The length of air journey between Chicago and Charlotte varies relying on a number of components. Direct flights sometimes vary from one and a half to 2 hours. Connecting flights, which contain a layover at one other airport, can considerably lengthen the general journey time, probably including a number of hours to the journey. Components corresponding to climate circumstances, air visitors management, and the particular route chosen by the airline additionally affect the precise flight time.
Understanding typical flight durations facilitates efficient journey planning. Correct time estimations are important for coordinating connecting flights, arranging floor transportation, and scheduling actions upon arrival. This info allows vacationers to attenuate potential delays and maximize their time, whether or not touring for enterprise or leisure. Traditionally, developments in aviation expertise have shortened journey instances between cities. Whereas air journey was a extra time-consuming enterprise previously, trendy plane and optimized flight paths contribute to the comparatively quick durations skilled right now.
This text will additional discover the nuances of Chicago to Charlotte flights, inspecting particular airline routes, common ticket costs, and suggestions for securing the very best offers. Extra matters coated embody airport info for each departure and arrival places, together with floor transportation choices and accessible facilities. This complete information goals to supply vacationers with all the mandatory info for a easy and environment friendly journey.
1. Direct Flights
The assertion “Direct flights: ~2 hours” supplies a vital baseline for understanding total journey time between Chicago and Charlotte. It represents essentially the most environment friendly flight choice, eliminating the extra time required for layovers, aircraft adjustments, and airport navigation related to connecting flights. This two-hour benchmark permits vacationers to estimate the minimal journey dedication obligatory for a direct route. As an illustration, a enterprise traveler can plan a day journey with a two-hour flight in every course, leaving ample time for a productive assembly in Charlotte.
The importance of this two-hour timeframe extends past particular person itineraries. It impacts logistical planning for occasions, conferences, and different time-sensitive actions. Organizers can make the most of this info to construction schedules, permitting attendees touring from Chicago to reach in Charlotte with minimal journey disruption. Moreover, understanding the direct flight length allows extra correct comparisons with different transportation modes, corresponding to driving or practice journey. This comparability permits vacationers to weigh the advantages of velocity towards different components like price and comfort.
Whereas direct flights supply the quickest journey choice, variations can happen. Components corresponding to air visitors management delays, climate circumstances, and particular routing can affect the precise flight length. Subsequently, whereas the “~2 hours” serves as a beneficial benchmark, vacationers ought to incorporate a buffer for potential delays when making vital journey preparations. Understanding this distinction ensures real looking expectations and facilitates proactive contingency planning.
2. Connecting Flights
The phrase “Connecting flights: longer” instantly addresses a vital side of journey length between Chicago and Charlotte. It highlights that choosing a connecting flight, versus a direct flight, inherently will increase the general journey time. This improve stems from a number of components inherent within the connecting flight course of. Layovers introduce ready time, starting from a minimal of 1 hour to probably a number of hours, relying on the connection schedule. Passengers should additionally issue within the time required to disembark the preliminary flight, navigate the connecting airport, probably endure safety checks once more, and board the second plane. These further time commitments contribute to the prolonged length related to connecting flights.
The affect of connecting flights on complete journey time is substantial and have to be rigorously thought-about. For instance, a connecting flight with a two-hour layover may simply add three or extra hours to the overall journey in comparison with a direct two-hour flight. This distinction will be vital for time-sensitive journey. Selecting a connecting flight would possibly necessitate an in a single day keep, impacting lodging prices and total journey length. Moreover, connecting flights introduce further factors of potential disruption. Delayed preliminary flights can result in missed connections, requiring rebooking and additional extending journey time unpredictably. Understanding the potential for elevated journey time related to connecting flights is important for knowledgeable decision-making.
In abstract, the elevated length related to connecting flights presents a trade-off. Whereas connecting flights generally supply decrease fares or entry to locations not served by direct routes, vacationers should weigh these potential advantages towards the added journey time and elevated danger of delays. Cautious consideration of those components, alongside the baseline direct flight length of roughly two hours, supplies a complete understanding of journey time expectations between Chicago and Charlotte.
