Average on-time arrival rates (within 15 minutes of scheduled time) have been bouncing around between 75 and 80% for the last 25 years. A bit of "inflation" on the flight times has presumably helped the statistics. If you absolutely have to be there at a specific time then going in the day before has always been the rule. Other steps to mitigate the risk is never take the last flight of the day, avoid connections if at all possible, and when you do have a connection, allow 3 hours, if at all possible. Also, the major airlines appear to be a bit better at dealing with problems than the discount airlines. For example, Delta vs. Frontier. When I traveled almost weekly for work, most of the issues I saw were mechanical problems. In that case, flying a major airline to and from their hubs will help.
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Originally Posted by Stu from NYC
25 or so years ago we had reliable air travel. Could fly from NY to Florida same day for cruise.
Now would not even think about same day travel. Sad.
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