If you ask frequent travelers, "What's the best time of day to fly?" you can expect a variety of answers. Some will base their answers on the departure airport, the arrival airport or even the airline used for the flight. Others base their opinions on convenience, or how important it is to avoid delays.
Although there are some basic facts your can research about flight times regarding the probability of delays, choosing the "best" time for your flight is a subjective matter. You can choose the best flight departure and returning arrival times by considering your needs and preferences.
If you absolutely cannot afford a flight delay due to very limited time between connecting flights or extremely important plans at your arrival destination, consider flying in the morning. Morning flights tend to involve fewer delays.
This does not however mean that when you fly in the morning, it's OK to book unrealistic connecting flight times or make to-the-minute plans for your arrival. It's simply a trend to consider if avoiding delays is a primary concern.
Due to their popularity, morning flights are often full, and there are likely to be very long lines at check-in and security. You may need to arrive at the airport earlier than you normally would to allow the extra time it takes to make it through crowded lines.
If you don't necessarily have to leave in the early morning and a possible delay isn't the end of the world for you, an afternoon flight could be ideal. There's less traffic to deal with on the way to the airport after the morning rush. Afternoon departures are usually a much less stressful experience at the terminal compared with mornings, and your flight is likely to be more comfortable, as well.
It's less crowded at the airport in the afternoon, since many people insist on morning flights. This is a huge factor for flyers who despise crowds and long lines. Plus if you miss your afternoon flight for some reason or it is overbooked, you can always opt for an evening flight and still arrive at your destination the same day.
Some people prefer evening flights, as it gives them the opportunity to avoid missing a day of work to fly. Evening flights tend to be very popular, so you may find longer lines at the airport after 500 pm Monday thru Friday. Flights in the evening also are usually fuller than afternoon flights, which can equate to greater discomfort.
Like morning flights, you may need to battle rush hour traffic to get to the airport in time for an evening flight. You also may have a hard time finding a parking space in the evening if you don't book your airport parking ahead of time.
The cost of airport parking is another factor to consider when deciding on the timing of your flight. A later departure and an early morning return flight could save you an entire day's worth of parking fees. This is the best strategy if you primary goal is saving on the cost of travel.