is dec 24 a busy travel day

Christmas travel tips: Best and worst days to fly or drive

AAA predicts this holiday season will be the busiest ever for air travel.

Millions of Americans are gearing up to hit the highway and take to the skies ahead of the holidays.

Here's what you need to know before packing your bags:

Holiday travel by air

AAA predicts this holiday season will be the busiest ever for air travel, with 7.5 million people projected to fly from Saturday, Dec. 23 to Monday, Jan. 1. This would break the record high of 7.3 million flyers set during the 2019 holiday season.

Thursday, Dec. 21 and Friday, Dec. 22 are forecast to be the busiest days for departures, according to Hopper.

Domestic airfares are averaging $349 round trip -- a 3% increase from last year, according to Hopper.

MORE: Delta flight carrying 270 diverted to remote Canadian town

The cheapest days to fly will be Dec. 19, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to Hopper. The most expensive days are Dec. 22 and Dec. 26.

United Airlines said it expects its busiest-ever holiday travel season, with about 9 million passengers planning to fly from Dec. 21 to Jan. 8. This is a 12% jump from last year.

United said it anticipates Dec. 22 and Dec. 23 will be its busiest days for Christmas travel, while Jan. 2 will be the busiest day for New Year's travel.

Delta Air Lines is preparing for nearly 9 million customers during its holiday travel period, which runs from Dec. 21 to Jan. 7.

Delta said its peak days are expected to be Dec. 21 to Dec. 22 and Dec. 26 to Dec. 30.

Holiday travel by road

MORE: What every motorist needs to know about driving in snow

AAA expects 104 million people to hit the road over the holidays -- a 1.8% increase from last year.

The busiest days are forecast to be Saturday, Dec. 23; Thursday, Dec. 28; and Saturday, Dec. 30, according to transportation analytics company INRIX.

If you're leaving for the holidays on Dec. 23, the best time to head out the door is before 10 a.m., according to INRIX. And if you're heading home the day after Christmas, the roads will be emptiest before noon, INRIX said.

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These are the best and worst air travel days around Thanksgiving and Christmas

By Sally French

Here are the most and least crowded days around the holidays, and which days might be cheaper

This article is reprinted by permission from NerdWallet.

Most weeks of the year, Friday is the busiest day for air travel, and Tuesday is the least busy day. During the holidays, though, that doesn't necessarily hold true.

In most years, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day at U.S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration, which tracks the number of passengers screened daily. The two days after Christmas also see heavy travel. And since Christmas falls on a Monday this year, that might mean an abnormally busy Tuesday and Wednesday of that week.

To avoid crowds and save money, consider skipping the busy days and book your flights on one of the slower ones. Here's a breakdown of the best and worst days to fly during the winter holidays, and how you can strategize to avoid crowds and save money.

The busiest days to fly around Thanksgiving

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is brutal for airport crowds. Last year, about 83% more people flew on the Sunday after Thanksgiving than on Thanksgiving Day, according to TSA data, making it the busiest travel day of 2022.

That same Sunday was also the year's single busiest airport travel day in both 2019 and 2021. In 2020, the busiest days of the year for air travel were largely concentrated in January and February, before the widespread impact of COVID-19, which would reduce holiday travel later in the year.

Here's a look at the three busiest days to fly in the seven calendar dates before and after Thanksgiving over the past four years, based on TSA checkpoint data:

Source: Transportation Security Administration checkpoint data, 2019-2022.

And here are the three least busy days to fly in that period:

Assuming past trends continue in 2023, expect Sunday, Nov. 26, to be the busiest travel day around Thanksgiving, followed by Wednesday, Nov. 22. Even if you fly out one day ahead of the biggest crowds, Saturday, Nov. 25, will also likely be busy.

And this year, crowds will likely be bigger based on the fact that past 2023 holidays have already set air travel records. For example, 2023's Fourth of July weekend set records for U.S. air travel. More than 2.884 million people passed through TSA checkpoints on the Friday before July 4, according to TSA checkpoint data. That topped the previous record, which was on the Sunday after Thanksgiving 2019, when a recorded 2.882 million people passed through TSA checkpoints.

Learn more: Crowds, costs and cancellation concerns? Try these tips and tricks for booking holiday travel.

The busiest days to fly around Christmas

Christmas airport crowds can be trickier to predict than Thanksgiving crowds given that the holiday falls on a different day of the week each year and air travel patterns are often dictated by the workweek. This year, Christmas falls on a Monday.

But just as the Sunday after Thanksgiving tends to draw huge crowds, the days just after Christmas are wildly popular. And much like how few people travel on Thanksgiving Day itself, relatively few people travel on Christmas Day or New Year's Day.

Here's a look at the three busiest days to fly in the seven calendar dates before and after Christmas over the past four years, based on TSA checkpoint data:

This year, you might expect Friday, Dec. 22, to be particularly busy. Friday is typically the busiest travel day in any given week, and -- especially during Christmas week -- many holiday travelers may leave on that day.

According to Chase Travel, Friday, Dec. 22, is one of the top three busiest days across all flights booked in either December 2023 or January 2024 (the other two busiest days are Saturday, Dec. 23, and Saturday, Dec. 30). Similarly, booking site Hopper anticipates that day having the highest fare for the Christmas season.

This holiday travel season may see some relief, though. Hanukkah, which begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, can sometimes align closely with Christmas. The eight-day celebration ran from Dec. 18-26 in 2022, but this year will commence on Dec. 15 -- likely before the Christmas crowds start.

Another consideration for travel is that the weeklong celebration of Kwanzaa runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.

How to choose less crowded (and cheaper) travel days

The holiday travel season is always expensive, but there is some decrease from last year's prices. Airfares for Christmas trips are averaging $400 according to Hopper data. That's down 12%, or about $52 per ticket, from last year. The bad news is that it's still 29% higher than holiday airfares were in 2019.

Travel on the holiday: Traveling on the holiday is often the best way to avoid crowds and save money. Last year, 23.4% more people flew on the day after Christmas versus Christmas Day, which fell on a Sunday.

And that demand has a strong effect on prices. According to Hopper, domestic flights on Christmas Day average about 26% less than peak prices.

Book morning flights: If you are traveling on the holiday, catch the first flight out for the day and you might arrive in time for evening festivities. Taking early flights is also considered good practice to reduce your odds of a flight delay. In the first half of 2023, 7.8% of flights were delayed because an aircraft arrived late, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data.

Stay longer: If you can take the days off or work remotely, then it can make sense to fly as long before or after a holiday as possible.

For Thanksgiving, Hopper recommends flying the Monday of Thanksgiving week and returning any weekday the following week. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is historically the busiest day to fly, so extending your trip by just one day can save you money. According to Hopper, airfares average 40% less on the Monday after Thanksgiving versus the Sunday after.

For Christmas, Hopper recommends departing the Monday or Tuesday before Christmas weekend and returning midweek following the holiday.

Skip holiday travel completely: If you don't mind celebrating in an unconventional way, consider participating in something like an un-holiday, where you shift the celebration by a couple of days or weeks.

Read next: If you want to be a more climate-friendly traveler, tough it out on the budget airlines--here's why

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Best & Worst Days to Fly & Travel for the Holidays – Christmas & New Year’s 2024

Best Worst Days to Fly for Holiday Travel

As seen in our 2023 Christmas Travel Survey , 50.44% of American adults plan to travel to a vacation destination or holiday gathering for Christmas this year.

