Aviation experts tell you the BEST time to fly when you want to avoid turbulence, enjoy a smooth flight and make sure you have the best possible crew

According to studies, fear of flying is a common problem that affects about 40 percent of the population.

And to combat pre-flight jitters, a number of aviation experts and travel experts have weighed in on the best time of day to fly.

Many agree that the best time for nervous travelers is in the morning, as conditions are generally calmer and there is less turbulence.

Redditor Snobben90, who says he’s a certified aircraft technician, wrote in a thread about the dangers of night flying: “Less sun = less turbulence. It’s usually quietest in the mornings.”

Meanwhile, Tom Farrier, former Director of Safety, Air Transport Association, noted in a Quora thread that night flights also carry a “low risk of crew fatigue and occasional spatial disorientation.”

The experts say that some of the things that have made day and night similar on long-haul voyages are better planning and rest requirements for crew (stock photo).

However, he argues that due to increased safety in the airline industry, there is less distinction between night and day flights than there used to be.

He explained: “Thanks to the safety standards that most countries in the world meet today, there is little difference in the relative safety of day or night flights, at least internationally.”

Farrier says some of the things that have made day and night similar on long-haul travel are better planning and crew rest requirements, as well as “high-performance aircraft and modern navigational aids.”

However, if travelers must travel on an older aircraft in a country with less robust flight safety rules, Farrier recommends departing or arriving during the day.

He muses, “If you want the safest flying experience possible, there’s no substitute for reasonably well-equipped pilots who can actually see what’s going on around them when they’re moving close to the ground or around an airport.”

Another Quora thread asked, “What time of day do you prefer to fly as a pilot?” William Keating, who flies commercial planes as a fighter pilot after retiring, says mornings are also his best time.

In response to the question, he wrote: “For me tomorrow. I like the 7am to 9am departure time. Don’t get accumulated delays. It’s usually before the worst weather and the wind is probably less.”

On Reddit, another user asked, “Is it safer to fly early in the morning (6am) than other times of the day?”

To avoid a bumpy ride, 29-year-old North Carolina pilot Garrett previously revealed that choosing a seat close to the wing creates the least turbulence

Frequent flyer @vashtie1674 said he usually prefers the morning hours as well.

He revealed: “I learned from a pilot that there is the least chance of turbulence early in the morning. It’s only true sometimes. Air is air and it will be stable and unstable. However, I prefer to fly very early in the day rather than later in the day.

“For me, it’s a better travel experience. When it comes to safety, the same rules apply, so you’re definitely safe. Sometimes your plane also has its first flight of the day.”

To avoid a bumpy ride, 29-year-old North Carolina pilot Garrett previously revealed that choosing a seat close to the wing creates the least turbulence.

“When you’re close to the wing root, you actually absorb most of the turbulence in the wing root, so you feel less and less bumps during flight,” he explained in a TikTok video.

Dr. Quay Snyder, the president of the Aviation Medicine Advisory Service, also says that overlapping seats — typically found in rows 10 through 30 — offer more stability because they are closer to the “center of gravity.”