Christmas Eve Rush: Airports Packed With Holiday Cheer

Christmas is a time when many people travel to be with their families, and airports are often busy during the holiday season. However, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are usually quieter at airports, as most people want to be with their families on these days and tend to travel on the days before and after Christmas. In 2024, the days with the highest passenger volumes were expected to be December 20, December 27, and December 30, with December 26 and 29 also expected to be busy.

Christmas Eve vs Christmas Day

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are two of the least busy days for air travel during the holiday season. In 2024, airports are expected to be busier than ever, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) anticipating screening nearly 40 million travellers between 19 December and 2 January—a 6% jump from the previous year.

However, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are exceptions to the busy holiday travel period. People who celebrate Christmas traditionally want to be with their families on these days, so airports tend to be quieter. In fact, Christmas Day is predicted to be the slowest day for air travel during the winter.

If you're looking to avoid crowds and save money, travelling on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is a good option. However, it's important to keep in mind that public transport, taxi, and rental car services may be limited on these days, and some airports could be closed altogether.

The busiest days for air travel during the Christmas period are typically the weekend before Christmas, as people head to their holiday destinations. Friday, 20 December, through Sunday, 22 December, are expected to be particularly crowded and expensive. The days immediately after Christmas also tend to be busy, with travellers returning home.

To avoid crowds, it's recommended to fly on Tuesdays, which is typically the slowest day of the week for air travel. Flying on national holidays can also be a good option, as airports tend to be less busy on the days before and after a holiday.

Busiest airports

Airports are generally busier in the period leading up to Christmas Eve and the days following Christmas. The days with the highest volume of travellers are often the Friday before Christmas Eve, the Friday after Christmas Eve, and the Monday after that Friday. In 2024, the Friday before Christmas Eve fell on December 20, the Friday after was December 27, and the Monday after was December 30. These dates tend to have the highest passenger volumes because people are travelling to their holiday destinations or returning home.

According to the TSA, nearly 40 million travellers were expected to be screened at airport security checkpoints between Thursday, December 19, 2024, and Thursday, January 2, 2025, a more than 6% increase from the previous year. The bulk of that travel was expected to happen between Monday, December 23, and January 1, with 32.5 million seats scheduled to depart from US airports.

The Transportation Security Administration predicted that Thursday, December 19, would be the most crowded day to fly, followed by Friday, December 27, and Friday, December 20. United Airlines also anticipated that Friday, December 20, would be one of its busiest days, along with Friday, December 27, and Saturday, December 28.

The days with the lowest travel volume are typically the holidays and their eves. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are usually the least crowded days at the airport, with fewer people wanting to travel on these days.

To avoid the crowds, it is recommended to book flights on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, as these tend to be quieter days for travel. Additionally, travelling on Tuesdays and national holidays can also help you avoid the busiest airport days.

When it comes to specific airports, major US airports like Atlanta, Dallas Fort-Worth, and Denver are expected to be among the busiest, serving over 1.3 million scheduled departing seats each. These airports tend to see higher numbers of cancellations and delays during the holiday period.

To ensure a smoother travel experience, it is recommended to book the first flight of the day, as flights departing after 9 am are more likely to be delayed. Mornings are generally the busiest time at airports, with the highest volume of seats scheduled to depart between 8 am and 12 pm in most major cities.

Cheapest days to fly

While there's no silver bullet for finding the best deals on flights, being vigilant, flexible, and knowing the patterns can help you save money.

Within the US

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are usually the cheapest days to fly within the US. According to Google's data, flying on these days is 13% cheaper than flying over the weekend and 20% cheaper than flying on Sundays and Mondays, which are the most expensive days.

This is because Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are the slowest travel days of the week. Many travellers head out for a long weekend on Thursdays and Fridays and return on Sundays, while business travellers tend to head out on Mondays and return on Thursdays or Fridays. As a result, airlines are eager to sell more tickets on off-peak days, leading to lower prices.

Internationally

When it comes to international travel, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are also the cheapest days to fly. While there isn't a huge difference in price across the days of the week for most international routes, you can usually find cheaper flights on these days.

Book in Advance

In general, it's best to book your flights in advance, as last-minute flight deals are not common. For domestic flights, book one to three months in advance, and for international flights, two to eight months in advance.

Shoulder Seasons

In addition to specific days of the week, there are also cheaper months to fly. Peak summer months, from mid-May or early June through mid-August or early September, tend to be madness for travel. Flight prices increase during this period due to high demand, and there are fewer sales and discounts.