There are a limited number of flights available for Christmas and New Year’s, so it is important to book as early as possible for the best prices (ideally you have already booked your holiday travel). Additionally, some days are much better than others to fly when it comes to crowds and cost. This guide will detail how far in advance to book holiday travel as well as the best and worst days to fly.

Table of Contents

How Far in Advance to Book Holiday Travel

Ideally, you should book your Thanksgiving and Christmas flights many months in advance. As a rule, we suggest booking domestic flights at least one to three months in advance. For international flights, you should book at least two to eight months in advance, but the earlier the better. For the holidays, you should book even earlier if possible to guarantee a desirable route, time, seat, and price.

With Thanksgiving over, here are our recommended cutoff dates for booking Christmas flights for the 2023 holiday season.

Christmas (book before Thanksgiving)

The best deals on Christmas flights are usually available through late August and early September . If possible, book even earlier in June or July. At the latest, you should book by Thanksgiving, but the earlier the better. If it is December and you still do not have a flight, you should expect to pay a premium. Additionally, you will likely only have undesirable flight times to choose from with the potential for one or more connections. Here is a ranking of our recommended booking times.

June, July, and August – Best combination of inventory and cheap prices
Early through Middle September – Still a great time
Early October – Google’s recommendation. Cheap prices but lower inventory
Thanksgiving – Book Christmas flights by Thanksgiving at the latest
December – High prices and poor flights (connections, middle seats, bad times, etc.)

Further Reading: When to Book Christmas Flights – Best & Worst Times

Thanksgiving (book before Halloween)

I recommend booking your Thanksgiving flight by late August or early September for the best price. If possible, book in June or July. Book international flights even earlier. If you wait too long, you should aim to book by Halloween at the latest. While it is possible to get a decent deal after Halloween, your chances dramatically decrease. Your odds of finding a desirable flight time also go down when booking after Halloween. Here is a ranking of our recommended times.

Early October – Deals are still available but desirable flights may be limited
Halloween – Book Thanksgiving flights by Halloween at the latest
November – High prices and poor flights (connections, middle seats, bad times, etc.)

Further Reading: When to Book Thanksgiving Flights – Best & Worst Times

Best & Worst Days to Fly for the Holidays

Being on a Thursday every year, the best and worst days to fly for Thanksgiving are predictable. Christmas is a little more difficult since it does not fall on the same day of the week every year. Here are the days you should target and the days you should avoid this holiday season. To come up with our best and worst dates forecast, we sampled hundreds of flight prices around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our sample included numerous departure and arrival cities around the United States.

Christmas (best departure and return dates)

Our 2023 Christmas Travel Survey shows 50.44% of American adults plan to travel to a vacation destination or gathering. Since Christmas falls on a different day every year, the best days to fly change. Other things such as school and business closures affect the dates too. Christmas can fall on a weekend (as it did in 2022), which further complicates things. Generally, the worst day to fly for Christmas is December 23, but that is not a hard rule.

Best Christmas Travel Dates for 2023

The earlier you depart the week before Christmas the better. Americans will look to get a few days of work in before flying out. If possible, fly on Monday, December 18, or Tuesday, December 19. Sunday, December 17 is even better if you can swing it. Flying on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is ideal for cheaper prices and fewer crowds too, but you may not want to travel on a holiday.

Christmas falls on a Monday this year, so many people will fly home the day after. Tuesday, December 26 and Wednesday, December 27 will be popular travel days, so try and wait until Thursday or Friday.

Worst Christmas Travel Dates for 2023

The three days before Christmas Eve, the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, are going to be busy travel days. I recommend avoiding them and departing earlier in the week if you can.

Avoid the Tuesday and Wednesday after Christmas for your return flight. Despite being the day after Christmas, many people will fly home on Tuesday or Wednesday so they can return to work for a few days before the weekend.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Travel Tips

We recommend flying out for New Year’s on Thursday, December 28 or Friday, December 29. Fly home on Wednesday January 3 or Thursday January 4. While it is not ideal, flying out on the night of New Year’s Eve or the morning of New Year’s Day is generally cheap. Unfortunately, you will probably miss New Year’s Eve activities if you opt for an evening flight. An early New Year’s Day flight is not optimal either unless you can go bed very early on New Year’s Eve.

Avoid flying out on Saturday, December 30 and the morning of December 31.

Thanksgiving (best departure and return dates)

Our 2023 Thanksgiving Travel Survey shows more than 45.21% of American adults intend to travel to a vacation destination or holiday gathering last year. That means tens of millions of people will fight over seats for a very limited number of flights.

Best Thanksgiving Travel Dates for 2023

As the table shows, you want to depart early during the week. If possible, Sunday is even better than Monday. While not ideal, Thanksgiving Day is a great day to fly . Black Friday is also a good day to fly if you can swing a shorter trip.

Most people return home the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so aim to fly back on the Friday or Monday after Turkey Day. If you can wait another day, Tuesday is even better than Monday.

Worst Thanksgiving Travel Dates for 2023

Avoid the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at all costs. It is one of the most popular days of the year to fly, and it is expensive. Additionally, airports are always packed, so it is an extra stressful experience.

Avoid the Sunday after Thanksgiving for your return flight. Most people fly that day to get home before the workweek. I recommend flying home on Friday or Monday or Tuesday.

Average Holiday Flight Prices for 2023 – Thanksgiving ($300) and Christmas ($400)

With November here, flight prices are increasing for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Expect to pay on average $300 for a roundtrip Flight for Thanksgiving. For Christmas, expect to pay on average $400 for a roundtrip flight.

Those prices will vary by your destination and dates of travel, so we recommend doing your homework before booking. If possible, travel on our recommended days and avoid the worst days.

We’ve found many domestic Thanksgiving and Christmas flights for under $200. We’ve also found various international Thanksgiving and Christmas flights for under $500.

Flexibility is the key to finding the absolute cheapest holiday flights. Use the Google Flights Explore map to find the best flight deals from your home airport or city around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Travel is Recovering for the 2023 Holiday Season

On most days, hundreds of thousands more travelers are going through TSA checkpoints compared to the same day as last year. For 2023, we expect holiday travel numbers to resemble or surpass 2019, which is the most recent pre-pandemic year.

Further Reading: What to Do if Your Airline Cancels or Delays Your Flight and How to Avoid Airline Flight Delays & Cancellations

Other Tips For Scoring a Cheap Holiday Flight Deal

Check out our guide to finding and booking cheap flights for additional tips. A few of the major tips may not be applicable with holiday travel (being very flexible on dates and destinations), but other guidelines can help. Here are a few of them.

Do: Start With Google Flights
Do: Be Open to Different Nearby Departure and Arrival Airports
Do: Be Open to All Airlines
Do: Be Open to Flights With Connections
Don’t: Waste Your Time Clearing Cookies
Don’t: Waste Your Time Browsing in Incognito

Additionally, our best websites to book cheap flights guide and top airline credit cards tutorial can help you save even more money.

Further Reading: Clearing Cookies or Searching Incognito Does Not Show Cheaper Flight Prices

The best days to fly for Thanksgiving are the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday before Turkey Day.

The worst day to fly for Thanksgiving is the Wednesday before.

The best days are the Friday, Monday, and Tuesday after Turkey Day. The worst day is the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

It is, but it is not ideal for most people.

It is, but most people do not want to fly home on the day after Thanksgiving.

Book by the middle of September at the latest for the best price, but you should ideally book earlier. Book even earlier for international flights. Do not wait until after Halloween to book.

