignore all the noisy passengers and prevent you from getting a stiff neck.

And don’t forget, if you want to be calm during your flight about your car, leave it in secure parking at Sofia Airport.

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Here are some tips that will have you nodding off immediately – although hopefully not before you finish reading this article!

Wait until after the service

It’s hard to fall asleep when everyone around you is eating and those service carts are clunking down the aisles. Wait for the initial fuss to pass before you try to sleep – especially if your ticket includes a free meal!

Block out background noise

Ear plugs are an option, but personally I’ve discovered that headphones playing quiet, consistent sounds work better (meditation music, babbling brooks, the gentle sound of the ocean etc.).

Look away from the light!

An eye mask is essential in your quest for some shut-eye in the sky. It’s the perfect prevention for that inevitable moment when your inconsiderate neighbor opens the shutters or turns on the lights.

Stay snug as a bug in a rug

You may want to bring warm socks, an extra T-shirt or a blanket and wrap yourself up nice and warm, because your body temperature decreases when you fall asleep.

Choose the right seat

The window seat is usually the best option; you can lean on the wall instead of using the passenger next to you as a pillow. If you’re particularly tall, try to get an exit row seat for some extra leg room.

Pack a pillow

There’s nothing more annoying than waking up every three minutes because it feels like your neck has broken and your head is about to fall to the floor. There are all kinds of airplane pillows; just find the one that works best for you and make sure you never forget to bring it with you.

Find the ideal sleeping posture

There are a few simple things to consider:

#1 Don’t cross your legs (you should follow this advice even if you’re not sleeping, because crossed legs prevent blood from flowing properly through your vessels).

#2 Don’t reduce your leg room by putting luggage under the seat in front of you.

#3 If possible, lean on the wall for extra support.

#4 Sleep for as long as possible – the more you sleep, the fresher you’ll be when you arrive at your destination.

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