Holiday Rush: Airports Buzzing Post-Christmas

Airports are usually busy on December 26th, as it is one of the busiest days for air travel during the Christmas period. In 2024, 2.9 million travellers are expected to fly on December 26th and 27th, which exceeds the number of travellers on a normal travel day. The day is also expected to be the worst time to be on the road, with automobile travel expected to take twice as long as normal.

Airports are busier on 26 December compared to Christmas Day

Airports are generally busier on 26 December than on Christmas Day, with many people choosing to travel the day after Christmas. In 2024, 2.9 million travellers were expected to fly on 26 and 27 December, exceeding the 2.4 million who travel on US airlines on a normal travel day.

With Christmas falling on a Wednesday in 2024, many people will be returning home the day after Christmas. This makes Thursday 26 December and Friday 27 December popular travel days.

If you want to avoid the crowds, it's best to wait until Saturday 28 December or Monday 30 December to head home. Sunday 29 December is also likely to be a busy travel day, so it's best avoided.

If you're travelling by car, Thursday 26 December is still a day to avoid. The American Automobile Association (AAA) projects that trips will take twice as long as normal in major US cities.

The best days to travel at Christmas are Christmas Day and Christmas Eve, when there are fewer crowds and cheaper prices. The earlier you depart the week before Christmas, the better. If you can, fly on Tuesday 17 December, Wednesday 18 December or Thursday 19 December.

The day after Christmas is a travel nightmare

The day after Christmas is one of the busiest travel days of the year. In 2024, 2.9 million travellers are expected to fly on 26 and 27 December, exceeding the 2.4 million who travel on US airlines on a normal travel day. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), travel by car on these days will also take twice as long as usual. So, if you're hitting the road or jetting off somewhere, brace yourself for potential travel headaches.

With Christmas falling on a Wednesday in 2024, many people will be returning home the day after. This means that Thursday 26 and Friday 27 December will be popular travel days. In addition, some people may be taking advantage of the holiday period to take an extended vacation, further adding to the travel chaos.

The weekend before Christmas is also expected to be extremely busy, with many people heading to their holiday destinations. Friday 20 to Sunday 22 December are likely to be some of the most crowded days at the airport, so it's best to avoid travelling on these days if you can.

If you want to avoid the crowds, travelling on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve or New Year's Day is your best bet. These tend to be the least crowded days for travel during the holiday season.

Any other tips for travelling over the Christmas period?

To avoid the worst of the crowds, it's recommended to book your travel plans as early as possible, ideally by early September. The earlier you depart the week before Christmas, the better. So, if possible, fly on Tuesday 17, Wednesday 18 or Thursday 19 December. For your return journey, try to wait until Saturday 28 or Monday 30 December.

The worst time to be on the road is 26 December

The day after Christmas is expected to be a travel nightmare, according to experts. With 2.9 million travellers expected to fly on 26 and 27 December, the days exceed the 2.4 million who travel on US airlines on a normal travel day.

Thursday 26 December is also the worst time to be driving on the road, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). They project that trips will take twice as long as normal in major US cities. An estimated 104 million holiday travellers are expected to drive to and from their holiday destinations from Saturday 21 December to Wednesday 1 January. This is the highest number on record.

According to INRIX, a location-based data and analytics firm, the worst days to travel this holiday season and the peak congestion period in major US cities include:

• Atlanta: 26 December, 4:30–6:30 pm
• Boston: 27 December, 4:00–6:00 pm
• Chicago: 26 December, 4:45–6:45 pm
• Detroit: 26 December, 4:30–6:30 pm
• Houston: 27 December, 4:30–6:30 pm
• Los Angeles: 26 December, 4:25–6:25 pm
• New York: 26 December, 4:15–6:15 pm
• San Francisco: 26 December, 4:00–6:00 pm
• Seattle: 27 December, 4:15–6:15 pm
• Washington, DC: 26 December, 4:00–6:00 pm

If you are flying, Christmas Day or Christmas Eve are the best days to fly during the last two weeks of the year. While airport crowds dramatically increase in the days before and after the holiday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day crowds are light.

If you are driving, the days leading up to Christmas that typically have more traffic than others are between 1 pm and 4 pm, according to data provided to NerdWallet by Google Maps.

So, if you want to skip the worst of the crowds, avoid travelling on 26 December.

The weekend before Christmas is when everyone heads to their holiday destinations

If you want to avoid the crowds, it's best to depart earlier in the week before Christmas, ideally on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. The closer it gets to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the busier and more expensive travel will become. In fact, according to Expedia's Holiday Outlook, domestic airfares average $100 more on the weekend before Christmas compared to the cheapest days during that period.

The days immediately after Christmas can also be quite hectic. Thursday, December 26, is expected to be one of the busiest and most expensive days to fly, with 2.9 million travellers expected to take to the skies. This is likely due to people returning home after the holidays or taking advantage of the post-Christmas sales.

To save money and avoid the worst of the crowds, it's best to fly on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. These days tend to have cheaper prices and fewer people travelling, although some people may not want to spend their holidays in an airport or on a plane.

Overall, the weekend before Christmas is a very busy time for travel, and this year will be no exception. So, if you're planning to head to your holiday destination during this time, be prepared for large crowds and higher prices.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are good days to fly

Secondly, flying on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day can often result in cheaper prices. According to Hopper, a company that analyses flight prices, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were among the cheapest days to fly during the 2024 holiday season.

Thirdly, if you have flexibility with your travel dates, departing earlier in the week before Christmas is also a good option. The earlier you depart, the better, as crowds ease up the further away from Christmas you get. Tuesday, December 17th, Wednesday, December 18th, and Thursday, December 19th are recommended departure dates to avoid the rush.

Finally, if you can extend your trip by leaving earlier and returning later, this can also help you avoid crowds. The days immediately before and after Christmas and New Year's tend to be busy, so if possible, wait until Saturday, December 28th, or Monday, December 30th to return home.

In summary, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are good days to fly due to lower crowds and cheaper prices. Additionally, departing earlier in the week before Christmas and returning later can also help you avoid the busiest travel days.

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