Frequently asked questions

DelayGuard combines an ML model trained on 2023 to mid-2025 BTS data (millions of flight records) with real-time data from weather services, live FAA advisories, and flight tracking APIs. The result is a delay probability score (0–100%) specific to your route, airline, departure hour, and date.

No model can foresee every crew issue, last-minute ATC decision or pop-up storm, so DelayGuard is built to be honest about risk. The v9 model uses only information available before departure and was tested on a later quarter of real US flights it never saw during training. Closer to departure, live weather and FAA advisories also feed into the score.

Yes. A free prediction shows the risk band only: Low, Moderate, High, or Very High. Free accounts get 3 predictions per day. The exact percentage and the full risk breakdown are paid, either with a credit or with Premium ($4.99/month or $39/year). Premium also includes unlimited predictions, saved flights with alerts, PDF/CSV export, and an ad-free experience. The model is trained on nearly 4 million real US domestic flights (2023 to mid-2025 BTS data). Guest visitors get 3 predictions before an account. Credit packs start at $1.99.

When a flight looks High risk or worse (High, Very High, Cancelled, or Diverted), DelayGuard looks for other flights on the same route that day at least one risk band lower. Flights that leave within 45 minutes are not included. Premium shows up to 3 of those flights. Free users see how many alternatives exist (up to 3), not which flights they are. If none are found, the page says "No lower-risk flights found on this route today" and how many flights were checked, with no upgrade prompt. Changing flights depends on the airline's fare rules. DelayGuard does not change your ticket.

DelayGuard scores flights at 80 US airports. 22 of those have a full delay guide and are ranked against each other. Tomorrow's hub forecast covers 21 of the guide airports. You can select 8 airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Allegiant Air. The delay model also scores regional carriers, 14 carriers in all with training rows, not counting Spirit. Hawaiian flights now operate as Alaska, and Spirit ceased on May 2, 2026. International routes are planned for a future update.

BTS records a cause on delayed flights, including late-arriving aircraft, the airline's own operations, the national airspace system, weather, and security. The BTS extract behind these pages does not include those cause shares, so no percentage is shown.

You can try 3 predictions as a guest from the homepage. A free account gets 3 predictions per day (reset at midnight UTC) plus the ability to save flights and set alerts. Premium and credit packs are managed from the Premium page.

See How It Works for the pilot-built pipeline, features, and data sources. For the product story, see About. You can also reach us at [email protected].