It depends since Christmas is on a different day each year. Shoot for at least a few days before Christmas Eve.

Avoid the two days before Christmas Eve.

It depends since Christmas is on a different day each year. Shoot for at least a few days after Christmas.

Book by the middle of September for the best price. Book even earlier for international flights. Do not wait until after Thanksgiving to book.

The Vacationer’s Final Thoughts

Ideally, you have already booked your 2023 holiday travel. If you have not done so already, there is still time to get a deal, but you need to move quickly. Shoot for the dates discussed in the article and avoid the bad ones. After the holidays are over, follow our best days of the week to fly and our best day of the week to book flights guides.

By Phil Dengler

In addition to being a co-founder of The Vacationer, Phil Dengler is also the head of editorial and marketing. Previously, he ran a popular holiday deals website where he was a trusted source for all things Black Friday. With The Vacationer, Phil combines his knowledge of deals with his love of travel to help you plan the perfect vacation.

Thanksgiving Travel Survey 2022 — 43%+ to Travel; 66%+ Say Inflation is Affecting Plans; 29% to Spend $501+ on Travel; Cranberry Sauce Most Hated Food

When to Book Thanksgiving Flights – Travel Guide & Tips for 2024

When to Book Christmas Flights – Travel Guide & Tips for 2024

Is Christmas Eve A Busy Travel Day?

Winter is when we think of traveling to visit loved ones. Everyone has time off from school and work for the holidays, so it's the ideal season to gather or just get away from the daily grind. Unfortunately, the winter months also come with some of the busiest travel dates, which means longer lines and higher likelihood of lost baggage. Furthermore, winter comes with another problem for travelers. Snow in many states leads to an increased number of flight delays, so plan diligently this time of year.

Air travel volume has returned to pre-Covid levels. In 2019, the TSA screened a record-breaking 2,870,746 passengers on one day in December, conventionally the busiest day of the year for air travel. This year, The Parking Spot expects to see that record broken. So, what are the busiest travel dates for winter? You could find the answer to this question by combing through ticket prices in search of spikes and dips throughout the month of December ( airfare fluctuates with demand ). But, we've done the research so you don't have to worry about it. Here's what you need to know before you make winter flight plans.

The Busiest Travel Dates for Winter

Consider avoiding travel on these busy dates if you can help it:

November 28 - The weekend after Thanksgiving marks the time when people are just finishing up Black Friday shopping and have a couple of days off of work to fly.

December 1 - The first day of December is a popular air travel date for those planning extended, even month-long, vacations.

December 23 - This is the day before Christmas Eve, and people everywhere scramble to make it to their loved ones before the holiday.

December 26 - As soon as Christmas is over, many people need to get back home to work and other responsibilities. If you can wait a couple of days to get home, you'll experience fewer crowds at the airport.

December 27 - Many people know that the airport will be bustling on December 26th and wait till the 27th to fly. They don't consider how many people had the same idea. Until after New Year's Eve, terminals will be crowded. If you can, avoid air travel until after the 27th.

Now you know what days you shouldn't travel. Which dates are likely to provide you with a better travel experience at the airport?

The Best Travel Dates for Winter

Consider planning your air travel on these dates to avoid hassle:

December 20 - Typically, people don't need more than a couple days of leisure time at a destination before a holiday. December 20 is just far enough in advance of the major holidays to avoid the biggest crowds.

December 24 - People who celebrate traditionally want to be with their loved ones on Christmas Eve. They're typically with families, not at airports. As far as winter travel dates go, December 24 is one of the lightest.

December 25 - Like Christmas Eve, this major holiday is customarily a family day, not one for travel. The 25th might be the slowest day for air travel this winter. If you get creative with your holiday plans, you're sure to avoid airport crowds.

December 31 - Most people would rather party to celebrate a new year than spend the day airport hopping. But, if you're more interested in getting where you need to be while avoiding crowds and saving money, New Year's Eve is a light day to fly.

Bonus Travel Tips

For one reason or another, the slowest winter travel dates above may not work for you to travel by air. There's no need to worry. Here are a few more quick tips to help you plan your holiday.

Travel on Tuesdays: Year round, Tuesday is typically the slowest day of the week for air travel. When you can, schedule travel mid-week instead of on weekends.
Fly on National Holidays: Holidays at airports are not typically as lively as the dates surrounding them. If you can plan festivities on the day before or after a national holiday and travel on the holiday itself (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.), you're likely to have a better experience at the airport. This goes for most major holidays.
Don't Check a Bag: If you must travel on a busy winter travel date, pack light. You'll save yourself the hassle of lost baggage if you only take a carry-on. If gifts are part of your holiday tradition, purchase small items like jewelry, and leave them unwrapped until you arrive. Better yet, shop at your destination rather than at home.

When you travel any time of year, let us help by caring for your car while you're away. Find out if the Parking Spot is located near your airport, and save money on airport transportation this year!

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These Are The Busiest Days to Fly During the Winter Holidays

To avoid the busy travel rush, book flights for long before or after a major holiday, by sally french | nerdwallet • published november 16, 2022 • updated on november 16, 2022 at 10:03 am.

Most weeks of the year, Fridays are the busiest days to fly, and Tuesdays are the least busy. But during the holidays , that trend doesn’t necessarily hold true.

In most years, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is actually the busiest travel day for U.S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration, which tracks the numbers of passengers screened daily. Two days before Christmas and one day before Thanksgiving also tend to draw big airport crowds.

Here’s a breakdown of the best and worst days to fly during the winter holidays, and how you can strategize schedules to avoid crowds and save money.

The Busiest Days to Fly Around Thanksgiving

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The Sunday after Thanksgiving is brutal for airport crowds. For every 100 people who flew on Thanksgiving Day 2021, there were 177 people flying out on the Sunday after, according to TSA.

That same Sunday was the year’s single busiest airport travel day in both 2019 and 2021. In 2020, the busiest days were largely concentrated in January and February, before the widespread impact of COVID-19, which would reduce holiday travel later in the year.

Here’s a look at the days surrounding Thanksgiving week over the past three years, ranked in order of most to fewest air travelers at the TSA’s U.S. checkpoints:

Sunday after Thanksgiving (most crowded).
Wednesday before.
Saturday after.
Friday before.
Monday after (Cyber Monday).
Sunday before.
Tuesday before.
Monday before.
Saturday before.
Tuesday after (Giving Tuesday).
Friday after (Black Friday).
Wednesday after.
Thanksgiving Day (least crowded).

Assuming past trends continue in 2022, expect Sunday, Nov. 27, to be the busiest travel day around Thanksgiving, followed by Wednesday, Nov. 23. Even if you fly out one day ahead of the biggest crowds, Saturday, Nov. 26, will also likely be busy.

And this year, crowds will likely be bigger than they were over the past couple of years.

“Thanksgiving travel volumes are looking similar to what we typically saw pre-pandemic in 2019,” says Hayley Berg, lead economist at travel booking app Hopper.

Why U.S. Rail Travel Is So Expensive

Flying Home for the Holidays Will Cost You More This Year

The busiest days to fly around christmas.

Christmas airport crowds can be trickier to predict than Thanksgiving crowds given that the holiday falls on a different weekday each year and that air travel patterns are often dictated by the workweek.

Here’s a look at Christmas and the seven calendar dates before and after over the past three years, ranked by most to fewest average air travelers, based on TSA checkpoint data:

Dec. 27 (most crowded).
Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day).
Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve).
Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve).
Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) (least crowded).