Instead, consider travelling during the shoulder seasons, from May to early June and September through mid-October, when flight prices are typically much lower.

Similarly, avoid travelling during the winter holidays like Christmas and New Year's if possible, as flight prices tend to skyrocket during this period.

Other Tips

• Compare airfares across different airlines and digital platforms.
• Be flexible with your destination, airport, and dates.
• Consider taking connecting flights instead of non-stop flights, as they can sometimes be much cheaper.
• Set price alerts on travel search engines to be notified when prices drop.
• Rebook your flight if you find a cheaper price, taking advantage of flexible change and cancellation policies offered by many airlines.
• Book group travel one ticket at a time, as multiple tickets sold in a single transaction often need to be valued at the same price.
• Fly at cheaper times of the day, such as dawn, overnight, or around lunch and dinner hours.

Busiest days to fly

Flying during the holiday season can be a stressful experience, with crowded airports, delayed flights, and busy roads. Here are some of the busiest days to fly during the Christmas and New Year period, along with some tips to avoid the worst of the crowds.

The Days to Avoid

The days with the highest volume of travellers tend to be the days immediately before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. People are rushing to get to their destinations before the holidays officially begin. In 2023, the busiest air travel day in the week leading up to Christmas was Friday, 22nd December, with 2.8 million people passing through TSA security checkpoints. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects similar numbers for 2024, anticipating screening nearly 40 million travellers from 19th December to 2nd January, a 6% increase from 2023.

The days to avoid flying, if possible, are:

• Friday, 20th December
• Friday, 27th December
• Monday, 30th December

These dates typically see a high volume of travellers, and you can expect delays and cancellations. The days immediately following Christmas, from 26th to 29th December, also tend to be very busy as people return home.

The Best Days to Fly

If you're looking for less crowded airports and smoother travel days, consider flying on the holidays themselves:

• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day
• New Year's Eve
• New Year's Day

These dates tend to be the least crowded, as people prefer to be with their families and friends, not at airports. For example, in 2023, 31% more people flew on the day after Christmas compared to Christmas Day.

Another strategy is to depart earlier and return later. If you can extend your trip, leaving a few days before Christmas and returning a few days after New Year's, you'll likely encounter fewer crowds.

Other Tips

• The best time to fly is in the morning, especially before 9 am, as flights departing after 9 am are twice as likely to be delayed.
• Tuesdays are generally the slowest days for air travel, so if your schedule is flexible, consider a mid-week flight.
• If you're driving, the peak traffic hours in the days leading up to Christmas are between 1 pm and 4 pm.

Tips for flying on Christmas Eve/Day

Flying on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is possible, but it will require some planning. Here are some tips to make your holiday travel smoother:

Booking your Flight:

• Book as early as possible. The best deals on Christmas flights are usually available in June, July, or August. If you can't book that early, try to book by early September at the latest.
• Consider flying on the holiday itself. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are typically the least crowded travel days during the holiday week, and they often have cheaper airfares.
• If you can't fly on the holiday itself, consider extending your trip by leaving earlier and returning later. The days immediately before and after Christmas tend to be very busy and expensive.
• Try to avoid the weekend before Christmas, as everyone will be headed to their holiday destinations. The days from Friday to Sunday before Christmas are usually the busiest and most expensive.
• If you can be flexible with your itinerary, consider flying the previous week. Crowds tend to ease up the further away from Christmas you get.

At the Airport:

• Mornings tend to be the busiest time at airports, with the highest volume of departures between 8 am and 12 pm. If you can book a morning flight, though, do so, as they are less prone to cancellations than afternoon flights.
• Remember to leave gifts unwrapped. While you can travel with gifts, security may need to unwrap them if they trigger an alarm. Place gifts in gift bags or boxes with tissue paper instead of wrapping them in paper and tape.
• Give yourself extra time. Airports tend to be more crowded during the holiday season, so allow for potential delays and leave plenty of time to get through security and to your gate.
• Track your flight ahead of time. Keep an eye on your flight's status and track your plane to get an early heads-up on any potential delays or cancellations.

Other Options:

• Consider alternative transportation. If driving is an option, rental car prices tend to be cheaper during the holidays than the rest of the year.
• Skip holiday travel altogether. January and February tend to be the cheapest months to fly, so you may want to postpone your trip until the new year.

Frequently asked questions