Pilots reveal the biggest lie they tell passengers on delayed flights

Passengers are often told that the flight crew will “make up time” while in the air if a flight is running late, but a pilot on Reddit explained that this is almost never true — especially for shorter trips.

Passengers are often told that the flight crew will “make up time” while in the air if a flight is running late, but a pilot on Reddit explained that this is almost never true -- especially for shorter trips. Picture: iStock

Ever get the sneaking suspicion that you’re being lied to when your flight is delayed? Well, you are.

Passengers are often told that the flight crew will “make up time” while in the air if a flight is running late, but a pilot on Reddit explained that this is seldom true — especially for shorter trips.

“There is very little we can actually do to ‘make-up time,’ ” they explained on Reddit, the New York Post reported.

“The longer the flight, the more we can do, but still, we’re talking 5-10 minutes, not an hour.”

However, making up time is not a matter of flying faster, but rather requesting “direct routings” or shortcuts as well as using wind speed to maximise tailwinds.

“There is very little we can actually do to ‘make-up time,’ ” one pilot explained about the biggest lie they share. Picture: iStock

Pilots could technically up their speed to save time, but flights have a “small speed bracket,” meaning they fly at the fastest time that’s most economical, Nick Anderson, a pilot for an international airline, previously told Condé Nast Traveler.

“It’s not just a cost to the company, it’s a cost to the environment,” Anderson said.

The faster an aircraft flies, the more fuel it burns, costing more and negatively affecting the environment. So pilots will only opt to fly at higher speeds if means avoiding other costly issues, such as missed flight connections.

Delays occur most in the peak summer holiday season as well as later in the day.

Passengers are often told that the flight crew will “make up time” while in the air if a flight is running late. Picture: iStock

“The summer holidays bring increased demand for flights and with that comes inevitable problems,” a Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilot Charlie Page told The Points Guy.

If you wish to avoid delays year round, book a flight that’s earlier in the day to avoid dealing with the domino effect of previous flights.

“The early bird gets airborne, statistically, with less delays and fewer cancellations,” pilot Kathleen Bangs told Forbes.

“The later it gets in the day, the more likely your flight is to be delayed or cancelled.”

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.