The 2022 holiday travel season will be different because Hanukkah, which begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, aligns closely with Christmas. While the eight-day celebration sometimes happens in November or early December, it begins this year on Dec. 18 and runs through Dec. 26.

There’s also the weeklong celebration of Kwanzaa, which runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. Thus, travelers during that period might be celebrating more than just Christmas, potentially concentrating more holiday crowds in airports than in other years.

What’s more is that one of the busiest travel days of the year, Dec. 23 — the day before Christmas Eve — happens to fall on a Friday this year. Friday, you’ll recall, is typically the busiest travel day in any given week. Dec. 23 is not an official holiday, but many holiday travelers may leave on that day.

How to Choose Less Crowded (And Cheaper) Travel Days

Traveling on the holiday itself is often the best way to avoid crowds. Catch the first flight out for the day, and you might arrive in time for evening festivities. Taking early flights is also considered good practice to reduce your odds of a flight delay. In the first eight months of 2022, 7.3% of flights were delayed because an aircraft arrived late, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data .

If you can take the days off work or work remotely, then it can make sense to fly as long before or after a holiday as possible.

Travelers can save an average of 15% by departing the first half of the week instead of the Thursday or Friday before Christmas this year, according to flight data from travel search engine Expedia. Average ticket prices for departures on the Monday before Thanksgiving are 15% cheaper than Wednesday departures, Expedia also found.

Or consider celebrating something like an un-Thanksgiving, where you shift the family dinner by a couple of days or weeks. Turkey, potatoes and pumpkin pie don’t need to be reserved for the fourth Thursday of November.

_____________________________

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Sally French is a writer at NerdWallet.

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Best Times to Fly Around Christmas

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Most weeks of the year, Fridays are the busiest days to fly, checkpoint data from the Transportation Security Administration shows. And just ahead of Christmas 2023, travelers may face one of the busiest Fridays yet: Friday, Dec. 22.

NerdWallet analyzed the past four years of travel data from the TSA to better understand what travel patterns might look like this December, why the Friday before Christmas will be brutal and to uncover the best days to fly around Christmas.

Is Christmas Day a good day to fly?

Yes, Christmas Day is the best day to fly out of all the days in the weeks before and after the holiday — assuming you don’t mind spending part of your holiday in the air.

While airport crowds dramatically increase in the days before and after Christmas, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day crowds are light. Last year, 23.4% more people flew on the day after Christmas compared to the number of people who flew on Christmas Day, which fell on a Sunday.

Not only does flying on the holiday mean fewer crowds, it’s also likely to entail lower prices. Flights departing on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day average 26% lower than peak prices during the Christmas season, according to the 2023 Holiday Travel Outlook from travel booking site Hopper. For a one-way, domestic airfare, the savings amounts to about $114 per ticket, according to Hopper.

If you do travel on Christmas Day, book the first flight out to reduce your risk of delays. In the first half of 2023, 7.8% of flights were delayed because an aircraft arrived late, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. By taking that first flight out, you remove the chance of a previous flight delay snowballing into your flight being delayed, too.

Pre-Christmas travel: the worst days to fly

Here were the busiest travel days at U.S. airports in the seven days before Dec. 25 for the past four years:

In 2022, the busiest air travel day leading up to Christmas was Wednesday, Dec. 21. On that day, 2.4 million people passed through TSA security checkpoints, marking the single busiest day in the 7 days ahead of Christmas. The following day, Thursday, Dec. 22, was also busy with 2.3 million air travelers.

This year, though, it’s the Friday before Christmas that could very likely be the worst day to fly in the week ahead of the holiday. In fact, Friday, Dec. 22 is one of the top three busiest days for flights booked in either December 2023 or January 2024, according to air booking data provided to NerdWallet by Chase Travel.

Here are a couple of reasons why Friday, Dec. 22 is set to be so busy:

Friday is a busy travel day, period

For starters, Fridays always trend busy at airports, no matter the season. It’s the same day many business travelers head home while vacationers jet off for the weekend.

In the first eight months of 2022, the average number of travelers at U.S. airports was 20% higher on Fridays than on Tuesdays (the least busy day for air travel, on average).

Friday will be expensive

Fares will be highest for departures on the Friday before Christmas, as travelers look to make a long weekend out of the holiday, according to the 2023 Holiday Travel Outlook from travel booking site Hopper.

Post-Christmas travel: the worst days to fly

When averaged over the past four years, Dec. 27 has historically been the busiest day to fly in the seven days after Christmas. Dec. 30 has also historically been busy, as some travelers fly home from Christmas festivities while others head out for a New Year’s celebration. According to Chase Travel data, Saturday, Dec. 30 joins Friday, Dec. 22 on the podium of busiest travel days across December 2023 and January 2024 (the other day is Saturday, Dec. 23).

As far as most expensive? This year, Tuesday, Dec. 26 is the most expensive day to return in the week after Christmas, according to Hopper.

The smarter, cheaper departure date when flying for Christmas

During the week of Christmas, the standard rules around the best (and worst) days to fly don’t necessarily apply, and shifting your itinerary by just a couple of days can drastically change the price you pay for holiday travel .

If you work a standard Monday-Friday work week, then jetting off after work on Friday, Dec. 22, might make the most sense. That’s the schedule most people are likely to follow, and if you join in, you’ll pay — both in terms of airport crowds and in literal price.

But if you can be a bit flexible, avoid the Friday departure and try:

Flying earlier in the week: Crowds ease up the farther away from Christmas you get, so — if you can work remotely or afford to take days off — do it. While crowds will likely be high in the days ahead of Christmas, they’ll likely be lighter on the Monday and Tuesday before.

Traveling on Christmas Eve: If it’s important that you’re at your destination by Christmas morning, then leaving on Christmas Eve is your best move. While crowds are heavier than Christmas Day, Christmas Eve is typically the least-crowded day of the seven days ahead of the holiday.

Skipping holiday travel completely: Consider shifting your celebration by a couple of days or weeks. January and February tend to be the cheapest months to fly, so you might want to wait to visit family and friends until then.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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These are officially the best and worst days to fly for the holidays

If you can handle flying on the holiday itself, you'll save buckets.

We’ve all known that there were certain days that were better for flying than others, and now travel news resource The Vacationer has spelled it all out for us – perfect timing, since many of us are thinking of booking holiday travel . So here are a few tips to consider when thinking of which days to time a flight.

First of all, book holiday flights right away to get the lowest prices. June and July were actually the prime times to book, but the longer you wait, the more prices rise. The cutoff date for a reasonable price for a Thanksgiving flight is Halloween, says the report: flights will still be open after we throw off our costumes, but will be far more expensive.

And for heading somewhere for Christmas, try to book before Thanksgiving – even better, book before Halloween. Or even just, right now .

And for a deeper, nitty-gritty look: the busiest travel days for Thanksgiving are Wednesday, November 23 and Sunday, November 27 – in other words, the day right before the holiday, and the last weekend day to fly before returning to (glum voice) work.

So, to avoid the lines and the stressed-out passengers, fly out on these dates and expand the time with family (or the time spent sightseeing if you’re heading out on a non-traditional vacation): Sunday, November 20; Monday, November 21; and Tuesday, November 22. If you’re willing to do it, flying on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, can be the cheapest answer.

