choosing on-time flights?
 

Having experienced yet another frustrating delay, I was wondering from those who fly domestically if there are any tricks to picking a flight with a higher chance of being on-time?
It was from SHA to CAN, no announcement of delay but given there was no plane at the gate by the departure time it was obvious. Then the classic ATC. And finally afyer boarding they still needed to load cargo.

Does wide-body vs narrow-body make a difference, or airline? Or time of day? Or purely luck of the draw?

Morning flights are generally best. But, for afternoon and evening flights, the airlines have gotten a lot better at adjusting departure times in advance. For example, 4p flights often become 6p flights before I head out to the airport, and the revised departure time is pretty reliable.

Hmm, there was absolutely nothing in the way of notification for my delay. It was CZ around 4pm, a wide-body (777-300er)

I only seem to get notified about half of the time, but checking the airline website usually works also. Also when I'm at out stations, I sometimes check the status of the incoming flight. For example, Shanghai Airlines only sends one plane at a time to Nanning. I don't go to the airport until its an hour out.

You need to variflight app which should give you a heads up. Then load up on that travel delay insurance. Many local credit cards give free travel delay insurance. Getting paid for sitting in the lounge does lessen the pain a little.

Not that I need to, but I wonder if business travellers just buy a bunch of tickets, so you can take the one that is actually on-time (and just have carry-on luggage).

<br /><br />Usually no need to do that. If you purchase a full-fare economy ticket that is refundable and endorsable, you can move it to another flight on the same or different airline. As long as there's a seat available. Buying a bunch of tickets won't help if the delay is due to a major weather event or something like the military closing airspace over Shanghai for several hours due to maneuvers, since all flights will be in the same boat (so to speak).<br /><br />If a business schedule is that critical and no high-speed train substitute available, then either being where you need to be the night before, or buying two same-day tickets--on different airlines if not a monopoly route--would be alternate tactics.