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- Early morning flights, particularly between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m., offer a less stressful experience due to cleaner terminals, shorter lines, and fresher staff.
- Tuesday is the most satisfying day to fly, while Sunday is the most frustrating.
- February is a good month to fly due to quieter airports and potentially better deals, while August is the most stressful month.
It turns out that traveling at times when airports are quieter and when flights are less likely to be canceled makes for a less stressful, more enjoyable trip.
According to data from HappyOrNot – the maker of those smiley face customer feedback terminals that are ubiquitous in many airport restrooms – passengers really do find that early morning flights and mid-week departures are better for their overall travel satisfaction.
“As summer approaches and peak travel season begins, airports face growing pressure to deliver smooth, stress-free experiences,” HappyOrNot CEO Miika Mäkitalo said in a statement. “We’ve identified key moments when the travel experience tends to break down, enabling operations teams to deploy resources more effectively.”
HappyOrNot compiled its data based on more than 9 million traveler inputs at its installations at airports in more than 50 countries during the first quarter of this year.
The company’s results can help travelers see when the best time for them to fly is.
Early morning flights are best
Although waking up for an early morning flight can be annoying, HappyOrNot’s data shows that it’s worth it for a less stressful travel experience.
“Early mornings like 4 a.m., 7 a.m., and 8 a.m. continue to be the happiest times to travel. These quieter hours often mean cleaner terminals, fresh staff, and shorter lines,” Mäkitalo said. He added that late-night flights, especially around midnight, can be among the most frustrating departures.
“This could be due to a combination of fatigue, fewer staff on duty, and limited amenities available at that hour – with shops, lounges, and restaurants often closed,” he said.
As an added bonus, early morning flights are typically the least likely to be canceled or delayed since airline operational issues tend to accumulate as the day goes on. It’s probably no coincidence that the most on-time part of the travel day is also the least stressful for passengers.
Tuesdays are the least stressful day to be at the airport
While many travelers, especially those flying for leisure, opt to travel on the weekends for scheduling reasons, it’s not necessarily the best time of the week to fly from a satisfaction standpoint.
According to HappyOrNot, Tuesdays typically see the most satisfied airline customers, while Sundays are the most frustrating day for travelers.
Expedia released a report in January acknowledging that Tuesday is often the least crowded day of the week in many airports, which could also contribute to a smoother experience in the terminal.
Why flying in February is a good idea
Shoulder season is often a great time to snag airfare deals and take advantage of smaller crowds at airports and tourist destinations. After the holiday rush dies down and before the summer travel spike begins, February is a good time to fly if your schedule allows.
HappyOrNot generated this result from full-year data for 2024, which aggregated more than 51 million responses at its installations.
“It’s interesting, too, that the best month to fly is February – potentially the first trip of the year for many, and one that offers quieter, more efficient airport experiences compared to the summer surge,” Mäkitalo said.
Meanwhile, HappyOrNot found that August is often the most stressful month for airline passengers, often coinciding with the summer peak.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