As for returning home, all gluttonous and fulfilled, these are the best, most affordable dates: Friday, November 25 (hm, Black Friday: maybe shop duty-free instead?); Monday, November 28; and Tuesday, November 29.

Now, let’s tackle Christmas, if that’s the holiday you celebrate. These dates vary because it doesn’t always fall on the same day each year. So for this year, avoid traveling on these dates: Thursday, December 22; Friday, December 23; Monday, December 26; Tuesday, December 27.

Instead, save money by flying out on these dates: Sunday, December 18; Monday, December 19; Tuesday, December 20; Saturday, December 24 (yes, it’s Christmas Eve and many others will not be booking this flight); Sunday, December 25 (Christmas Day? It’s a bonanza of affordability).

And try to fly back on these dates:Wednesday, December 28; Thursday, December 29

Other tips: book directly with the airline even if another purveyor offers a better price. Why? If there’s a cancellation or delay, you have better leverage and accessibility to customer service. Also, book an early morning flight – those are less likely to be canceled or have delays, and in case there is a problem, your flight is more likely to make it out later that day. Finally, if you can be flexible with the airport you depart from or arrive at (Google flights will let you adjust those settings to find the best deal), you may find better prices for a short drive. Just crank up the tunes and get going!

Still planning your trip? Check out the best winter vacations in the US .

Erika Mailman Writer

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The Best And Worst Days Of The Year For Holiday Travel

The holiday season is supposed to be "the most wonderful time of year." But we all know that when it comes to traveling, it can also be one of the most stressful and expensive times of the year. Popular travel days lead to higher airfares, longer security lines, busier street traffic, and all-around less merriment for those unprepared to deal with the hoards of travelers making their way through the particularly crowded airports . However, if you have a flexible schedule, it might delight you to know that there are a handful of days during the holiday season when traveling can be a breeze.

If you don't mind traveling on Christmas Day, for instance, you won't have to put up with too many other travelers. Airlines sometimes give perks like upgraded seats or complimentary meals to those traveling on a holiday because, well, it's Christmas! If you don't want to travel on Christmas Day but have the ability to fly out a week before, CheapAir's 2023 Holiday Flights Report shows that December 18 is a good day for holiday travel as well. It's during crunch time that you can expect airports to turn into a circus — including the days just before Christmas Eve, as well as before or after New Year's. Since Christmas is on a Monday this year, the Friday and Saturday before Christmas will be the costliest days to fly.

When booking flights for the holiday season, it quickly becomes apparent which days will be the craziest for traveling, considering popular days tend to be on the more expensive side. That said, the "best days" to travel are less popular for a reason — they often fall on holidays. On these days, airports should be somewhat calmer, and flight tickets are usually cheaper .

Christmas Eve: Sunday, December 24

First up on the list of best days has to be December 24. According to CheapAir, Christmas Eve on Sunday is a good time to fly for the holidays and can save travelers significant money, especially when compared to flying on the weekend before Christmas. For example, CheapAir estimates you'll save around $120 by flying on Sunday versus Friday this year. However, you do risk the possibility of missing Christmas if your flight gets canceled or delayed for any reason.

Christmas Day: Monday, December 25

Christmas is a good day for traveling if you don't want to deal with large crowds and are looking to save money on airfare. If you don't mind arriving to your destination a little late on Christmas Day, you won't have to deal with much traffic or the long security lines at the airport.

Before New Year's Eve: Friday, December 29

Between Christmas and New Year's Eve is a sweet spot for traveling, which happens to fall on December 29. If you plan to spend the two holidays in different places, the 29th is just far enough past Christmas that you won't have to deal with the back-to-work flight rush, yet early enough that people haven't quite left for their New Year's plans .

New Year's Eve: Sunday, December 31

Just as with Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve is also a good day to travel. According to the CheapAir holiday report, NYE is the most economical day to fly, since travelers are typically flying before the holiday. However, if you don't mind partying as soon as your flight lands, you can avoid the holiday airport madness by traveling on NYE.

The worst travel days are the ones that tend to be most desired by travelers because of convenience and timing. Beyond the high cost of flying on these popular travel days, you'll also run the risk of having a stressful experience with the potential to miss your flight if you get stuck in unusually busy traffic or excessively long security lines .

Week before Christmas: Friday, December 22

People looking to make the most of their Christmas vacation will be flying out the weekend leading up to the holiday. With people leaving work early or heading to the airport as soon as they're done on Friday, traffic will be brutal — an indicator of what likely lies ahead at the airport. If you're leaving on this day, you'll want to head out for the airport with ample time .

Weekend before Christmas: Saturday, December 23

Much like Friday, December 22, Saturday is equally hectic for holiday travel for very similar reasons. Travelers are looking to spend as much time as possible with their loved ones during the holidays, and what better way than over the weekend when you don't have to take off additional days from work? As mentioned with Friday travel, you'll want to get to the airport with more time than usual just to be on the safe side.

Day after Christmas: Tuesday, December 26

With Christmas taking place toward the beginning of the week this year, you can safely assume airports will be jam-packed on December 26 with people trying to make it back in time for the rest of the work week. Since the day after Christmas is so popular among travelers, you should be prepared to encounter some of the .

Day after the New Year: Tuesday, January 2

While January 2 is usually one of the more expensive days to fly during the holidays, since everyone's trying to get home, January 2 falls on a Tuesday this year. Last year, January 3 landed on a Tuesday, which saved passengers roughly $85 on their fares. Although January 2 fares may still be a little higher, Tuesdays are typically an economical day to fly, which may help to offset costs.

These Are the Busiest Days for Holiday Travel This Year

By Jessica Puckett

It's the most wonderful time of the year—well, everywhere but at the airport.

Chaotic holiday travel is rapidly descending upon us, and if the record-breaking 26 million travelers that took to the sky during Thanksgiving week this year are any indication, it's time to calculate a game plan for navigating airport terminals, securing your overhead bin space , and getting through the crush of humanity in the security line. The best way to do that? Know the busiest travel days in advance.

While some holiday travel patterns can be quite consistent, some of this year's peak travel days have shifted, given that December 25 falls on a Wednesday.

No matter what days you plan to fly during the holiday rush, follow the standard advice of arriving at the airport earlier than usual (at least two hours before departure for a domestic flight, especially if you are checking bags). Another way to streamline your holiday airport experience: remove any food from carry-ons along with standard items like toiletries and laptops to help the Travel Security Administration officers get a clearer look at your bag, which will keep you moving to the gate faster.

And of course, enrolling in known traveler programs like TSA PreCheck or Clear is especially valuable during the peak holiday season, as you'll be able to take fewer items out of your bag and zoom by some of the worst security wait times. (P.S., Clear doesn't require an appointment like TSA PreCheck, so you can breeze through enrollment in about five minutes at the airport.)

Here are all the days to avoid travel, some key statistics, and the best days to avoid airport pandemonium and keep your holiday cheer in tact.

The busiest days for Christmas air travel

Unsurprisingly, passenger records continue to be broken during Christmas travel, the TSA says. The agency estimated last year that during the peak Christmas and New Year's travel days (between December 19 and January 5 for 2018), about 41 million passengers traveled through security screening checkpoints nationwide, a year-over-year increase of 6 percent.

In 2019, that number is set to jump another 3 percent year-over-year, according to industry group Airlines for America . The organization predicts that 47.5 million passengers will fly on U.S. airlines over the 18-day winter holiday travel period from December 19 through January 5. Divided into daily averages, about 2.2 million to 3 million passengers will fly each day over the holiday window, or an extra 72,000 travelers per day. Fortunately, U.S. airlines are meeting the increased demand with 884 added flights each day.

