Since I am getting ready for my next  “hop across the pond”, this headline on the Smarter Travel Newsletter caught my eye: “Eight ways to Avoid Air Traffic Delays” Well, I am for that.  Waiting around in an airline terminal is not my idea of fun…the food is usually awful, there are no comfortable seats… oh I could go on.  But, back to the issue at hand; how can I avoid Air traffic delays?

Smarter Travel  notes that the main cause of traffic delays is bad weather and you have no control over that but you can control some other factors that might make a difference.

• Since the heaviest travel is on Monday and Fridays,  travel on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. That is always a good idea anyway, because flights are usually less expensive on those days as well.
• Take non-stop flights to your destination and catch early morning flights. Delays build up as the day wears on.
• Check out which flights and airlines are known for on-time service and which are not, and choose them accordingly.
• Get there on time and leave enough time between connecting flights to make the connection.
• Use smaller airports when possible; they are usually less congested.

And, in case none of this works, bring a good book.