Airports And Memorial Day: What's The Rush?

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer in the US, and with it comes a surge in travel as Americans take advantage of the long weekend. This means big crowds at airports, with some days around the holiday significantly busier than others. In 2024, a record-breaking number of travellers were expected to take to the skies, with AAA data predicting 3.51 million people would travel by plane, a 4.8% jump from 2023. This was reflected in the experience of travellers, who reported contending with big crowds and flight delays.

Airports are bracing for a travel rush

Airports across the US are preparing for a surge in travellers over the Memorial Day weekend, with a record number of Americans expected to take to the skies to kick off the summer vacation season.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing for a busy summer travel season, with an estimated 18 million travellers expected to pass through US airport security checkpoints from Thursday through to next Wednesday, a 6.4% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

A record-breaking number of travellers

According to AAA, over 3.5 million people are expected to fly over the holiday weekend, a 4.8% jump from 2023 and a record for the Memorial Day weekend since 2005. United Airlines forecasts that 2024 will be its busiest Memorial Day weekend ever, with nearly 520,000 passengers expected on Thursday, May 23.

Busiest days to fly

The Friday before Memorial Day is typically the most crowded day to travel before the holiday, with Sunday being the busiest post-holiday. The Tuesday before Memorial Day is usually the least crowded.

Tips for travellers

With the increase in travellers, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advises giving yourself plenty of time to get to the airport and to prepare for longer lines at bag drop, security checkpoints and beyond. It may also be beneficial to travel with only a carry-on bag to save time at the luggage drop and baggage claim.

A busy summer ahead

The summer travel season is expected to be the busiest on record, with US airlines projecting that 271 million passengers will fly between June and August, up from 255 million in 2023.

The Friday before Memorial Day is the busiest day to travel

The Friday before Memorial Day is the busiest travel day of the year so far, with nearly 3 million people passing through airport security checkpoints. This is a common trend, as many Americans kickstart their summer vacations.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been preparing for record-breaking passenger numbers at airports. An estimated 18 million travellers are expected to pass through security at U.S. airports from Thursday through to Wednesday, a 6.4% increase from 2023.

The Friday before Memorial Day is always a big travel day, but it was even bigger before the pandemic. In 2019, it was the third busiest day at U.S. airports for the entire year. In 2023, it ranked among the top 20 busiest airport days.

This trend is likely due to the long weekend attracting people who haven't travelled in a while. As a result, check-in and security lines are expected to be longer.

The Sunday after Memorial Day is the second busiest day, with many travellers returning home.

If you want to avoid the crowds and chaos, it is best to deviate from the classic Friday-Monday weekend travel itinerary. Instead, consider travelling on the Saturday before Memorial Day and flying home on the Wednesday or Saturday after the holiday.

Memorial Day Monday is the second busiest day to travel

Memorial Day, the last Monday of May, is a significant day in the US, marking the unofficial beginning of summer. It is also the start of the summer travel season, with many Americans taking a long weekend to kick off their summer vacations. This means that the days ahead of Memorial Day Monday are some of the busiest of the year for airports and travel.

The Friday before Memorial Day is the most crowded day to travel before the holiday, with the Sunday after attracting the largest crowds post-Memorial Day. Memorial Day Monday itself is the second busiest day for travel, with huge numbers of people returning home.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has to prepare for record passenger numbers at airports over this period. In 2024, the Thursday before Memorial Day was the second busiest day in the TSA's history, with 2,887,605 people travelling through airports. The TSA expects nearly 3 million people to pass through airport checkpoints on the Friday, Saturday, and Monday of Memorial Day weekend.

With such large numbers of travellers, it is important to prepare for longer lines at bag drop, security checkpoints, and beyond. It is recommended that travellers give themselves plenty of time to get to the airport and arrive at least two hours before their flight.

The roads are also extremely busy over the Memorial Day weekend, with a record number of people expected to travel by car. It is advised that drivers leave before 11 am or wait until the evening to avoid the worst traffic.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing for record passenger numbers

To handle the increased travel volume, the TSA is deploying state-of-the-art checkpoint technology and has increased recruitment and retention efforts. Despite these preparations, travelers are still advised to arrive at the airport early and allow extra time to navigate through busy security checkpoints.

Memorial Day weekend is expected to be the busiest in nearly 20 years, with an estimated 43.8 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles from home. While road trips are a popular choice, with approximately 38 million Americans opting to drive, airports will also experience significant congestion.

The busiest days for air travel during Memorial Day weekend are typically the Friday before the holiday and the Sunday after. The Sunday after Memorial Day is projected to be the most crowded day, followed by Memorial Day itself (Monday) and the Tuesday before the holiday as the least crowded.

To avoid the worst airport crowds, travelers are advised to consider alternative travel days, such as Saturday or Wednesday instead of the typical Friday-Monday itinerary. By deviating from the classic travel schedule, passengers can find lighter crowds and potentially better flight deals.

With record passenger numbers expected, the TSA is taking proactive measures to manage the influx of travelers. Their preparations include advanced technology, additional staffing, and recommendations for early arrival by passengers. These efforts aim to ensure a smooth and secure travel experience for the millions of Americans kicking off their summer vacations over Memorial Day weekend.

The busiest airports are expected to be in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Chicago, and Los Angeles

Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest times for airports across the United States. In 2024, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported its second-busiest day in history, with nearly 2,887,605 people travelling through airports.

The busiest airports are expected to be in major travel hub cities, including Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports and often experiences a surge in travellers during holiday periods. During the 2024 Memorial Day weekend, the airport anticipated an increase of more than 6% in travellers compared to 2023. Atlanta airport officials expected more than 100,000 passengers on the Friday before Memorial Day, with a total of over 119,000 additional travellers compared to the previous year.

Dallas airports also experience high volumes of travellers during Memorial Day. While the peak travel period in Dallas is usually around Independence Day, the city's airports still handle a significant number of passengers during Memorial Day weekend. In 2022, more than 31.5 million passengers were scheduled to fly out of, into, or connect through DFW Airport and Love Field between the beginning of Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day.

Denver International Airport (DIA) is another airport that sees a surge in travellers during Memorial Day weekend. In 2024, DIA officials expected nearly 450,000 passengers to pass through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints, marking a 9% increase from the previous year. To manage the influx, DIA advised travellers to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their scheduled boarding time and recommended using the Regional Transportation District's A-Line train to get to the airport due to limited parking availability.

In Chicago, Memorial Day travel in 2024 was expected to be the busiest in nearly 20 years, with more than 53,000 flights nationwide on Thursday and over 50,000 on Friday. O'Hare International Airport anticipated more than 1.38 million passengers during this period, while Midway projected more than 294,000.

Los Angeles International Airport rounds up the list of the busiest airports during Memorial Day. While specific data for this airport during Memorial Day weekend is not readily available, it is one of the top domestic destinations for travellers, according to AAA. Los Angeles is also expected to be one of the most congested metropolitan areas for road travel during the holiday, with traffic predicted to be more than double the usual volume.

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