Delays with flights can be annoying, particularly when juggling a full schedule or other commitments. Whether your flight delays due to weather conditions, technical issues or late arrivals creating awareness on what to do and how to react can be crucial especially if you ever get grounded at Entebbe International Airport.
In this guide, we have discussed various practical steps, insider tips, and smart solutions that will help you stay calm, informed, and in control during unexpected delays while at Entebbe airport.
What is a flight delay?
A flight delay refers to a condition when a scheduled flight fails to leave or arrive at the expected time as indicated to passengers.
Under what conditions may my flight delay?
Here are some of the conditions that can happen thus resulting to flight delays.
Weather Conditions: One of the prominent reasons that leads to flight delays is the weather conditions. Weather conditions like strong winds, heavy rains, fog, thunder storm affect proper movement of the flights with in the air.
Impact: This causes proper viewing and slippery runways can make which causes difficulty for planes in the take off and landing process. Ground operation can also be disrupted by the lightening which impacts a lot on the flight delays
Air Traffic Congestion: This is one of the key reasons that completely leads to flight delights. During high seasons or holidays seasons, many airports tend to lake space thus leading to over crowdness.
Impact: Delay in flights due to massive waits at the take off or landing department to be cleared can cause flight delays for the out going flights.
Mechanical or Technical Issues.
Flights can be delayed due to technical or mechanical issues. Different aircrafts must meet the necessary safety measures before flying. Some of these issues include engine problems, faulty lights, navigation issues.
Impact: Flights will delay because no matter how big or small the mechanical issue is, flying will not be granted unless the issue is solved.
Crew Availability and Legal Rest Requirements.
One of the rampant reasons to address for flight delays is crew availability and legal rest requirements. Different air crafts regulate time for each crew members basically for safety conditions.
Impact: In case a crew happens to exceed its legal working hours due to prior delays or other reasons, the flight must wait for a replacement crew thus causing a flight delay to its passengers.
Late Arrival of the Aircraft.
Late arrivals of the aircrafts is another reason that can lead to flight delays, forintsance when a plane is coming from another city or country and that flight delays, your flight will also delay.
Impact: When the turnaround time between flights is dislocated, this will affect the departure schedules.
Disrespecting of security Concerns: Failure to respect the security measures of a particular aircraft can highly contribute to flight delays. Conditions like suspicious luggage, enhanced screening procedures, or emergencies needs adequate handling and time.
Impact: This will result to extra check ups thus spending a lot of time and thus turning down all boarding gates or terminals.
Passenger-Related Issues: Many passengers contribute a lot to flight delays for example late check-ins, missing passengers after boarding starts, medical emergencies, or unruly behaviour.
Impact: The airline is in charge of resolving issues before departure, often causing a hold-up.
Airport Operational Issues: Various operational issues contribute a lot to flight delays for example baggage handling, fuelling, or catering can stall a flight.
Impact: Please be aware that ground operations are essential and must be completed before the plane departs despite the fact when everything else is ready.
Strikes or Labor Disputes: one of the reasons that can cause flight delays are the strikes form the air craft workers. This is because strikes slow down the operations management of the organisation.
Impact: Rampant cases of strikes or labour disputes result to flight delays or at times cancellation since there is limited manpower.
Customs and Immigration Delays: This is among the key factors that will cause flights to delay. Long lines while at the immigration or custom offices completely slows down the disembarking process thus causing delay of the out going flights.
Impact: When ever there is delay in clearing incoming passengers this interrupts the turnaround time for outgoing flights thus causing flight delays.
Types of airport Shuttle Services at Entebbe.
Shuttle services at Entebbe Airport are typically pre-arranged and can include:
Private airport transfers.
These refer to a pre arranged shuttle service that involves providing pick up services from the airport directly to your destination. Some of the advantages of booking private airport transfers include time efficiency, cost effectiveness, privacy and many more.
Hotel shuttles (provided by your accommodation).