It seems that this year, most air passengers want to take a long Christmas and New Year's break, with the large majority of people expected to fly the Saturday before Christmas. Kayak, AAA, and Expedia all expect Saturday, December 21, to be the busiest travel day leading up to Christmas. Likewise, Airlines for America says December 20 and 21 will be the most popular days for travelers to start their Christmas trips. The estimates vary a bit on what the second most popular day before Christmas will be. Kayak says that Friday, December 20, will be the second largest wave of travelers leading up to the 25th—about 24,797 flights are scheduled to take off across the U.S. that day, according to aviation data firm OAG—while AAA predicts December 22 and 23 will see more fliers en masse.

As for return flights after New Year's? TripAdvisor says 44 percent of travelers are heading home Wednesday, December 30 or later. Expect the bulk of people to swarm the security lines and airport gates on Saturday, January 4, according to Kayak.

The busiest days for Christmas ground travel

TripAdvisor calculates that at least 46 percent of holiday travelers will drive to their Christmas destinations this year. "104.8 million Americans, the most on record, will drive to their holiday destinations," AAA says . "This marks the eighth straight year of new record-high travel volumes for the year-end holidays,” says Paula Twidale, vice president of AAA Travel.

The good news for drivers is that because Christmas falls in the middle of the week this year, AAA, along with traffic analytics company Inrix, predicts only "marginal" and even "lighter than normal" congestion on roads nationwide as travelers cruise to destinations before the holiday.

It's right after Christmas—on December 26 and 27—when drivers will be slammed with traffic and delays. "Nationally, drivers could experience double the travel times on Thursday and Friday afternoon, although New York City and Washington, D.C. could see triple the delays," the AAA report says. So if you are driving, it's probably best to wait until at least December 28 or later to start your journey back.

This story was originally published on November 2019, and has been updated with new information.

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Blacklane Blog

Christmas Traffic: Best and Worst Times to Travel

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Plan your holiday journey wisely with insights on Christmas traffic – discover the best and worst times to travel for a stress-free festive season.

two women in Christmas costume hugging each other

The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but it can also be a time of stress and frustration when it comes to travel. Whether you are flying, driving, or taking a train, you may face challenges such as crowded airports, Christmas traffic, or bad weather. How can you avoid these pitfalls and enjoy your holiday trip? The answer is simple: plan ahead. In this holiday travel guide, we will share with you some tips and insights on how to travel smartly and safely during the Christmas season. You will learn how to choose the best time to travel, how to pack efficiently, how to deal with potential problems, and more.

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If you are planning to travel by car during the Christmas and New Year holidays, you might want to avoid some of the worst times to hit the road. According to Inrix , a global leader in transportation analytics, the worst times to travel during the Christmas holiday are usually two days before Christmas and two days after. To avoid the Christmas traffic, it’s best to stay away from these days if you can. Specifically, traffic tends to be the worst in the late afternoon and early evening on Thursday and Friday leading up to Christmas, especially in big cities.

a small gnome surrounded by Christmas lights

On the bright side, Christmas traffic will be much lighter than Thanksgiving , which is one of the busiest travel days of the year. This is because the Christmas travel period is longer and more spread out, while Thanksgiving travel is concentrated in a few days. Additionally, it’s worth noting that, according to data from the United States Department of Transportation , road traffic still hasn’t returned to pre-COVID levels.

To help you plan your trip, we have researched recent years’ data and identified the following dates as the most problematic for traveling this year:

Friday, December 22, 2023
Saturday, December 23, 2023
Tuesday, December 26, 2023
Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Thursday, December 28, 2023

Aside from the busiest travel days of the year, knowing the congested areas can help you smoothly navigate through the holiday rush. According to Inrix, Christmas traffic is expected to be especially heavy in major cities like Chicago, Seattle, and New York City. To avoid the worst congestion, here are the areas and times you should steer clear of during this festive season:

New York City

December 27, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
358% above normal on Interstate 278 South from Interstate 495 to 3rd Avenue.
December 27, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
270% above normal on Interstate 95 South from Interstate 395 to Virginia State Route 123.
December 23, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
240% above normal on Interstate 290 West from Morgan Street to Wolf Road.
December 28, 4:45 to 6:45 p.m.
215% above normal on Interstate 5 South from Washington State Route 18 to Washington State Route 7.
December 23, 9:45 to 11:45 a.m.
209% above normal on U.S. Route 23 North from 8 Mile Road to Interstate 96.
January 2, 3:45 to 5:45 p.m.
198% above normal on Interstate 85 South from Clairmont Road to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
January 2, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
195% above normal on Interstate 10 West from Sjolander to Texas State Highway Spur 330.

Los Angeles

January 2, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
194% above normal on Interstate 405 South from Sunset Boulevard to Interstate 105.
December 23, 1:45 to 3:45 p.m.
155% above normal on Interstate 93 North from Quincy Market to Route 28.

San Francisco

December 23, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
166% above normal on Interstate 80 North from Interstate 580 to San Pablo Dam Road.

For smooth and affordable travel during the holiday season, we recommend these dates for your trip, based on the traffic and flight price trends we have analyzed:

Monday, Dec. 18, 2023
Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023
Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023
Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023
Monday, Dec. 25, 2023

If you’re hitting the roads on these dates, it’s best to start your holiday journey early, before 7 a.m. or after the morning rush between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., regardless of the day you plan to leave. You might also want to explore alternative routes to avoid major city traffic during peak holiday travel times. If your schedule allows, consider leaving on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, when there are typically fewer cars on the road. This can make your travel experience more relaxed.

Additionally, we recommend planning your return from holiday travels on these days to ensure you’re back home before New Year’s:

Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023
Friday, Dec. 29, 2023

Returning on these dates can help you avoid the rush and ensure a smoother journey as you head back home.

Once you’ve figured out the best days to travel, it’s crucial to ensure you’re well-prepared, especially if you’re traveling by car. Take these steps to avoid any unexpected issues and make your trip smoother:

Vehicle Check-Up

Get an oil change and have a certified mechanic inspect your vehicle thoroughly.
Check the battery, fluid levels, lights, windshield wipers, brakes, belts, and hoses.
Ensure tires are in good condition and consider the appropriate seasonal adjustments, such as putting on winter tires or chains when necessary.

Preparation the Night Before

Load up your car the night before departure.
Pack enough snacks and water for the trip.
Don’t forget to bring a spare cell phone charger.

Emergency Preparedness

Pack a roadside emergency kit with essentials like jumper cables.
Ensure your spare tire and jack are in good working order.

Roadside Assistance

Consider signing up for services like AAA or other roadside assistance policies. This ensures you have someone to call for help if needed.

Weather Monitoring

Stay informed about changing weather conditions.
Be aware of potential delays and road closures, especially due to snowstorms.

As New Year’s Day approaches, it’s crucial to recognize the risks of drunk driving during the festive season. Data reveals that drunk drivers account for 40% of fatal car crashes between Christmas and New Year’s, especially with the extra volatility of the weather conditions during this period. This spike is likely due to holiday parties, as many people are off work and school. The combination of late-night celebrations and alcohol consumption can lead to hazardous conditions, including reduced vision, delayed reactions, poor judgment, and loss of control.

