Owais Crawford
With the holiday season fast approaching, many people are wondering if airports will be busy this weekend. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has reported that airports across the country are experiencing congestion, with long wait times at security checkpoints. The TSA recommends that passengers factor in extra time when travelling to the airport, as more than one-third of daily passengers tend to arrive before 9 am, causing delays. With the holidays coming up, it is likely that airports will be even busier than usual, especially during peak travel days like the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after. To avoid lengthy waits, passengers can use services like TSA PreCheck or Clear, or download the My TSA application to stay updated on airport delays and security wait times.
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What You'll Learn
Airports tend to be busy before and after holidays
It is difficult to predict whether airports will be busy this weekend, as it depends on various factors such as the time of year, the number of flights, and the average load factor. However, airports tend to be busy before and after holidays, and with Thanksgiving approaching, record-breaking crowds are expected in the country's airports.
The busiest travel days of the year are typically the days right before and after holidays. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the busiest days are usually the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after. Other busy periods throughout the year include Christmas, Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Labor Day.
To prepare for busy airports during the holiday season, travellers can consider services that expedite security checks. For example, TSA PreCheck offers a five-year membership for a faster security screening process, and some credit cards reimburse the costs of such services. Additionally, travellers can opt for carry-on luggage to avoid potential delays at the baggage claim carousel due to understaffing issues.
While Saturdays generally have a lower number of flights, they may not necessarily be the least busy days at the airport. This is because the level of busyness also depends on the average load factor, which is not publicly shared for competitive reasons. Therefore, it is challenging to predict the busiest and least busy days at airports with absolute certainty.
To make informed travel decisions, individuals can utilise resources such as the My TSA application, which provides real-time delay information and historical data to estimate the expected busyness at specific airports on particular days. By staying updated and being prepared for security checks, travellers can navigate busy airports more efficiently during peak travel seasons.
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Thanksgiving and Christmas are among the busiest travel days
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported its busiest travel day ever on July 7, with 3,013,622 people passing through TSA security checkpoints. However, this record may be surpassed during the Thanksgiving holiday season. In 2024, the number of passengers screened in U.S. airports has already reached all-time highs multiple times. AAA projects 79.9 million travellers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, an increase of 2 million people from 2019.
To avoid the crowds and save money, it is recommended to book flights on slower days. Thanksgiving Day usually has lower traffic, and the Wednesday after Thanksgiving is, on average, the least busy day to travel post-holiday. For Christmas, it is recommended to depart on the Monday or Tuesday before the weekend and return midweek.
If you want to reduce your odds of a flight delay, book a morning flight. In the first half of 2023, 7.8% of flights were delayed because an aircraft arrived late, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. If you can take days off or work remotely, consider flying as early as possible before a holiday and returning after the holiday ends.
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Daily passenger numbers have been growing each month in 2024
As of October 2024, daily passenger numbers have been growing each month in 2024. Between January 1 and October 15, 2024, there have been 38 days with more than 2.8 million fliers, compared to only three days in all of 2023. This year's summer travel season was record-breaking, with the 10 busiest days in the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) history occurring during the summer. August 2nd, 2024, was the busiest day ever for air travel, with 17,987,792 airline seats scheduled. The top 10 busiest days for air travel in 2024 all fell within this year.
The upcoming Thanksgiving holiday is expected to be one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with record-breaking crowds anticipated at airports. The Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after are typically the busiest travel days of the year, according to the TSA.
The 2024 Labor Day weekend, which marked the end of the summer travel season, was the busiest on record. Over 17 million passengers were expected to fly, and Louisville's airport, for example, scheduled nearly 47,000 departing seats on 430 outbound flights. Saturday of that weekend was projected to be the peak travel day, with 2.86 million passengers expected to pass through the TSA.
The winter holidays are also expected to be busy for travel. Overall, 119.3 million people are forecast to travel 50 miles or more from their homes between December 21 and January 1, representing a 3 million increase in travelers from the previous year. While most travelers will be driving, those traveling by air should expect busy airports and long lines. The TSA recommends arriving at the airport at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights.
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TSA PreCheck, Clear, and Global Entry expedite security checks
With the holidays approaching, record-breaking crowds are expected at airports across the country. The busiest travel days of the year tend to be right before or after holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Labor Day.
To make travel easier and to clear busy TSA checkpoints more quickly, passengers can consider signing up for security expediting services like TSA PreCheck, Clear, and Global Entry. These services offer expedited security screening benefits at airports, especially during congested periods.
TSA PreCheck is a good option for those who travel domestically and provides expedited security checks at over 200 airports in the US. It offers a streamlined screening process, allowing passengers to keep their shoes, belts, and light jackets on, and electronics and TSA-approved liquids in their bags. The membership costs \$77.95 to \$85 for five years, with renewals ranging from \$68.95 to \$70.
Global Entry is ideal for those who travel internationally more than four times a year. It provides expedited customs and immigration screening for international air travelers entering the United States and includes full TSA PreCheck benefits. Global Entry requires applicants to be US citizens or lawful permanent residents, and it costs \$120 for five years.
CLEAR is a biometrics-based security screening program available at over 60 domestic airports. It uses fingerprint or eye scanning for identity verification, speeding up the security process. CLEAR costs \$199 per year, and family members can be added for \$119 each per year, while children under 18 are free.
In addition to these programs, travelers can also utilize resources like the My TSA application, which provides real-time airport delay information, customs wait times, and tips for navigating security checks.
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Saturday is the least busy day at the airport
While the busiest days at airports tend to be before or after holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, Saturday is the least busy day at the airport on a typical, non-holiday weekend.
Data from 2018 shows that Saturday is almost 8% below the average number of flights, making it the day with the fewest flights at the airport. This is supported by an employee at a major US airline, who stated that Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday are typically the days with the lightest loads.
However, it's important to note that the number of flights is not necessarily indicative of how busy the airport will be. For example, if there are fewer flights on a particular day, the airport may staff fewer employees, leading to longer wait times and lines. Additionally, Saturdays tend to see an influx of inexperienced travelers going on their yearly vacations, which can contribute to longer processing times.
To make travel easier during busy periods, passengers can take advantage of services such as TSA PreCheck, Clear, or Global Entry, which offer expedited security screening for a fee. Alternatively, travelers can opt for carry-on luggage only or utilize luggage-shipping services to avoid potential delays at the baggage claim carousel.
To stay informed about airport congestion, the My TSA application provides real-time updates on airport delays, security wait times, and historical data on airport busyness for specific days and times.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, airports tend to be busy right before and after holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas are among the busiest travel days of the year, but other holidays like Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Labor Day also see high volumes of air passengers.
You can check how busy the airport will be on your specific day and time of travel based on historical data using the MyTSA app. It is available on the iTunes and Google Play app stores.
You can make your travel easier by following these tips:
- Travel with a carry-on to avoid the risk of losing your luggage during a busy travel time when airports remain understaffed.
- Sign up for TSA PreCheck or Clear to expedite security screening.
- Download the My TSA application to check and post airport delays and review tips for travelers from TSA.
