Flights

Index to this page:

Basics: Flights that reach Route 66
Flight Reservation Tips
Advice on taking your flight
Delays, Cancellations, lost, delayed or damaged luggage

Basics: Flights that reach Route 66

drawing of a yellow plane flying around a globe to America from Europe a red dashed line marks its route

Unless you live in the US close to Route 66, it is very likely that you will have to fly to a city close to it to start your road trip. Those lving abroad will have to fly into the United States and probably take a connecting flight to reach it.

Even those living in North America (Canada and Mexico) may chose to take a flight to reach their Route 66 destination rather than driving.

Flying to Route 66

To do so, you will have to choose an airport located close to the starting point of your Route 66 Road Trip and another near the end of your journey, for your return flight.

In our Tips page we detailed how to plan your trip. This includes knowing your Itinerary, starting and ending points. This will help you pinpoint the closest airports for your flights.

Below is a map showing the main airports along Route 66, and the major US airports as well as the hubs of the leading airline alliances (Sky Team, Star Alliance, One World).

Map with Airports close to Route 66 USA — Map with the main airports along Route 66 and main hubs. A. Whittall. **Click on image to see Large Map**

Some Airports On Route 66

There are airports along the highway, in important cities, we list these below, from East to West.

As you can see in the map, there are two major hubs at both tips of Route 66: Los Angeles and Chicago, many airports along the route itself and others quite close to it.

Below we outline some air flights tips on ticketing, reservation and how to book a cheap flight to the US.

Flight Reservation Tips

Advice on Booking your flights

Are there Cheap Flights?

The tagline "fly cheaper" or "cheap flights" is frequently used to lure in bargain seeking travelers to online websites. However such claims should be considered carefuly before buying a ticket. There may be hidden costs or other factors that make the cheap flight a bad option.

There are cheap flights, and they depend on different factors that you should consider as you plan your trip. Let's look into them.

Best time to buy an air ticket

When is the best time to purchase tickets?. The prices of tickets are subject to different influences: competition, seat inventory availability, sales and demand. Most of them are beyond our control and so is their impact on air fares, but, fortunately, a pattern does appear regarding ticket prices.

Expedia and Google have sifted through the data and published their 2024 travel trends reports ^{1, 2} that reveal the following:

How to book the Best and cheapest flights

Book on a Sunday. Compared to those booking on a Friday, you can save up to 24% on international flights and 17% on domestic flights.
Don't book too early. Earlier than 106 days before your flight isn't convenient as international flight prices are relatively high at that time. Don't book too late if you book at least one month before your departure date you can save 33% compared to those who booked in the last minute. Optimal time is 30 to 37 days out for Expedia, for Google it is 21-52 days for domestic flights; for international flights, prices start rising 50 days before the flight date.
Peak flying dates. Thanksgiving is a holiday with high demand so book 26-59 days out. Christmas requires an earlier booking, from 36 to 72 days before flying. Spring Break domestic flights should be booked 33-59 days out. Summer vacation in July or August have a low price range 13 to 43 days out.
When to Buy your ticket?. The day you buy your ticket does not have any influence on the air fare, but Tuesday is the historically cheapest day to book your flight, 1.3% cheaper than Sunday, the most expensive day.
Which day should you fly on?. The day of the week is important. Expedia says Thursdays are 13% cheaper than Sundays (the most expensive day to fly). Google says Monday, Tuesday or Wensday are 13% cheaper than the weekend (Friday, Saturday or Sunday).
Airport Congestion. Weekends are the busiest days especially during the summer. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are slower days. ³
Departure time?. Leave before 3 PM it reduces the possibility of cancellations. The flights that depart after 3 PM have an 18% higher chance of being cancelled than those leaving earlier.
Early Departure is best. The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends the following: "When booking your flight remember that a departure early in the day is less likely to be delayed than a later flight, due to "ripple" effects of delays throughout the day. Also, if an early flight does get delayed or canceled, you have more rerouting options. If you book the last flight of the day and it is canceled, you could get stuck overnight"
- Less congestion. Airports are busiest in the early morning and again in the evening, though peak hours may vary depending on the city. Midday has a slack.
- Pre-Dawn flights are the best. A global survey taken in 2023 found that 4 AM was when airport travelers where happiest while 10 and 11 PM were the worst time to be in an airport, ⁴ furthermore many people shun early flights because getting up very early on the day of travel stresses them. So early flights are cheaper due to the lower demand.
  During dawn there is less traffic so you'll reach the ariport quicker, the airport is less crowded, no queues at security lines. Crews are fresh on this, their first flight, they will provide better service.
Layover flights are cheaper than nonstop. On average nonstop flights are 25% more expensive than flights with one or more stops. But layovers though cheapear have some risks:
- Time wasted in transit. You have the hassle of deplaning, picking up your luggage if you change airlines, waiting for your connecting flight, moving around the airport, security checks, and boarding again.
- Risk of Missconnection. You could lose your second flight if the first one is delayed. To minimize this risk, chose a connecting flight that uses an airport that is less congested this means that it will be easier to get there. Consider the effects of bad weather at your connecting city (snow, summer storms). Ask yourself what could happen if your first flight is delayed? Can you re-program your second flight or does it have a cost? Always give yourself plenty of time for your connection even though it means spending idle time at the connecting airport.