If you’re planning to partake in the festivities and anticipate enjoying some drinks, it’s essential to plan ahead and prioritize safety. One way to do this is by securing the services of a professional chauffeur, ensuring the safety of everyone involved. Leave the transportation to Blacklane , your trusted partner for hassle-free and smooth travel experiences. With our chauffeured services, you can enjoy the convenience of immediate booking, arriving in style, and traveling in comfort, all while relying on our top-quality service.

We’ve shared some useful planning tips on dealing with Christmas traffic. If you want to make your Christmas and New Year travels even more relaxing and comfortable, why not book a ride with Blacklane? Blacklane is the ultimate choice for hassle-free transportation, whether you’re going to a family gathering, a holiday party, or a winter getaway. You can choose from our range of high-quality vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, and vans, to suit your needs and preferences. All our rides are carbon offset , ensuring a responsible choice for your footprint. Simply select the best time for you, and let our professional chauffeurs take care of the rest. Worried about changes? No problem. You can easily modify or cancel any pre-booked ride for free up to 1 hour before your scheduled ride.

A picture of a chauffeur opening a car door for a guest.

For an even more seamless travel experience, consider replacing your short-haul flight with our City to City rides . Say goodbye to the stress of mass transit, and hello to the simplicity of chauffeured rides. With door-to-door service, you can skip the lines and avoid the hassle of switching between modes of transportation. Experience the comfort of a private journey, tailored to your schedule and preferences, making every mile of your trip as enjoyable as the destination itself.

FAQs about Christmas Traffic

For Christmas Eve travel, the best time to hit the roads is from Monday, December 18, to December 25. Aim to start your journey early, before 7 a.m. or after the morning rush between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., regardless of the day you plan to leave.

The worst times to travel during the Christmas holiday are usually two days before Christmas and two days after.

Christmas traffic usually starts to increase in mid-December, as people begin to travel for shopping, visiting, or vacationing.

Generally, it is advisable to avoid the days and times when most people are returning from their holiday trips, such as December 26, 27, and 28, and January 1 and 2.

To dodge Christmas traffic, plan ahead by checking traffic conditions, weather, and road closures. Opt for less congested routes, alternative transportation, or off-peak departure times. Stay flexible, be patient, and have a backup plan for unexpected delays or emergencies.

Traffic can be bad the day after Christmas, especially in the morning and afternoon, as many people return from their holiday trips or take advantage of post-Christmas sales.

Christmas Day is usually not very busy at airports, as most people prefer to travel before or after the holiday.

The two days before Christmas Day that are usually the least crowded at airports are December 23 and 24, as most people try to avoid traveling on these days.

Ellie Smith

Ellie is an avid traveler, writer, and adventurer, with a passion for exploring the world and sharing her experiences through storytelling. Working for global chauffeur company Blacklane and having lived in cities like Dubai and Berlin, she has gained valuable first-hand experience in uncovering hidden gems worldwide.

After signing up for the newsletter, you will also receive occasional news stories and promotions from Blacklane via email. We will not sell or distribute your email address to any third party at any time. View our Privacy Policy.

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These are the busiest days for Christmas and New Year's travel

If you're flying for the winter holidays, you're far from alone.

The 18 days between Dec. 19 and Jan. 5 will be the busiest end-of-year holiday season ever for air travel, predicts industry trade organization Airlines for America.

On average, 2.6 million people will fly on each of those days, peaking around 3 million on Dec. 20, 21, 26 and 27. All told, about 47.5 million passengers will take to the skies in in the days around Christmas and New Year's day.

Related: The best credit cards for airline lounge access

"Throughout this year we've seen steady gains in air travel demand, and this winter will be no exception" John Heimlich, vice president and chief economist for Airlines for America said in a statement. "Buoyed by a healthy economy and plentiful, affordable air service, travelers once again are expected to take to the skies in record numbers."

The record-breaking winter holiday season comes on the heels of a similarly busy Thanksgiving travel period.

The Transportation Security Administration screened more than 26 million passengers and crew members were screened around Thanksgiving, according to A4A.

Busiest days

Friday, Dec. 20
Saturday, Dec. 21
Friday, Dec. 27
Thursday, Dec. 26

Lightest days

Tuesday, Dec. 24
Tuesday, Dec. 31
Wednesday, Dec. 25

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Good to Know: Best and Worst Days for Holiday Travel

Tim Winship

After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship .

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According to Airlines for America , the trade group representing the interests of most U.S. airlines, this holiday travel season extends over a full 21 days, from December 16, 2016, through January 5, 2017. That’s a long time to endure the indignities and discomfort of crowded airports and overstuffed planes.

A4A expects U.S. carriers to transport 45.2 million flyers over the holiday period, a 3.5 percent increase over last year. Ever the industry cheerleader, A4A reassures travelers that the airlines are up to the task:

As we saw over Thanksgiving, U.S. airlines are well positioned to handle the increase in passengers expected this holiday season. Airlines’ concerted and well-coordinated efforts over Thanksgiving helped ensure the traditional holiday rush was as smooth as could be for fliers, resulting in shorter security wait times and noticeable higher on-time performance rates. We expect to see much of the same this winter holiday travel season.

The better news is that one of the two busiest days is already behind us: December 22. And the other busiest day is today, December 23. So, if you’re reading this, you’re probably not on the road today.

The least busy days, which makes them the best travel days, are December 24, 25, and 31, and January 1. That confirms what savvy flyers have long known, that traveling on the holiday—Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s day—can be a downright pleasant experience, with notably sparser crowds and a more relaxed and festive atmosphere both on the ground and in the air.

The traffic flows vary somewhat among airports. The busiest days at five of the largest airports:

Atlanta – December 23, 30; January 2, 5
Chicago O’Hare – December 23, 27, 28, 30
Los Angeles – December 23; January 2, 3
Dallas/Ft. Worth – December 22, 29, 30; January 2
New York/JFK – December 22, 23, 24; January 1, 2

Holiday Travel Tips

On the busier days, planes will be running close to 100 percent full, especially on more popular routes. And security screening at the busiest airports will be stressed to the breaking point. Travelers for whom comfort is a priority will want to avoid flying on those days, if possible. If you don’t have the luxury of contrarian timing, however, do what you can to eke as much comfort and peace from the flight experience as you can. Some tactics that have proven themselves over the years:

Allow plenty of time to get to the airport, especially if you plan to park at an airport lot
Book early flights to increase the odds of being accommodated later the same day in the event of a cancellation
Travel to/from secondary airports
Avoid checking bags if possible
To avoid the coach crush, use miles to upgrade or pay extra for premium economy
Have phone numbers for your airline, hotel, rental car readily at hand
Fully charge your smartphone before leaving home
For a respite from the gate crowd, consider buying a day pass to the airline’s airport lounge
Sign up for PreCheck for expedited security clearance

None of the above will make holiday flying a breeze. So relax. Expect travel to be stressful. Observe the Golden Rule, and hope that other travelers do the same.

Reader Reality Check

What’s your strategy for surviving the holiday travel crunch?

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LAX's busiest days of holiday travel season are here. Here's what to expect

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The peak holiday travel days are here.

As Christmas Day approaches, Los Angeles International Airport is expecting 200,000 passengers to pass through each day during the holiday travel season from Dec. 16 through Jan. 3.

Traffic around the Central Terminal Area is also expected to increase with as many as 89,000 vehicles in a single day from Dec. 19 - 21.

"A lot more people, and a lot more hectic than years before," said traveler Lilly Lane of Valencia. "I've traveled for 30 years and it's never been like this. Never."

