Thanksgiving Travel Woes: Airports' Capacity Under Pressure

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of the year for airports, with millions of Americans travelling to spend the holidays with their families. The days before and after Thanksgiving are the most crowded and expensive, with some airports seeing double or triple the number of passengers. However, Thanksgiving Day itself is usually the quietest day to travel, with fewer people flying and cheaper tickets.

Thanksgiving Day is the best day to fly

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the worst day to fly. It is the most popular day of the year to fly and is very busy and expensive. Airports are always packed, so it is an extra stressful experience. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving is also a busy and expensive day to fly.

The Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving are the busiest days for people travelling home. So, if you are looking to avoid crowds, avoid travelling on these days. Instead, consider travelling home on Black Friday or the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

If you are looking to save money, it is recommended to book your flight by late August or early September for the best price. For international flights, book even earlier.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the worst day to fly

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is indeed the worst day to fly. Not only is it one of the most expensive days to fly, but it is also the busiest travel day of the year.

If you want to avoid the crowds and the high prices, it is best to avoid travelling on the days leading up to Thanksgiving. In fact, Thanksgiving Day itself is the lightest travel day and the cheapest day to fly. If you can, book your flight for Thursday, and you will benefit from cheaper prices and less crowded airports and planes.

However, it is not always possible to fly on Thanksgiving Day itself. In that case, the next best option is to fly on Tuesday. While it may still be busy, it will not be as crowded or expensive as Wednesday.

If you are looking to return home after the holiday, it is best to avoid Sunday and Monday, as most people will be travelling on these days. Instead, try to fly back on Black Friday or the following Monday or Tuesday.

Overall, the key to avoiding crowds and high prices when flying during Thanksgiving is to be flexible with your travel dates. By avoiding the days immediately before and after the holiday, you can significantly reduce your travel stress.

Major airports like LAX and JFK will be packed

The same can be said for JFK, which is one of the busiest airports in the US. It will see double the average traffic during Thanksgiving, with one source stating that it had the third-highest wait time in 2024, with an average peak security wait time of 53.2 minutes.

LAX is also expected to be busy, with twice the normal traffic. In 2024, it had the second-highest wait time, with an average peak security wait time of 53.6 minutes.

If you're planning to fly during Thanksgiving, be prepared for crowds and long wait times at these major airports. It might be a good idea to allow extra time and prepare for potential delays.

Smaller, nearby airports are cheaper and more convenient

Smaller, nearby airports are often cheaper and more convenient than larger airports. They are usually home to several low-cost carriers, such as Frontier, Spirit, and Allegiant, as smaller airlines can struggle to secure space at large airports. This means that smaller airports can offer cost savings to passengers. For example, Trenton-Mercer Airport in New Jersey and Allentown's Lehigh Valley International Airport in Pennsylvania offer flights from as little as $19 each way.

Smaller airports also tend to have cheaper (or even free) parking. For instance, at Trenton, parking is $8 per day, while at Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina, short-term parking is free, and long-term parking starts at $8 per day.

A smaller airport might also be closer to home, reducing the stressful pre-flight commute. For example, Lehigh Valley International Airport is only 15 minutes from the author's home, whereas the larger Newark Liberty International Airport is a 90-minute drive.

Smaller airports also tend to have less congestion, shorter lines, and shorter wait times. It's also easier to spot your luggage at baggage claim.

However, it's worth noting that smaller airports sometimes see more cancellations, delays, and missed connections. They may also have fewer direct flights, meaning you might need to add an extra connection to your journey.

The roads are most crowded between 2 and 6 pm on Thanksgiving eve

Thanksgiving is a busy time for travel in the US, with millions of people packing their bags to spend the holidays with family. This year, over 55 million travellers are expected to journey by car or plane, making it the third busiest holiday since 2000.

The primary mode of transportation during Thanksgiving week is by car, which is fortunate given that gas prices are predicted to be lower than last year. However, this also means that the roads will be extremely busy, especially on the day before Thanksgiving, which is notoriously one of the most congested days on US roads.

According to INRIX data, the roads are most crowded between 2 pm and 6 pm on Thanksgiving eve, so it is advisable to set off before 11 am or after 7 pm to avoid the worst of the traffic. On Thanksgiving Day itself, roads will be busiest between 11 am and 3 pm, so opt to travel before 10 am or after 5 pm.

If you are flying, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest and most expensive day to fly, with twice as many passengers at some airports. The Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving are also busy travel days, as most people will be returning home. Thanksgiving Day itself is the lightest travel day, so if you don't mind travelling on the holiday itself, this is the best day to fly.

To avoid the crowds, it is recommended to fly on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, which is the cheapest day to travel, or on Black Friday, the day after. However, keep in mind that fewer flights are available on the holiday itself, and there may be a higher chance of disruptions if something goes wrong.

Overall, if you are travelling during Thanksgiving week, expect heavy traffic and busy airports, especially on the days leading up to and immediately after the holiday. Plan your journey in advance and consider travelling on off-peak days or times to make your trip less stressful.

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