Newsletter

All About Flight Delays

Flight delays are one of the more stressful and frustrating parts of the travel experience.  As we’re in the dead of winter, many travellers assume that flight delays will get worse due to winter weather conditions - but this is not necessarily the case. This month we explore data on the timing, causes and locations of flight delays at major airports, and provide insight on how to best deal with them. 

Read on for tips on avoiding flight delays

Largest North American Carshare Network Closes

We had previously provided a travel tip about a creative alternative to traditional car rental, taxi or ride-hailing, which is the use of carsharing. The most well-known network was known as Car2go, which rebranded as Share Now back in November. At its peak, the service was actively in 16 markets in North America, allowing you to have a single membership to use free-floating, short-term car rentals.  While the company is still active in Europe, it has shuttered its North American operations at the end of February 2020.

Free floating, one-way carshare is still active in several local markets across North America, but the lack of a network in the USA reduces its value as an option for travelers, as you’d need to apply for a membership for each one individually.  If you frequently travel to Quebec or Ontario, there is a network called Communauto active in several markets in those Canadian provinces. 

Essentials for Travel – Water Bottle

One of the factors leading to fatigue while flying is dehydration. The air pressure and lower cabin humidity combine to dry you out, which has compounding effects on your body and mind.  The solution is simple and obvious – drink more water.

Since you can’t bring liquids through security, many airports have installed water bottle filling stations throughout their airports.  Late summer 2019, San Francisco Airport banned the sale of water in plastic bottles. 

We recommend that travelers bring a good quality refillable water bottle with them when they travel.  The key factors to look for:

• Ensure it fits in the bottle pouch of your most-used travel bag or has a loop or strap. Bottom line – make sure you don’t need to carry it by hand
• Keep it light – find the right size that won’t be too heavy when its filled with water, but has enough to keep you going
• Choose a strong one – the bottle is going to get banged up as you travel, so choose one that is durable enough to last

We’re not going to tell you the ‘best’ bottle to buy, as it a matter of personal preference. But keep these tips in mind as you look for the right bottle for your needs.