These are types of shuttles where by you are either picked up or dropped off by the hotel that you have booked with.
Shared shuttle vans: This is a type of transfer that involves travellers moving in groups or with other people to a respective destination. These services are very convenient for people travelling on budget.
Tour operator pickups (for safari lovers).
This refers to a type of transfer where travellers visiting a particular country for a safari are picked up and dropped off from the airport by their reserved tour operator. Some of the trustworthy tour operators to use include Active African vacations, Gorilla expeditions and many more.
Will My Shuttle Wait for me incase if my flight Delays?
The answer is a yes, to those who managed to book with a reputable trust worthy shuttle company such as Entebbe airport shuttle. these shuttle companies have access to monitoring flight arrival times in real time. You need to worry less incase your flight delays, they will be able to adjust their pickup time accordingly.
The driver will wait for you, though some shuttle companies tend to have a limit to the waiting hours because they are charged parking fees while at the airport. The waiting time can include 1 to 2 hours depending on the person you booked with.
It’s always advisable to communicate effectively with your shuttle company directly in order to ensure maximum cooperation. You can use WhatsApp message or a call.
Tip: During the booking process, make sure you share your flight details so that they can track delays automatically especially to those using a shared shuttle.
However, to those who have booked with shared shuttles, there are little chances for them to be waited. This is because shared shuttles are less flexible due to fixed schedules and may fail to wait alot beyond the set time window especially if other passengers are onboard. This will make you wait for the next scheduled shuttle or arrange a last-minute private transfer.
Recommendation: Passengers arriving in the night or delays in flights especially in the nights are advised to book private shuttle transfers due to safety considerations.
What to do incase your flight delays?
The following above are some of the precaution standards to follow incase your flight delays.
Before Arrival.
Incase your flight happens to delay please notify your shuttle provider as soon as possible.
Talk to them whether the pick-up time can be quite adjustable.
Check your drivers contact number who is in charge for your pick up, communicate well with your driver to ease your transportation.
Upon Landing at Entebbe.
This is what you do when your flight delays after landing at Entebbe airport. Get your phone then connect to free airport Wi-Fi (available in the arrivals area) and contact with your shuttle drivers.
If your pickup has been missed, ask for help at the airport information desk or book a new transfer through local services or apps.
What to do in case you miss your Shuttle transfer?
If your scheduled shuttle has left due to the delay, consider the following measures to do.
Book with reliable airport shuttle company.
Resort to booking with a reliable trust worthy operator such as Entebbe airport shuttle. Make sure the shuttle selected offers e 24/7 services.
These airport transfers offer rates that are fixed (around 35 –43 dollars from Entebbe to Kampala).
Ride-Hailing Apps
Incase you have failed to book with a reliable transfer service and time is not on your side. You can result to installing apps that can offer transportation such as Uber, Bolt, and local app SafeBoda operate around Entebbe. However, note these apps may be limited late at night or during off-peak hours and their costs are reliable.
Book a Nearby Hotel.
In case its to late to travel or fatigued, we advise you to book a hotel near Entebbe Airport for the night. Some of these hotels offer free airport shuttles and breakfast as you prepare for next plans.
Tips to follow in order to avoid shuttle problems with Delays.
Always share your exact flight details when booking: During the booking process, always send the exact flight details while you are booking with your shuttle company.
Select providers who offer 24/7 support: Book a shuttle company that can provide 24/7 services, this is because in case of inconveniences they will be able assist you well.
Request confirmation that your flight will be monitored for changes: After booking well with a trust worthy shuttle company, then request for a confirmation form. This form should bare your names and the necessary details.
Carry a local SIM card or have roaming activated for communication on arrival: Upon arrival at the airport, you can get a local sim that will help you communicate well with the shuttle services that you booked with.
Keep contact information for your driver or shuttle company readily available with you.: Always communicate well with your driver in order to ensure a smooth transfer experience.