Airports And Black Friday: A Busy Travel Day?

Thanksgiving and Black Friday are two of the busiest days for air travel in the US. In 2024, the number of passengers screened in US airports reached all-time highs multiple times. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is usually the busiest airport day of the year, but Black Friday is also a very busy travel day. In 2024, 30.6 million passengers were projected to fly through US airlines during the Thanksgiving period, with 5.15 million travellers expected to fly home on the days following Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday are the busiest days for air travel

Thanksgiving and Black Friday are two of the busiest days for air travel in the US. In 2024, the number of passengers screened in US airports reached all-time highs multiple times.

For many, Thanksgiving is a time to reconnect with family and friends, and travel is a big part of that. In 2024, a record-breaking number of Americans planned to travel for Thanksgiving, with nearly 80 million people expected to travel—an increase of 1.7 million from 2023 and 2 million from 2019.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is typically the busiest airport day of the year, and the Wednesday before is also one of the most popular days to fly. However, Black Friday is also a busy travel day as people return home after shorter trips.

To avoid the worst of the crowds, experts recommend travelling during off-peak hours, such as early mornings or late evenings.

Some of the busiest airports during Thanksgiving and Black Friday include Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

If you're planning to travel during this period, it's best to book your flights as early as possible to guarantee your preferred route, time, seat, and price.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest airport day of the year

Thanksgiving is a major holiday in the US, and many people travel during this period to visit family and friends. This means that roads and airports are often crowded, and travel can be chaotic.

In 2024, a record-breaking number of Americans were expected to travel for Thanksgiving, with nearly 80 million people forecasted to travel 50 miles or more from home. This is an increase of 1.7 million people compared to the previous year, and 2 million more than in 2019.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is typically the busiest travel day of the year, and this is especially true for airports. In 2021, 2022, and 2023, the Sunday after Thanksgiving was the busiest single day of the year at US airports, according to TSA passenger data. Over 2.9 million people crossed through US airport security checkpoints on this day, compared to 1.5 million on Thanksgiving Day.

The day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, is also a busy travel day, but it is not one of the busiest of the year. It is often busy because many people travel earlier in the week to return home on Friday, and those who only travel for Thanksgiving Day also head home on Friday. However, in terms of the number of passengers, Black Friday is relatively average.

If you want to avoid the worst of the Thanksgiving travel crowds, it is best to avoid travelling on the Sunday after. Airports are likely to be less busy on Thanksgiving Day itself, which usually sees the least traffic, and on Black Friday, which is the third-least crowded day to fly on average.

The day after Thanksgiving is an average travel day

Thanksgiving is a major holiday in the United States, and it is often a time when people travel to celebrate with their families. This can make the days around the holiday very busy for travel, with crowded airports and congested roads. However, the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday, is not one of the busiest travel days. In fact, it is considered an average travel day.

While Black Friday may not be the busiest travel day of the year, it can still be quite busy at certain airports. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, for example, is expected to handle a large number of passengers on Black Friday, with an estimated 590,938 passengers and 6:00 AM as the peak hour. Similarly, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Los Angeles International Airport, and the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport are all expected to be busy on Black Friday, with passenger estimates ranging from 787,629 to over 1 million.

To avoid the worst of the crowds and congestion, experts recommend travelling during off-peak hours, such as early mornings or late evenings. This is especially important for drivers in metropolitan areas like Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Washington, DC, where traffic is expected to be more than double the usual amount.

Overall, while Black Friday may not be the busiest travel day of the year, it can still be quite busy at certain airports. However, with proper planning and flexibility, travellers can avoid the worst of the crowds and have a smooth journey.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays for travel in the US, and this is also reflected in the number of passengers at US airports. In 2024, the number of passengers screened in US airports reached all-time highs multiple times.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest day for air travel, with Saturday being the least busy. This is likely due to people returning home after the holiday. The Wednesday after Thanksgiving is also a quieter day for travel, as people tend to want to avoid taking extra time off work.

For those who are driving, the roads will be most congested on the days right before Thanksgiving, especially between 1 pm and 7 pm on Tuesday and 1 pm and 5 pm on Wednesday. The roads will also be busy on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, between noon and 6 pm, and on the Monday, between 9 am and 6 pm.

To avoid the worst of the traffic congestion, it is recommended to travel during off-peak hours, such as early mornings or late evenings.

Black Friday is a good day to fly

Black Friday is one of the least busy days to fly on and around Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving Day itself is the quietest day for airports, but if you can't travel then, Black Friday is a good alternative.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest airport day of the year, and the Wednesday before is the second busiest. This means that, if you can be flexible, you can save money and avoid chaos by flying on Black Friday instead. Black Friday is the third least-crowded day to fly on average, and you'll also be avoiding the retail crowds.

How to Get the Best Deal on Flights

The best way to get a good deal on flights is to book early—at least one to three months in advance for domestic flights, and two to eight months in advance for international flights. For Thanksgiving, it's best to book by the middle of September at the latest, and the same goes for Christmas.

If you're driving, you can also expect less traffic on Black Friday. Roads are likely to be most crowded between 11 am and 2 pm as people head out to do their Black Friday shopping.

If you're flying at other times of the year, it's still a good idea to book early. For Christmas, the earlier you depart the week before Christmas, the better. Flying on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day can also be a good option for cheaper prices and fewer crowds, although this may not be ideal for everyone.

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