3. Airline Variations
Airline variations play a major function in figuring out flight length between Chicago and Charlotte. Completely different airways make use of various operational methods, impacting journey instances. Understanding these nuances permits for extra knowledgeable flight choice.
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Plane Kind
The kind of plane utilized instantly impacts flight velocity and, consequently, length. Some airways would possibly deploy newer, sooner plane on this route, whereas others would possibly use older, slower fashions. This selection can lead to noticeable time variations, even on direct flights. For instance, a contemporary jet would possibly full the journey in barely lower than two hours, whereas an older turboprop may take longer.
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Route Effectivity
Airways make use of completely different flight paths between Chicago and Charlotte. Some would possibly go for extra direct routes, minimizing journey time. Others, as a result of components like air visitors management or cost-saving measures, would possibly make the most of much less direct routes, including to the general flight length. Inspecting flight paths on route mapping companies can reveal these variations.
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Scheduled Stops
Whereas each direct and connecting flights function between these cities, the quantity and length of layovers for connecting flights fluctuate considerably between airways. One airline would possibly supply a connecting flight with a brief layover, whereas one other would possibly require an extended connection, impacting total journey time.
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Operational Procedures
Airways differ of their floor operations effectivity. Components corresponding to boarding procedures, baggage dealing with, and taxiing instances contribute to variations in total journey length. Whereas these variations might sound minor individually, they’ll accumulate, particularly when mixed with different components like plane sort and routing.
Contemplating these airline-specific variations, alongside exterior components corresponding to climate and air visitors, supplies a extra complete understanding of potential journey instances between Chicago and Charlotte. Consulting on-line flight comparability instruments, which regularly show details about plane sort and routing, empowers vacationers to make knowledgeable selections aligned with their scheduling wants. This nuanced strategy ensures real looking expectations and contributes to smoother journey experiences.
4. Time of Yr
Seasonal differences considerably affect flight length between Chicago and Charlotte. Climate patterns, air visitors quantity, and airline scheduling changes contribute to fluctuations in journey time all year long.
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Winter Climate
Winter climate, notably snow and ice storms, regularly causes flight delays and cancellations. De-icing procedures, runway closures, and air visitors management changes to take care of secure separation between plane contribute to prolonged journey instances. Flights could also be rerouted to keep away from extreme climate techniques, including to the general length. Vacationers ought to anticipate potential disruptions and construct further time into their schedules throughout winter months.
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Summer time Thunderstorms
Summer time thunderstorms, widespread in each Chicago and Charlotte, may disrupt flight schedules. Whereas usually localized and shorter in length than winter storms, these storms can nonetheless trigger vital delays. Air visitors management could maintain flights on the bottom or reroute them round storm cells, including to the general flight time. Checking climate forecasts and flight statuses earlier than departure is advisable through the summer time months.
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Vacation Journey Peaks
Vacation intervals expertise elevated air visitors quantity. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Yr’s, particularly, see a surge in passenger numbers. This elevated demand can result in longer taxiing instances, potential delays at departure and arrival airports, and elevated competitors for gate availability. These components can cumulatively add to total journey time, particularly for connecting flights.
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Airline Schedule Changes
Airways regularly modify their schedules seasonally to accommodate fluctuating demand. Throughout peak journey intervals, they could add extra flights or make the most of bigger plane. Conversely, throughout much less busy instances, they could cut back flight frequency or deploy smaller planes. These changes can affect flight availability and probably have an effect on journey instances, particularly for connecting itineraries the place diminished frequency would possibly result in longer layovers.
Contemplating these seasonal components supplies a extra complete understanding of potential variations in flight length between Chicago and Charlotte. Flexibility in journey dates, when potential, and cautious monitoring of climate forecasts and flight statuses can mitigate the affect of those seasonal influences. Constructing buffer time into journey plans is at all times advisable, notably in periods identified for climate disruptions or elevated air visitors.