How To Fly On Early Morning Flight Without Stress?

Catching an early flight is not as hard as it seems:

Make arrangements to reach the airport (car service, Uber, Cabify) with time. Or book your long term parking at the airport in advance.
Have all your bags ready the night before.
Go to bed early, skip the afternoon or evening coffee. No blue-screen time before going to bed.
Check in online the day before, print or download your boarding pass just in case.
Plan your early morning routine to make it trouble free: shower, get dressed, quick breakfast, check you have all your travel documents.

Global Flying after the Pandemic

Long haul flights are still below the pre-Pandemic levels (5% lower) and short haul flights are 74% of what they were in 2019.

Some more tips

Check frequently and book early and you will have a high probability of getting a good deal.
Be flexible in your travel plans and plan as far ahead as possible.
Although the lowest fares are usually blacked out during holiday periods, you might be able to get a discount fare if you fly on the holiday itself.
Compare fares of different airlines.
Flying into an airline "hub" may be more expensive than flights into other nearby airports.

Extra costs to consider

If your fee does not include it, airlines will charge you for:

Checked bags
Excess Baggage: check your free baggage allowance and weigh your bags, otherwise you will face excess baggage charges. Bags over 32 kg are overweight and cannot be checked in at the counter; they must be shipped separately as freight or cargo.
Ticketing fee (if you buy the ticket on the Internet, by phone, or at a counter
Preferred seats. You may be charged for advance seating selection and assignment. Where you seat is important if you travel with your family so don't leave it up to the airline to decide where it seats you.
An early boarding.
Beverages, snacks, video entertainment, audio headsets, on some domestic or budget flights.

Discount fares are often non-refundable, so make sure everything is correct before making your booking.

Advice on taking your flight

At the Airport

Check-in Time

The deadlines for check-in should figure on your e-ticket.

Check in online as early as possible, save your boarding as a pdf in your mobile. You can also use the airline's app. Allow it to send you notifications it will come in handy in the event of delays.

You should be at the gate not later than 45 - 15 minutes from departure time depending on the carrier, or if it is a domestic, or an international flight.

Some countries (not the case of the US) have a migration verification prior to the security check, and it can take some time to get it done.

Give yourself plenty of time for the Security Check during high season it can take ages to get through the check, with long queues. Have your photo ID (or passport) handy. Carry only permitted articles in your carry-on bags (i.e. no sharp items, and limited quantities of liquids or gels) and place them in resealable plastic bags.

Tip on Security Wait Times

Most U.S. airports post real-time security wait times on their website or app. Check it so you know what to expect. Download MyTSA mobile app to learn about delays, and the historic data for the day and time you will be screened.

Be patient and corteous at all times, they are doing their job to keep us all safe.

Check the airline ⁄ country restrictions regarding what you can take with you (cigarettes, alcohol, food like dairy, meat, fruit).

You are usually allowed one carry-on bag plus a personal item (briefcase or purse) with a weight and size limit.

Delays, Cancellations, lost, delayed or damaged luggage

Cancelled flights

In the U.S. American airlines will usually rebook you in their next flight with available space. If the delay will be great, they will endorse your ticket to another carrier. But they are not obliged by the law to do so. During holidays or peak travel times, this can be a problem.

Learn more about air passenger rights in the US.

If you choose to cancel your trip due to delays, diversions or cancellations, you are entitled to a full refund of the unused transportation and any bag fees you have paid.

