Airports And Christmas Day: A Crowded Chaos?

Christmas is a time when many people travel to visit loved ones or go on holiday. Airports are often crowded in the days leading up to Christmas, but what about on Christmas Day itself?

It turns out that Christmas Day is one of the least crowded days to travel. With most people already at their destinations, airports tend to be quieter on December 25th than usual, and some are even closed. This means that travellers can take advantage of cheaper flights and shorter lines. However, it's important to note that public transport and services within the airport may be reduced, so getting to and from the airport could be more difficult.

So, if you're planning to fly on Christmas Day, you can expect a calmer airport experience, but it's always a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to account for any potential delays or disruptions.

Christmas Day is the least crowded

If you're planning to fly on Christmas Day, you don't need to worry about arriving at the airport extra early. It's recommended that you still arrive the prescribed 3 hours before an international flight, but you shouldn't need any more time than that.

Christmas Day is also a good day to fly if you're looking for cheaper flights. Because it's a less popular day to fly, you may be able to find slightly lower prices. This is especially true if you're flying to a smaller, regional airport instead of a larger, more popular one.

Keep in mind that public transport, taxis, and rental car services may be more limited on Christmas Day, so it's a good idea to plan your travel to and from the airport in advance. Additionally, some services located within airports, such as banking services, may not be fully operational.

Overall, if you're looking for a less crowded and potentially cheaper day to fly, Christmas Day is a great option. Just be sure to plan ahead for any potential transport limitations and you'll be good to go!

Christmas Eve is also quiet

Christmas Eve is also a quiet day at the airport. People who celebrate Christmas traditionally want to be with their loved ones on this day and are usually at their destination already. As far as winter travel dates go, Christmas Eve is one of the quietest.

Christmas Eve is a great time to fly, as fewer people are travelling. In fact, in the past, airports were eerily silent on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. While they're no longer quite so quiet, they're still much calmer than the days leading up to Christmas.

In 2023, Christmas Eve was the least busy travel day during the Christmas period. And in 2024, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are expected to see light flight traffic.

If you're travelling on Christmas Eve, it's still a good idea to arrive at the airport early, especially if you're flying from a busy airport like Los Angeles International Airport or Orlando International Airport.

Christmas Eve is also a good day to fly if you're looking for a deal. Because it's an unpopular flying day, you may be able to save some money on your plane ticket.

Cheaper flights on Christmas Day

Christmas Day is one of the best days to fly, assuming you don't mind spending part of your holiday in an airport. While airport crowds dramatically increase in the days before and after the holiday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day crowds are light.

According to the Chicago Department of Aviation, Monday, December 23, 2024, was the busiest travel day at O'Hare International Airport, with 243,000 passengers passing through—a seven percent increase over the busiest holiday travel day in 2023. In contrast, flight traffic is expected to be light on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

NerdWallet analyzed the past three years of travel data from the TSA and found that Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are the best 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 want to skip the worst of the crowds, avoid flying from Friday, December 20, to Sunday, December 22. According to Expedia's Holiday Outlook, domestic airfares average $100 more on those days versus the cheapest days during that period.

The best strategy for saving money on holiday flights is to travel on the holiday itself. The least crowded traveling dates on or before Christmas are December 25 (Christmas Day) and December 24 (Christmas Eve). If traveling on the holiday isn't an option, consider extending your trip by leaving earlier and returning later. The least crowded dates for traveling after Christmas are January 1 (New Year's Day) and December 31 (New Year's Eve).

Overall, if you're looking for cheaper flights, traveling on Christmas Day itself or during the early morning is a good strategy to avoid crowds and save money.

Delays are less likely on Christmas Day

Christmas Day is historically the least crowded travel day during the holiday week. In 2023, 31% more people flew on the day after Christmas compared to those who flew on Christmas Day. The days before Christmas are usually much busier, with Monday, December 23 being the busiest travel day at O'Hare International Airport in 2024, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.

Christmas Day crowds are light, and there are often no queues or long lines at the airport. Flying on Christmas Day can be a great option if you don't celebrate the holiday and want to take advantage of good deals.

However, it's important to note that some airports may have reduced services and staffing on Christmas Day, which could potentially slow things down. Additionally, public transport, taxi, or rental car services may be limited, depending on your destination.

Overall, if you're looking for a less crowded and potentially cheaper travel day, Christmas Day is a good option. Just be prepared for reduced services and plan accordingly.

Airports may close on Christmas Day

For example, in a discussion on TripAdvisor, one user mentions that they expect airports in countries that celebrate Christmas to be quiet, and some to be closed. Another user agrees, stating that airports used to be "eerily silent" on Christmas Day, not because they were shut, but because fewer people wanted to fly. However, the word has spread that it can be a good day to find cheaper flights and avoid long lines, so airports are no longer as quiet as they once were.

According to a Chicago Department of Aviation spokesperson, flight traffic is expected to be light on Christmas Day, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reports that Christmas Day 2024 was the slowest U.S. air travel day of the year by a wide margin.

NerdWallet's analysis of TSA data from 2021 to 2023 supports this, showing that Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are the least crowded travel dates during the Christmas period. Similarly, a travel agent recommends flying on the actual day of a holiday to avoid crowds and save money.

Therefore, while some airports may close on Christmas Day, it is more likely that they will simply be quieter and less crowded than usual.

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