5. Climate Situations
Climate circumstances characterize a vital issue influencing flight length between Chicago and Charlotte. Atmospheric variations at each departure and arrival airports, in addition to en route climate techniques, can considerably affect flight schedules and total journey time. Understanding these meteorological influences is important for real looking journey planning.
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Visibility Restrictions
Low visibility as a result of fog, heavy rain, or snow can considerably affect airport operations. Departures could also be delayed as plane require adequate visibility for secure takeoff. Equally, low visibility on the vacation spot airport can result in arrival delays and even diversions to alternate airports, including significantly to the general journey time. Flights working beneath instrument flight guidelines (IFR) as a result of low visibility might also expertise slower speeds and altered routes, additional affecting length.
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Wind Affect
Sturdy headwinds en route can cut back plane floor velocity, extending flight time. Conversely, tailwinds can shorten journey time by rising floor velocity. Crosswinds at departure and arrival airports may affect operations. Sturdy crosswinds could require runways to be closed or restrict the kinds of plane that may safely land or take off, probably inflicting delays. Monitoring wind forecasts is essential for anticipating potential journey time variations.
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Thunderstorm Exercise
Thunderstorms, widespread throughout summer time months in each Chicago and Charlotte, pose vital challenges to air journey. Plane should keep away from flying by means of thunderstorms as a result of turbulence, lightning, and heavy precipitation. Air visitors management usually reroutes flights round storm cells, rising flight distances and, consequently, journey time. Floor holds as a result of thunderstorm exercise at departure or arrival airports additionally contribute to delays and prolonged journey durations.
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Winter Climate Impacts
Winter climate, notably snow and ice accumulation, disrupts airport operations in a number of methods. Runway closures for snow removing, de-icing procedures, and elevated spacing between plane as a result of diminished visibility contribute to departure and arrival delays. Moreover, winter storms can create widespread disruptions, impacting connecting flights and probably resulting in cancellations, which necessitates rescheduling and considerably extends journey time.
In abstract, climate circumstances introduce a component of unpredictability to flight durations between Chicago and Charlotte. Whereas airways and air visitors management attempt to attenuate disruptions, weather-related delays are sometimes unavoidable. Checking climate forecasts, monitoring flight statuses, and incorporating buffer time into journey plans are important methods for mitigating the affect of climate on total journey time. Vacationers ought to anticipate potential delays, notably throughout seasons identified for adversarial climate, and keep flexibility of their schedules each time potential.
6. Air Site visitors Management
Air visitors management (ATC) performs a vital function in figuring out flight length between Chicago and Charlotte. ATC manages the circulate of plane nationwide, impacting each floor and air operations. Its affect on routing, departure sequencing, and airspace administration instantly impacts journey instances.
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Floor Operations Administration
ATC manages plane motion on the bottom, together with taxiing to and from runways. Throughout peak hours or intervals of congestion, plane could expertise vital taxi delays. These delays contribute to elevated total journey time, notably in busy airports like Chicago O’Hare. Environment friendly floor operations administration by ATC is essential for minimizing these delays.
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Departure Sequencing and Spacing
ATC determines the departure sequence of plane, sustaining secure spacing between departing flights. Components corresponding to climate circumstances, runway configuration, and vacation spot airport circumstances affect departure sequencing. Delays in departure sequencing, usually attributable to climate or excessive visitors quantity, can result in prolonged ready instances on the bottom, rising total journey length.
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Airspace Administration and Routing
ATC manages the circulate of plane within the airspace, assigning routes and altitudes to take care of secure separation. Climate techniques, army workouts, or different airspace restrictions can necessitate route changes. These changes would possibly contain longer flight paths, rising journey time. Environment friendly airspace administration by ATC is important for minimizing the affect of such occasions on flight durations.