Flying to the US from Europe has protection under the EU air passenger rights legislation; it applies if:

If your flight arrives in the EU from outside the EU and is operated by an EU airline
If your flight departs from the EU to a non-EU country operated by an EU or a non-EU airline

More information on your EU air passenger rights.

Delayed flights

80.4% of flights arrived on time in the U.S. during April 2024, so 19.6& were late. Frontier Airlines was the worst, with only 69.1% of their flights arriving on time.
Airlines cancelled 0.7% of their scheduled domestic flights in April 2024. ³

In the US, each airline defines how to handle delayed passengers. There are no Federal requirements regarding amenities or services. If you are delayed, ask the airline staff if they will provide meals or phone calls. If the cause of delay is bad weather or something beyond their control, you will probably have to take care of those services.

Oversold flight

Only 0.27 out of every 10,000 passengers were denied boarding in April 2024.

Overbooked Flights: Selling more tickets than there are seats is not illegal. Most airlines overbook their flights to compensate for "no-shows."

If you cannot board a flight due to oversale you will be informed in writing about your rights and you will usually receive monetary compensation.

Know that if the airline is not able to get you to your final destination within one hour of your original arrival time, the airline must pay you an amount equal to 200% of your one-way fare, with a maximum of $775. If the substitute transportation is scheduled to get you to your destination more than two hours later (four hours internationally), or if the airline does not make any substitute travel arrangements for you, the minimum compensation doubles (400% of your one-way fare, or $1,550, whichever amount is lower).

To receive this payment, you must have a confirmed reservation. You must also meet the airline's deadlines for ticketing and check-in. An airline may offer you a free ticket on a future flight in place of a check, but you have the right to insist on a check.

Tarmac Delay rule

After a 3 hour delay (domestic) or 4 hour (international) you must be allowed to deplane. Food and water will be offered after 2 hours. Lavatories must be operational.

Connecting Flight

Upon arrival, check the screens for your gate and departure time of your connecting flight. Get to gate before it closes.

Final Destination

Collect your bag, check the bag tag to make sure it is yours (many bags look alike).

Lost or damaged Baggage

4.6 out of every 1,000 bags were "mishandled" in the US (April 2024), out of 40 Million bags carried, they had mishandled baggage (184,000 bags).

Take the items that you will need during the first 24 hours in your carry-on bag, they will come in handy if your checked bags arrive late.

Buy a bag with TSA approved locks: (see www.tsa.gov), the security personnel can open and re-lock them. Other locks will be broken if inspection requires your bag be opened.

Tag your bags with name, address and phone ⁄ e-mail. Remove old adhesive bag tags of previous flights (barcoded). Place the same information inside the bag in case the tag falls off.

If you bag does not arrive or, it arrives open, unlocked or damaged, check its contents to see if anything is lost or damaged. Before leaving the baggage pick-up area, report the incident to the airline counter.

Have a written report issued and keep a copy. Your missing luggage will surely arrive on the next flight. Your address will be required for delivery.

Airlines coverage for lost bas is paltry

Compensation for lost bags is low, so don't place irreplaceable or valuable articles in your check-in bags.

Consider taking Travel Insurance coverage

You can also ask about purchasing "excess valuation" at check in.

You are entitled to a reimbursement for the expenses that you incur while waiting for the delayed bag (such as toiletries or even a change of underwear). If they don't provide you with cash, ask what types of articles are reimbursable and keep all receipts.

If a bag arrives damaged, the airline will usually pay for repairs. If an item can't be fixed, they will negotiate to pay you its depreciated value. The same is true for belongings packed inside.

If the bag does not appear and the airline declares it lost, you will have to fill in the forms they provide and cover their estimation of the cost of the items lost (not their original price or even their replacement cost). Keep your luggage receipt, and place a formal written complaint with specific information.

Claims should be presented within a specified time limit:
- Delayed baggage: within 21 days from the arrival of your bags.
- Lost Baggage:2 years to claim, but it is best if you do this quickly not later than 2 weeks after the loss.
- Damaged baggage: within 7 days from baggage receipt.

Airlines can limit their liability for lost baggage, and on the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement, the maximum an airline pays on lost bags and their contents is limited to $3,800 per passenger on domestic flights, and roughly $1,700 per passenger for checked baggage on international flights (international flights value depends on the exchange rate of a basket of several currencies).

Check the Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report.