Former Check-In Agent Reveals Worst Time To Book a Flight: 'Avoid'

When it comes to travel, there's nothing more frustrating than finding out your flight's been canceled, especially after you've arrived at the airport. But one former check-in agent says there's a way you can at least try to reduce the chances of this happening. The former aviation worker shared her flight tip in a viral video from her TikTok account @mrsloulousmith, where it has had over 179,000 views since it was first posted on February 28. Read more: Best TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Credit Cards A message overlaid on the clip says, "Reasons why late evening flights get cancelled." The footage shows a woman talking into a camera. She says "I used to work in aviation, I used to work as a check-in agent and these are some of the things that I do not do now or things that I try and avoid because of that job. "If I'm booking a flight, especially a low-cost airline flight, I will always make sure that I book an early morning flight. I never book later than 6 p.m. and that is because the later the flight, the more chances that your flight is gonna get canceled or delayed," she says. According to the latest Air Travel Consumer Report released last month by the U.S. Department of Transportation, United, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines were among the carriers which reported the highest number of flight cancellations in February. Read more: How to Travel on a Budget The former check-in agent in the viral clip explains that the main reason why late evening flights tend to get canceled is "because your pilot is usually out of hours," and a pilot is only allowed to fly a certain amount of hours per day. According to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, "during any 24 consecutive hours the total flight time of the assigned flight, when added to any commercial flying by that flight crew member, may not exceed: (1) 8 hours for a flight crew consisting of one pilot; or (2) 10 hours for a flight crew consisting of two pilots qualified under this subpart for the operation being conducted." If any given flight will extend a pilot's work hours by just five or two minutes, the pilot "won't fly," the worker said, adding they are "not allowed to fly, it's illegal." She says: "They will just scrap the whole flight and that's why nine times out of 10, flights get canceled. So, that's why I don't book evening flights." The post has sparked debate among users on TikTok, with some praising the former check-in agent's flight tip. "And this is why I get morning flights," wrote @yourgirlalana0710 and user5641959225308 said, "Good tip," User @p.annxo wrote: "Hmm, OK, saving this to remind me for future bookings. Thanks." Plutonia said: "The cost and inconvenience to hundreds of people just bc [because] a pilot works five mins more is outrageous and the law should be changed. There should be a set time of 'leeway.'" The original poster replied: "You can't have pilots tired when flying." Tommy said: "But evening flights are often cheaper. A risk I'm willing to take, and some money back for a delay over three hours." Marie Page wrote: "I always fly at night and they have never been canceled." Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok.

Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.