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Arrival Sequencing and Strategy Management
ATC manages the arrival sequence of plane into Charlotte, guiding them by means of the strategy and touchdown phases. Congestion on the vacation spot airport, climate circumstances, or runway availability affect arrival sequencing. Holding patterns as a result of congestion or climate can add vital time to a flight. Efficient arrival administration by ATC is essential for minimizing delays through the ultimate phases of the journey.
In conclusion, ATC considerably influences flight length between Chicago and Charlotte. Its administration of floor operations, departure and arrival sequencing, and en route airspace instantly impacts journey time. Whereas unavoidable delays can happen as a result of components past ATC’s management, environment friendly air visitors administration performs a key function in sustaining scheduled flight instances and minimizing disruptions.
7. Departure airport (ORD/MDW)
The selection between Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD) and Chicago Halfway Worldwide Airport (MDW) influences flight length to Charlotte. Whereas each serve the Chicago metropolitan space, their places, airline operations, and floor visitors patterns create distinct journey time implications. ORD, a considerably bigger airport, experiences higher air visitors quantity, rising the probability of taxi delays, notably throughout peak hours. Departure sequencing and runway availability can additional affect departure instances from ORD. MDW, smaller and fewer congested, sometimes experiences shorter taxi instances and fewer departure delays. Nevertheless, the provision of direct flights to Charlotte from MDW is likely to be extra restricted than from ORD, probably necessitating connecting flights which improve total journey time.
The airline chosen additional complicates the departure airport’s affect on flight length. Sure airways primarily function from ORD, whereas others favor MDW. This choice necessitates cautious consideration when choosing a departure airport, because it instantly impacts airline choices and, consequently, potential flight schedules. As an illustration, an airline working completely from ORD would possibly supply extra frequent direct flights to Charlotte than an airline working from MDW, decreasing total journey time. Conversely, selecting a much less congested airport like MDW, even with a connecting flight, would possibly show sooner than departing from a congested ORD throughout peak hours. Analyzing flight choices from each airports, contemplating airline schedules and potential delays, facilitates knowledgeable decision-making.
In abstract, choosing the departure airport represents a vital element of journey time planning between Chicago and Charlotte. Balancing airport congestion ranges, airline availability, and potential for direct versus connecting flights ensures environment friendly journey preparations. Cautious consideration of those components, alongside real-time flight knowledge and potential delay info, empowers vacationers to optimize their departure technique and decrease total journey time.
8. Arrival airport (CLT)
Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport (CLT)’s operational effectivity instantly impacts the general length of flights originating from Chicago. Whereas the in-flight time stays comparatively fixed, arrival procedures, floor operations, and potential delays at CLT contribute to the overall journey expertise. As an illustration, air visitors congestion at CLT can result in holding patterns for arriving plane, rising total flight time. Equally, inclement climate in Charlotte could cause arrival delays and even diversions, considerably extending the length of the journey. Environment friendly baggage dealing with and floor transportation techniques at CLT are additionally essential for minimizing the time spent after touchdown. A well-organized arrival course of contributes to a smoother journey expertise, whereas inefficiencies can add to the perceived and precise size of the journey.
Moreover, CLT’s function as a connecting hub introduces further complexities. Passengers with connecting flights by means of CLT should contemplate potential delays impacting their onward journeys. A delayed arrival into CLT can result in missed connections, necessitating rebooking and lengthening total journey time considerably. Understanding CLT’s operational efficiency, together with on-time arrival statistics and frequency of delays, permits vacationers to evaluate potential dangers and make knowledgeable selections concerning connecting flights. Selecting itineraries with ample connection instances can mitigate the affect of potential delays at CLT.
In conclusion, CLT’s operational effectivity is integral to the general length of a Chicago to Charlotte flight. Components corresponding to air visitors congestion, climate circumstances, baggage dealing with, and floor transportation techniques contribute to the overall time spent touring. Furthermore, CLT’s operate as a connecting hub provides one other layer of complexity, necessitating cautious consideration of potential delays and connection instances. A complete understanding of CLT’s operational traits empowers vacationers to anticipate potential challenges and make knowledgeable selections to attenuate total journey time and guarantee a smoother arrival expertise.
