Ground stop or ground delay program: what it means for your flight, and how to check

A ground stop means flights headed to a particular airport must stay where they are for now, usually because that airport suddenly can't take arrivals. A ground delay program is the slower, planned version: flights to a busy airport get assigned later departure times so they don't all arrive at once. Either way, your plane can be delayed at your departure airport even when the weather there is perfect, because the problem is at your destination.

Ground stop

The FAA uses a ground stop when an airport's capacity drops for a short time. Flights destined for that airport are held at their departure airports until the stop ends.

• Why: something suddenly cuts how many planes the airport can accept, very often weather.
• Warning: ground stops normally come with little or no notice, and they override every other traffic program.
• For you: if your destination is under a ground stop, your plane waits at the gate or on the ground. When the stop lifts, flights start leaving, but it can take a while for everything to catch up.

Ground delay program

The FAA uses a ground delay program when an airport is expected to have fewer arrival slots than flights for a longer period. The most common reason is bad weather, such as low clouds and poor visibility, which reduces how many planes can land per hour.

• Each flight to that airport gets a controlled departure time and can't leave before it.
• The point is to hold planes on the ground rather than have them circle in the air.
• For you: your airline may show a delay hours in advance. The delay may shrink if conditions improve, or grow if they don't.

A similar tool, an airspace flow program, does the same for flights crossing a busy or stormy area of airspace rather than going to one airport.

How to check before you fly

1. Look up both airports on the FAA's National Airspace System status page (nasstatus.faa.gov). It lists active ground stops, ground delay programs and closures, and forecast events expected later in the day.
2. Check your connecting airport too. A ground delay at your connection can hold your first flight, and a ground stop there can affect your next one.
3. Check with your airline for your specific flight. The FAA manages air traffic; it doesn't cancel flights or close airports. Cancellations are the airline's decision, and closures are up to the local airport.

What it means for connections and rights

• Tight connection? If your first flight is caught in a ground delay program, ask the airline early about rebooking. Read what happens if you miss a connection.
• Compensation? Delays caused by air traffic control or weather are generally treated as outside the airline's control, so airline meal and hotel commitments usually don't apply. Refund rights still do if the delay becomes significant. See what US rules say you're owed.

Stay informed

Add your flights to FlyingOver before you travel. While you're online you'll see status and gate changes, and in the air you can follow the flight offline and see its estimated arrival.