Airports Packed As Americans Travel For Fourth Of July

The Fourth of July is one of the busiest weekends for travel in the US. This year, the holiday weekend is expected to break travel records, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) anticipating that it will screen over 32 million individuals in airports. Airports will likely be packed all week, with the TSA predicting that Friday will be the busiest day. Historical data also suggests that the Friday before July Fourth is the busiest travel day before the holiday weekend. To avoid crowds, it is best to avoid travelling on this day.

Airports are busiest the Friday before July 4th

Airports are usually at their busiest the Friday before July 4th. In fact, the Friday before July 4th, 2023, was the busiest travel day before the long weekend. With the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reporting record numbers of passengers flying in the past month, and a projected 50.7 million Americans travelling for Independence Day, the Friday before July 4th, 2024, is expected to be even busier.

The Sunday after July 4th is also a busy day for airports, with travellers returning home. This day is the most expensive day to fly in the US, with airfares averaging 15% more than midweek departures.

If you want to avoid the crowds, it's best not to fly on the Friday before or the Sunday after July 4th. Instead, you could consider travelling on the holiday itself, which is usually the least busy day to fly. Alternatively, you could fly early on the Fourth of July, or on the Tuesday before or after the holiday, which are also relatively quiet days for airports.

To avoid the crowds, it's also a good idea to check your travel plans before you leave home. You should check for any delays or disruptions to your flight, train, or bus ride, as well as any traffic incidents that might affect your drive. Checking the weather forecast and monitoring traffic safety through services like the 511 hotline or your phone's navigation apps can also help you avoid travel misery.

The Sunday after July 4th is the most expensive day to fly

The Sunday after July 4th is typically the most expensive day to fly in the US. This is because it is the busiest day to fly post-holiday. According to travel booking app Hopper's 2024 Travel Booking Hacks report, airfares on Sundays average 15% more than midweek departures.

If you want to avoid crowds and high prices, it is best to avoid flying on the Friday before and the Sunday after July 4th. These are usually the busiest and most expensive days to fly around Independence Day.

In 2023, the early weeks of summer brought the largest crowds in years, even larger than 2019 numbers. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) saw some of its busiest days in its 22-year history. The trend is expected to continue in 2024, with TSA data showing that travel volumes in the first two months of 2024 were roughly 6% higher than the same period in 2023.

Major travel agencies are predicting new records of air and road travelers for the July 4th weekend in 2024. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen over 32 million individuals in airports from Thursday, June 27, through July 8, 2024, a 5.4% increase from 2023.

To avoid crowds and delays, it is advisable to check your travel plans, flight updates, weather forecasts, and traffic safety before heading out.

The Fourth of July is the least busy day to fly

The Fourth of July is one of the busiest weekends for travel in the US over the summer. The holiday usually marks the peak of summer travel, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reporting record numbers of passengers flying.

However, if you want to avoid the crowds, the Fourth of July itself is the least busy day to fly. In 2023, airport crowds on the Fourth of July averaged just 70% of the busiest travel day, which was the Friday before. The Sunday after the Fourth of July is also one of the most expensive and busiest days to fly in the US, with airfares averaging 15% more than midweek departures.

If you're planning to travel by air around the Fourth of July, it's best to avoid the Friday before and the Sunday after the holiday, as these are typically the most crowded days at airports. The Tuesday before and after the Fourth of July are also among the least busy days to fly.

To beat the travel rush, it's a good idea to check your travel plans, be aware of any delays or incidents, and keep an eye on the weather. It's also important to leave early, as there will be longer lines and more traffic during a holiday week.

2023 saw record-breaking numbers of passengers

The Friday before the Fourth of July holiday was, as predicted, the most crowded day at airports. On the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, the TSA screened roughly 2.7 million people at US airports, the highest checkpoint volume in 2023 up to that point. The TSA expected to screen over 32 million individuals in airports from 28 June to 8 July, a 5.4% increase from 2022's numbers.

Despite the record-breaking numbers, the Fourth of July itself is usually the least busy day to fly. In 2023, airport crowds averaged 70-81% of what they were relative to the busiest travel day, which was the Friday before the holiday. However, some travellers still chose to spend the Fourth of July celebrating rather than at the airport, making the Tuesdays before and after the holiday among the least busy days to fly that week.

To avoid the crowds, travellers were advised to deviate from typical holiday travel patterns, with the single emptiest air travel day being the holiday itself. Hopper's 2023 Flight Disruption Outlook found that early morning flights on the Fourth of July were half as likely to be delayed as those departing after 9 am.

2024 is expected to break more records

2024 is expected to break more travel records, with the Fourth of July weekend marking the peak of summer travel. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has reported record numbers of passengers flying in recent months, and the trend is set to continue.

The TSA screened a record number of passengers in 2023, and the first two months of 2024 saw travel volumes roughly 6% higher than the same period last year. This indicates that 2024 will likely surpass the previous year's records. The TSA expects to screen over 32 million individuals in airports during the Fourth of July week, a 5.4% increase from 2023.

The Sunday after July Fourth is typically the busiest and most expensive day to fly in the US, with airfares averaging 15% more than midweek departures. However, the Friday before the Fourth of July weekend has been the busiest travel day for the past three years, and this year is expected to be no different. Airports will likely be packed all week, but the TSA anticipates that most people will take to the skies on Friday, July 5th, as many will take the day off to extend their holiday to a four-day weekend.

With the expected large crowds, travellers are advised to prepare for potential delays and long lines at airports. It is recommended to check the status of travel plans, including any delays or disruptions, and to allow for extra time when travelling during holiday weeks.

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