9. Route Specifics
Route specifics considerably affect the general length of flights between Chicago and Charlotte. Variations in flight paths, dictated by components corresponding to climate, air visitors congestion, and airline operational methods, instantly affect journey time. Understanding these nuances allows knowledgeable flight choice and real looking expectation administration.
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Direct vs. Connecting Flights
Direct flights adhere to a steady trajectory between Chicago and Charlotte, minimizing journey time. Connecting flights contain intermediate stops at different airports, rising total length as a result of layovers, plane adjustments, and extra taxiing. The selection between a direct and connecting route considerably impacts complete journey time.
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Flight Path Variations
Even amongst direct flights, route variations exist. Airways would possibly make the most of barely completely different flight paths as a result of prevailing winds, air visitors congestion, or most popular navigation routes. These variations, whereas seemingly minor, can affect total flight length. A extra northerly route would possibly encounter stronger headwinds, rising journey time, whereas a southerly route would possibly profit from tailwinds, decreasing length.
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Airspace Effectivity
Air visitors management manages plane circulate inside particular airspace sectors. Congestion in sure sectors can necessitate route changes or holding patterns, including to flight time. Conversely, environment friendly airspace administration and clear climate circumstances enable plane to take care of optimum speeds and cling to extra direct routes, minimizing journey time.
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Airline Operational Decisions
Particular person airways implement particular route preferences based mostly on operational effectivity, gas prices, and strategic partnerships. Some airways would possibly prioritize velocity and direct routing, whereas others would possibly prioritize cost-effectiveness, probably resulting in barely longer flight paths and elevated length. Understanding these airline-specific decisions supplies insights into potential variations in journey time between Chicago and Charlotte.
In conclusion, route specifics characterize a vital ingredient in figuring out flight length between Chicago and Charlotte. Contemplating the kind of flight, potential flight path variations, airspace effectivity, and airline operational decisions permits for knowledgeable decision-making and contributes to a extra correct understanding of complete journey time expectations.
Often Requested Questions
This part addresses widespread inquiries concerning flight durations between Chicago and Charlotte, offering concise and informative responses.
Query 1: What’s the typical length of a direct flight from Chicago to Charlotte?
Direct flights sometimes vary from one and a half to 2 hours, relying on components corresponding to climate and air visitors.
Query 2: How do connecting flights affect total journey time?
Connecting flights improve total journey time as a result of layovers, which may vary from one to a number of hours, plus further time for airport navigation and aircraft adjustments.
Query 3: Which airways supply direct flights between Chicago and Charlotte?
A number of main airways, together with American, United, and Spirit, sometimes supply direct flights on this route. Checking on-line journey businesses or particular person airline web sites supplies essentially the most present info.
Query 4: How does the time of 12 months have an effect on flight length?
Climate circumstances, notably throughout winter and summer time months, could cause delays. Peak journey seasons, corresponding to holidays, might also expertise elevated air visitors and potential delays.
Query 5: Do departure and arrival airports in Chicago and Charlotte affect journey time?
Selecting between Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Halfway (MDW) can have an effect on journey time as a result of various ranges of airport congestion and accessible flight choices. Equally, operational effectivity and potential delays at Charlotte Douglas (CLT) contribute to total journey length.
Query 6: The place can vacationers discover essentially the most up-to-date info on flight schedules and durations?
Respected on-line journey businesses, airline web sites, and flight monitoring functions supply real-time flight info, together with scheduled and precise departure and arrival instances.
Understanding these components supplies a complete perspective on journey time expectations between Chicago and Charlotte. Proactive planning and consideration of potential variables contribute to extra environment friendly journey experiences.
For additional steering on particular journey preparations, seek the advice of the sources supplied inside the subsequent sections of this information.
Suggestions for Managing Flight Durations Between Chicago and Charlotte
Environment friendly journey planning requires a proactive strategy to managing potential variations in flight durations. The next suggestions present sensible steering for optimizing journey experiences between Chicago and Charlotte.
