Christmas Eve Airport Rush: Expect Delays Or A Breeze?

Christmas Eve is typically one of the least busy days at airports. People who celebrate Christmas usually want to be with their families on Christmas Eve, not at the airport. However, this may depend on which day of the week Christmas Eve falls. If it falls on a Friday, for example, the morning flights will be busy as people rush to reach their destinations before the weekend. In general, the days before Christmas Eve tend to be the busiest, as people are travelling to their holiday destinations.

Christmas Eve is one of the least busy days to fly

Data from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) supports this, showing that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the least busy days to fly during the last two weeks of the year. In 2023, 31% more people flew on the day after Christmas compared to Christmas Day.

If you do choose to fly on Christmas Eve, it's still a good idea to arrive at the airport early, especially if you're checking a bag. This is because, although the airport may be quieter, there could be traffic getting there, and there may be reduced services and staffing.

Christmas Eve falls on a different day each year, so this can also impact how busy it is. For example, if Christmas Eve falls on a Friday, it's likely to be busier, as it's a popular day for people to finish work and head straight to the airport for a weekend trip.

If you're looking to save money, as well as avoid crowds, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the cheapest days to fly over the holiday period.

Christmas Day is also quieter than usual

While Christmas Day used to be eerily quiet, the word has gotten out that it's a good day to find cheaper flights and experience shorter lines. Still, compared to the days leading up to Christmas, the 25th is usually a good day to be flying in terms of airport crowds and airline efficiency.

However, it's worth noting that public transport, taxis, and rental car services may be reduced on Christmas Day, which could slow things down. Services located within airports, such as banking services, may also be limited or closed. Therefore, it's a good idea to plan ahead and consider alternative options if you're relying on these services.

Overall, if you don't mind spending part of your Christmas in an airport or in transit, traveling on Christmas Day can be a strategic choice to avoid the crowds and take advantage of cheaper airfares.

The days before Christmas are the busiest

The days before Christmas are busy because many people want to arrive at their destinations before the holiday. In 2023, 2.8 million people passed through TSA security checkpoints on 22 December, making it the busiest air travel day in the week leading up to Christmas.

However, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the least crowded travel days, as people usually spend these days with their families. Flying on these holidays is a good way to avoid crowds and save money.

The cheapest days to fly are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the cheapest days to fly, but you may not want to travel on a holiday. If you can, try to book your flight on these days to save money. If not, there are other strategies you can use to save money on holiday flights.

Strategies for Saving Money on Holiday Flights

There are two main strategies for saving money on holiday flights: travelling on a holiday or departing earlier and returning later. If you want to avoid crowds, travelling on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is the best option. These are the least crowded travel days during the holiday week.

If you can't travel on a holiday, try to extend your trip by leaving earlier and returning later. The least crowded days to fly in the week before Christmas are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. For the week after Christmas, the least crowded days are New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Booking Tips

The earlier you book, the better. For domestic flights, it's best to book at least one to three months in advance. For international flights, book at least two to eight months in advance.

If you can be flexible with your travel dates, you can also save money. Try flying the week before Christmas, as crowds will likely be lighter on Monday and Tuesday. Or, book a morning flight, as they are less prone to cancellations than afternoon flights.

Busiest Travel Days

The weekend before Christmas is usually the busiest time to fly, so avoid flying from Friday to Sunday if possible. The Friday after Christmas is also a busy travel day, with 31% more people flying compared to Christmas Day last year.

Other Considerations

If you're driving to the airport, be prepared for heavy traffic. Peak traffic hours in the days leading up to Christmas are typically between 1 pm and 4 pm.

Airports in major cities are busiest in the mornings

Christmas Eve is one of the least busy days to fly, with Christmas Day being the quietest. This is because most people want to be with their families on these days and are less likely to be travelling. However, this doesn't mean that all airports will be quiet. LAX, for example, is likely to be busy in the mornings of Christmas Eve, with people taking early flights to get to their destinations in time for Christmas.

If you are travelling on Christmas Eve, it is still advisable to get to the airport early. While the terminals may be quieter, there could be traffic getting to the airport, and there may be issues with public transport, taxis, or rental cars. There may also be reduced staffing, which could slow things down.

In general, mornings are the busiest time at airports in major cities, with the highest volume of seats scheduled to depart between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. However, the first flight of the day is often the busiest, as people want to get to their destinations at a reasonable hour. If you can, it's best to book the first flight of the day, as flights departing after 9 a.m. are twice as likely to be delayed.

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