How to Avoid Crowded Flights

Airlines provide public transportation to the general population. Unless your name is Donald Trump or John Travolta, you probably do not own your own airplane and have to crowd onto an airline that is proud to give two inches of extra leg space per person in economy. There are ways to avoid being crowded on your flight.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Have money. For a fee, most airlines will gladly upgrade you to first or business class if it is available. These classes rarely sell out and are often filled with upgraded passengers. Even on a full flight you have enough space to stretch and not touch the person sitting next to you. Also, there are no middle seats. Depending on the destination and length of the trip, upgrades can range from $100 to $5000 dollars per person.
2. Be an early bird. If an upgrade is out of the question, there are other methods you can try to avoid crowded flights. Start by traveling first thing in the morning. Most airlines have flights as early as 5:00 a.m. or 6:00 a.m. Because of the time, these flights are highly unpopular except to the occasional business traveler. Taking the first flight out usually decreases the chances of over crowding, and even cancellations.
3. Prepare with strategic planning. If you are not a morning person and refuse to get up before the crack of dawn to catch a flight, you can try planning your trip in the "off season." For example, if you would like to go to the beach, choosing spring break to go, when high schools and colleges have let students out for a couple of weeks, is a bad idea. Choosing to travel at a time when school is in and no major holidays are approaching is a better choice.
4. Ask. Ask the airline of your choice what time of day is their busiest to your destination. You may be surprised at the answer. For example, United Airlines has hourly service from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to New York City's LaGuardia Airport. At one point, the most crowded flights for this route was the middle of the day--from 11:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. The early and later flights were not normally as full as the mid-day flights. All-nighters tend to be comfortably spaced as well. Of course there are always exceptions. If a flight cancels on an airline partnering with your airline, there is the possibility of those passengers being re-routed onto your flight.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask--if you do not ask, you will not know. Do not assume. You may be surprised.