Tip 1: Guide Direct Flights When Potential: Direct flights decrease total journey time by eliminating layovers and related airport navigation. Whereas probably costlier, the time saved usually outweighs the price distinction, particularly for time-sensitive journey.
Tip 2: Contemplate Departure and Arrival Airport Congestion: Consider congestion ranges at each departure and arrival airports. Chicago O’Hare (ORD) usually experiences increased visitors quantity than Chicago Halfway (MDW). Equally, Charlotte Douglas (CLT), a serious hub, can expertise intervals of congestion. Issue potential delays into journey plans.
Tip 3: Make the most of Flight Comparability Web sites: On-line flight comparability instruments present complete info on flight schedules, durations, and airline-specific particulars. Evaluating choices throughout a number of airways permits for knowledgeable selections based mostly on journey time preferences.
Tip 4: Monitor Climate Forecasts: Climate circumstances considerably affect flight schedules. Monitoring forecasts earlier than departure and through journey permits proactive changes to plans in case of delays or cancellations. Constructing buffer time into itineraries mitigates weather-related disruptions.
Tip 5: Test Flight Statuses Frequently: Actual-time flight monitoring instruments and airline web sites present up-to-the-minute info on flight statuses, together with departure and arrival instances. Staying knowledgeable about potential delays allows proactive changes to floor transportation and connecting flight preparations.
Tip 6: Contemplate Airline-Particular Operational Traits: Completely different airways make the most of various plane sorts, routes, and operational procedures. Researching airline-specific efficiency knowledge, together with on-time arrival statistics, supplies insights into potential variations in flight length.
Tip 7: Permit Ample Connection Time: When reserving connecting flights, consider adequate layover time to accommodate potential delays. Longer connection instances cut back the chance of missed connections and decrease disruption to total journey plans.
Tip 8: Think about Floor Transportation Time: Contemplate floor transportation time at each departure and arrival airports. Site visitors congestion, particularly throughout peak hours, can add vital time to the general journey. Planning transportation preparations prematurely streamlines the method and minimizes potential delays.
Implementing these methods empowers vacationers to successfully handle flight durations between Chicago and Charlotte. Proactive planning and knowledgeable decision-making contribute to extra environment friendly and fewer nerve-racking journey experiences.
By understanding the components influencing journey time and implementing these sensible suggestions, vacationers can optimize their journeys and arrive in Charlotte ready and on schedule. The concluding part of this text summarizes key takeaways and affords ultimate suggestions for a seamless journey expertise.
Conclusion
Flight length between Chicago and Charlotte represents a multifaceted topic influenced by quite a few interconnected components. Direct flights, averaging roughly two hours, supply the quickest journey choice. Nevertheless, connecting flights, whereas probably extra inexpensive, introduce prolonged journey instances as a result of layovers and airport navigation. Airline operational methods, together with plane sort, route effectivity, and scheduled stops, additional contribute to variations in flight length. Climate circumstances, notably throughout winter and summer time months, pose vital dangers of delays and disruptions. Air visitors management performs a vital function in managing airspace and floor operations, impacting each departure and arrival instances. Lastly, the selection between Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Halfway (MDW), in addition to operational effectivity at Charlotte Douglas (CLT), influences total journey time.
Efficient administration of journey time necessitates a complete understanding of those contributing parts. Vacationers profit from proactive planning, leveraging on-line sources to check flight choices, monitor climate forecasts, and monitor flight statuses. Constructing buffer time into itineraries and contemplating airline-specific efficiency knowledge mitigate the affect of potential disruptions. Finally, knowledgeable decision-making, coupled with real looking expectations, empowers vacationers to navigate the complexities of air journey between Chicago and Charlotte effectively and arrive ready for his or her vacation spot expertise. Additional analysis into particular airline insurance policies and real-time flight knowledge supplies further benefits for optimizing journey preparations.
