Airports And Thanksgiving: Managing Holiday Rush

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times for air travel in the US, with the Sunday after Thanksgiving being the worst day to fly. However, some days within Thanksgiving week are less busy than others. Flying on Thanksgiving Day is generally considered a good option as rates are lowest and airports are easier to navigate. The Wednesday after Thanksgiving is also a good option, as it is the least busy day to travel post-holiday. If you must travel during the weekend, flying on Black Friday is a good option to avoid crowds.

Thanksgiving Day is the least crowded

Thanksgiving Day flights are also cheaper. According to Hopper's outlook, the average domestic airfare for Thanksgiving Day in 2024 will be $244, compared to $326 on the Wednesday before and a whopping $443 on the Sunday after.

If you can't fly on Thanksgiving Day itself, the Wednesday after Thanksgiving is, on average, the least busy day to travel post-holiday. Black Friday is the third-least crowded day to fly. Flying on these days is a great way to avoid airport crowds—and, in the case of Black Friday, retail crowds, too.

However, it's worth noting that there are far fewer flights available on Thanksgiving Day. So, if you need to fly on this day, it's best to book in advance.

Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest day

Thanksgiving week is among the busiest times for air travel. In 2024, the number of passengers screened in US airports reached all-time highs multiple times. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is usually the busiest airport day of the year. In 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, it was the busiest single day of the year at US airports, based on TSA passenger data.

Last year, more than 2.9 million people crossed through US airport security checkpoints on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Compare that to Thanksgiving Day, when just 1.5 million people were at the airport. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the most crowded day to fly during the period from the Thursday before to the Thursday after Thanksgiving.

The Wednesday after Thanksgiving is, on average, the least busy day to travel post-holiday. If you can work remotely, you might be able to avoid taking vacation days and still have a longer trip. If you must travel during the weekend, consider having Thanksgiving dinner at your own home, then flying somewhere on Black Friday, which is the third least-crowded day to fly on average. This is a great way to avoid airport and retail crowds.

If you can be flexible with scheduling, you’ll save money and avoid chaos. The Saturday before Thanksgiving is the least crowded day to fly, followed by the Monday before and the Thursday before.

Wednesday after Thanksgiving is the least busy post-holiday

Thanksgiving is historically one of the peak travel times in the US. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the worst day of the year to fly, with the highest number of passengers passing through US airport security checkpoints on this day. In 2021, 2022, and 2023, more than 2.9 million people crossed through US airport security on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving week draws major airport crowds, so it can be a brutal time to travel.

However, the Wednesday after Thanksgiving is, on average, the least busy day to travel post-holiday. If you can work remotely, you might not need to take vacation days, despite the longer trip. If you must travel during the weekend, consider having Thanksgiving dinner at home and then flying somewhere on Black Friday, which is the third least-crowded day to fly. This is a great way to avoid airport and retail crowds.

If you are looking for the least-crowded days to travel before Thanksgiving, these are, in order: the Saturday before, the Monday before, and the Thursday before. The Wednesday before is the busiest travel day of the year for people heading to their destinations.

Thanksgiving Day itself is also a good day to fly, with lower rates and easier airport navigation. Airports are less crowded, and traffic to and from the airport is light.

Black Friday is the third-least crowded day

Thanksgiving is historically one of the peak travel times in the US. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the worst day of the year to fly, with the highest number of passengers at US airports on this day in 2021, 2022, and 2023. On the other hand, Thanksgiving Day is the least crowded day to fly during the holiday period, with just over half the number of passengers compared to the Sunday after.

The Wednesday after Thanksgiving is the least busy day to travel post-holiday, and Black Friday is the third-least crowded day to fly. Flying on Black Friday is a great way to avoid both airport and retail crowds. It is also likely to be less expensive.

If you can be flexible with your schedule, you can save money and avoid the chaos of travelling on crowded days. The Monday before Thanksgiving and the Tuesday after are also less crowded and likely less expensive.

While Thanksgiving Day itself is the least crowded day to fly, there are far fewer flights available. However, those who have flown on Thanksgiving Day report that it is "chill", with emptier planes and laid-back crews.

Tuesday before Thanksgiving is crowded

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times for air travel in the US. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the worst day of the year to fly, with the highest number of passengers passing through US airports on this day. The days leading up to Thanksgiving also see a high volume of travellers, with the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving being particularly crowded.

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving is expected to be crowded as travellers head to their holiday destinations. This is a popular day for people to travel, especially those who want to arrive at their destination before the holiday begins. With many people taking time off work for the Thanksgiving holiday, some choose to leave a day or two in advance to avoid the rush and potential travel delays.

While the Tuesday before Thanksgiving is likely to be busy, it may not be as crowded as the Wednesday before. Many people prefer to travel on Wednesday to maximise their time off work and spend more time with family and friends. As a result, Wednesday tends to be the busiest travel day of the year, with airports and roads packed with travellers.

To avoid the crowds and potential travel delays, some people choose to travel on the day of Thanksgiving. Airports tend to be less crowded on the holiday itself, as most people are already at their destinations. Flights on Thanksgiving Day also tend to be cheaper, with lower demand and more available seats.

If you want to avoid the busiest travel days around Thanksgiving, it is advisable to be flexible with your schedule. Consider extending your trip and working remotely, or flying on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving, which tends to be one of the least busy days to travel post-holiday. Black Friday is also a good option, as it is the third-least crowded day to fly on average, helping you avoid both airport and retail crowds.

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