Airports And Memorial Day Weekend: Expect Heavy Traffic

Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest times of the year for airports in the US. The holiday marks the unofficial beginning of summer and the summer vacation season for many Americans. In 2024, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recorded its second busiest day in history, with almost 2.9 million people travelling through airports. The Friday before Memorial Day is always a big travel day, and in 2019, it was the third busiest day at US airports for the entire year. In 2024, AAA data predicted that 3.51 million people would fly over the holiday weekend, a 4.8% jump from 2023.

The Friday before Memorial Day is the busiest day of the year so far at US airports

In 2024, more than 2.9 million travellers passed through airports on the Friday before Memorial Day, setting a record for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as the most passengers screened in a single day. This was the second of five days in May that made it into the TSA's 10 busiest days ever.

The Friday before Memorial Day in 2023 was the busiest day of the year up to that point, and the third-busiest day at US airports in the entire year. In 2021 and 2022, it was the busiest or second-busiest day of the year to date.

In 2019, before the pandemic, the Friday before Memorial Day was the third-busiest day at US airports for the whole year.

The crowds on the Friday before Memorial Day can be attributed to the large number of people taking a long weekend break. If you follow the classic Friday-Monday weekend travel itinerary, you will pay for it in terms of price and airport crowds.

The Sunday after Memorial Day is the busiest day of the long weekend itself, with the Monday holiday and the Tuesday after also ranking highly.

However, the Thursday before the long weekend is also very busy, with the TSA reporting that May 23, 2024, was the second-busiest day in its history.

The Sunday after Memorial Day is the most crowded day overall

In 2023, the Friday before Memorial Day was the busiest day of the year up until that point. The Sunday after Memorial Day is likely to be even busier, as more people will be travelling. Check-in and security lines will be longer, and there may be delays. This is especially true for those who are rusty travellers and have forgotten airport procedures and etiquette.

If you are planning to travel on the Sunday after Memorial Day, it is important to arrive at the airport early. Give yourself plenty of time to get through bag drop, security checkpoints, and other processes. Consider travelling with only a carry-on bag to save time at the airport. Keep in mind that some airports may be more crowded than others, such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

The Memorial Day weekend is often considered the unofficial start of summer, and it is definitely the start of the summer travel season. This means that airports will be more crowded than usual, and travellers should be prepared for longer lines and wait times. It is always a test for airlines to see how well they can handle the increased travel demand.

If you want to avoid the biggest crowds, consider travelling on the Saturday before Memorial Day or the Wednesday after. Flying home on the Saturday after Memorial Day is also an option to avoid the Sunday crowds while still enjoying a week-long vacation.

The Tuesday before Memorial Day is the least crowded day

The data revealed that the Tuesday before Memorial Day is the least busy travel day, followed by the Wednesday after the holiday. In contrast, the Sunday after Memorial Day is the busiest day, with the Monday holiday itself coming in second place.

If you want to avoid the crowds, it's best to avoid the Friday before Memorial Day, which is typically one of the busiest travel days of the year. In 2019, it was the third busiest day at US airports for the entire year.

The Memorial Day weekend also marks the unofficial start of summer in the US, and it's when the summer travel season begins. This means that airports will be especially busy, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) saying they are preparing for record passenger numbers.

To avoid the crowds, it's recommended to travel on a Saturday and return the Wednesday after Memorial Day. This way, you can avoid the rush of people leaving for the long weekend and returning to work on Tuesday.

The Wednesday after Memorial Day is a good day to fly home and miss the crowds

Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest travel times of the year in the US, marking the unofficial start of summer. Airports are particularly crowded, with record-breaking numbers of travellers passing through.

The Wednesday after Memorial Day is a good day to fly home and avoid the crowds. While many people opt to travel on Memorial Day itself, and others the day after, fewer people extend their trip an extra day and fly home on the Wednesday. By doing so, you can avoid the worst of the airport crowds and increase your chances of saving money on airfare.

If you fly home on the Wednesday after Memorial Day, you'll also benefit from a shorter working week when you get home. Two days might be just enough time to wrap up lingering tasks without getting fresh projects dumped on your desk.

If you can be flexible when flying during Memorial Day weekend, you'll save money and avoid chaos. The Friday before Memorial Day is always a big travel day, and it's one of the busiest days at US airports all year. In 2023, it was the busiest day of the year up until that point. The Sunday after Memorial Day is also a very busy day for travel.

If you can avoid flying on the Friday and Sunday, you'll benefit from lighter crowds and perhaps better Memorial Day flight deals.

The Saturday after Memorial Day is also a good option to avoid the Sunday crowds

Memorial Day weekend is a busy time for airports, marking the unofficial start of summer and the summer travel season. The Friday before Memorial Day is always a big travel day, and in 2019, it was the third busiest day at US airports for the entire year. The Sunday after Memorial Day is also a busy day, attracting the largest crowds in the past few years.

If you want to avoid the crowds, travelling on the Saturday after Memorial Day is a good option. This gives you a full day at home to prepare for the upcoming workweek. You can still have a week-long vacation and miss the Sunday crowds by flying home on Saturday.

Memorial Day weekend is a busy time for airports, with a record-breaking number of travellers expected to take to the skies. In 2024, AAA predicted that 3.51 million people would travel by plane over the holiday weekend, a 4.8% jump from 2023. This number is expected to increase in 2025, with an estimated 18 million travellers passing through security at US airports from Thursday through Wednesday, a 6.4% increase over 2023.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing for record passenger numbers, and it is recommended that travellers give themselves plenty of time to get through security. The Friday before Memorial Day is consistently one of the busiest travel days, and the Sunday after Memorial Day is also a crowded day.

If you want to avoid the crowds, travelling on Saturday is a good option. This gives you a head start on the Sunday crowds, and you can take an early morning flight, which is often more reliable than an evening flight. Morning flights that depart before 9 am are less likely to be delayed.

By travelling on Saturday, you can also take advantage of lower airfare prices. Fewer people fly on Wednesdays, so you can avoid the worst of the crowds and save money on your flight. This also gives you a full day at home to prepare for the upcoming workweek.

In summary, the Saturday after Memorial Day is a good option to avoid the Sunday crowds and take advantage of lower airfare prices. You can still enjoy a week-long vacation and have a full day to relax and prepare for the workweek ahead.

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