Airport officials advise travelers - and those driving them or expecting them - to plan ahead and leave plenty of extra time. Parking, in particular, should be planned out in advance and reserved when possible.

"LAX wishes our guests, employees and partners a very happy holiday season as we create a smooth and enjoyable travel experience," said Justin Erbacci, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports. "We ask that you come to the airport prepared by planning your parking ahead of time and arriving early, especially if you are traveling with us on one of our peak travel days."

Here's a look at Christmas and the seven calendar dates before and after over the past three years, ranked by most to fewest average air travelers nationwide, based on TSA checkpoint data:

Dec. 27 (most crowded).
Jan. 1 (New Year's Day).
Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve).
Dec. 31 (New Year's Eve).
Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) (least crowded).

There's also the weeklong celebration of Kwanzaa, which runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. Thus, travelers during that period might be celebrating more than just Christmas, potentially concentrating more holiday crowds in airports than in other years.

What's more is that one of the busiest travel days of the year, Dec. 23 - the day before Christmas Eve - happens to fall on a Friday this year. Friday is typically the busiest travel day in any given week. Dec. 23 is not an official holiday, but many holiday travelers may leave on that day.

City News Service and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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These are the best and worst air travel days around Thanksgiving and Christmas

This article is reprinted by permission from NerdWallet .

Most weeks of the year, Friday is the busiest day for air travel, and Tuesday is the least busy day. During the holidays, though, that doesn’t necessarily hold true.

To avoid crowds and save money, consider skipping the busy days and book your flights on one of the slower ones. Here’s a breakdown of the best and worst days to fly during the winter holidays, and how you can strategize to avoid crowds and save money.

The busiest days to fly around Thanksgiving

That same Sunday was also the year’s single busiest airport travel day in both 2019 and 2021. In 2020, the busiest days of the year for air travel were largely concentrated in January and February, before the widespread impact of COVID-19, which would reduce holiday travel later in the year.

Here’s a look at the three busiest days to fly in the seven calendar dates before and after Thanksgiving over the past four years, based on TSA checkpoint data:

Source: Transportation Security Administration checkpoint data, 2019-2022.

And here are the three least busy days to fly in that period:

Assuming past trends continue in 2023, expect Sunday, Nov. 26, to be the busiest travel day around Thanksgiving , followed by Wednesday, Nov. 22. Even if you fly out one day ahead of the biggest crowds, Saturday, Nov. 25, will also likely be busy.

And this year, crowds will likely be bigger based on the fact that past 2023 holidays have already set air travel records. For example, 2023’s Fourth of July weekend set records for U.S. air travel. More than 2.884 million people passed through TSA checkpoints on the Friday before July 4, according to TSA checkpoint data. That topped the previous record, which was on the Sunday after Thanksgiving 2019, when a recorded 2.882 million people passed through TSA checkpoints.

Learn more: Crowds, costs and cancellation concerns? Try these tips and tricks for booking holiday travel.

The busiest days to fly around Christmas

But just as the Sunday after Thanksgiving tends to draw huge crowds, the days just after Christmas are wildly popular . And much like how few people travel on Thanksgiving Day itself, relatively few people travel on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

Here’s a look at the three busiest days to fly in the seven calendar dates before and after Christmas over the past four years, based on TSA checkpoint data:

This year, you might expect Friday, Dec. 22, to be particularly busy. Friday is typically the busiest travel day in any given week, and — especially during Christmas week — many holiday travelers may leave on that day.

Another consideration for travel is that the weeklong celebration of Kwanzaa runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.

Also see: Buy now, pay later for holiday travel is on the rise: Should you use it?

How to choose less crowded (and cheaper) travel days

The holiday travel season is always expensive, but there is some decrease from last year’s prices. Airfares for Christmas trips are averaging $400 according to Hopper data. That’s down 12%, or about $52 per ticket, from last year. The bad news is that it’s still 29% higher than holiday airfares were in 2019.

And that demand has a strong effect on prices. According to Hopper, domestic flights on Christmas Day average about 26% less than peak prices.

Book morning flights: If you are traveling on the holiday, catch the first flight out for the day and you might arrive in time for evening festivities. Taking early flights is also considered good practice to reduce your odds of a flight delay . In the first half of 2023, 7.8% of flights were delayed because an aircraft arrived late, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data.

Stay longer: If you can take the days off or work remotely, then it can make sense to fly as long before or after a holiday as possible.

For Christmas, Hopper recommends departing the Monday or Tuesday before Christmas weekend and returning midweek following the holiday.

Skip holiday travel completely: If you don’t mind celebrating in an unconventional way, consider participating in something like an un-holiday, where you shift the celebration by a couple of days or weeks.

Read next: If you want to be a more climate-friendly traveler, tough it out on the budget airlines—here’s why

TSA is prepared for busy winter travel season, expects high volumes through New Year’s Day

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is prepared for sustained higher passenger volumes during the winter holiday travel season and expects airport security checkpoints to be busier this year compared to last year. The official end-of-the-year holiday travel period starts Thursday, Dec. 21, and will continue through Tuesday, Jan. 2. The busiest days are projected to be Thursday, Dec. 21, Friday, Dec. 29, and Monday, Jan. 1, when the agency will screen more than 2.5 million passengers each day, which is a 6% increase from 2022. The busiest day last year was Dec. 29, when TSA screened nearly 2.4 million passengers.

TSA screened nearly 30 million passengers during last month’s 12-day Thanksgiving holiday period and broke the record for most passengers in a single day on Nov. 26, screening more than 2.9 million passengers at security checkpoints nationwide.

“We are prepared to handle the busy passenger volumes this winter holiday season,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “TSA’s continued success during this record year for travel is a direct result of teamwork, planning and professional execution across the agency, from our frontline employees to those behind the scenes; partnerships with airports and air carriers; and innovative checkpoint technologies that improve security effectiveness, efficiency and the passenger experience.”

Travelers should keep these top tips in mind while traveling:

1. Pack smart by starting with an empty bag. Passengers who start packing with an empty bag are less likely to bring prohibited items through the checkpoint, which include firearms, explosives, fireworks, flammables, knives, razors and replica weapons. To see if an item is prohibited, check the TSA website under “What Can I Bring?” or just text @AskTSA . If you can spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it or pour it, then it is subject to the 3.4-ounce liquids rule limitation. As always, passengers may bring solid foods such as cakes and other baked goods through the TSA checkpoint, which are subject to screening. 

2. Arrive early . The airport will be busy, so arrive two hours prior to your scheduled flight to allow for adequate time to park your car, return your rental car or arrive via public transit or rideshare, check bags with the airline, and go through security screening before arriving at the gate.

3. Bring an acceptable ID and have it out in the screening lane. Before heading to the airport, travelers must make sure they have acceptable identification . Make your ID a REAL ID. Starting May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States. REAL ID-compliant cards are marked with a star in the upper portion of the card.

Identity verification is an important step in the security screening process. At many checkpoints, the Transportation Security Officer (TSO) may ask you to insert your physical ID into one of our Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) units, where a boarding pass is not needed.

The second generation of CAT, called CAT-2, is currently deployed at 25 airports and adds a camera and smartphone reader to the other CAT features. The camera captures a real-time photo of the traveler at the podium and compares the traveler’s photo on the identification credential against the in-person, real-time photo. Once the CAT-2 confirms the match, the TSO verifies and directs the traveler for appropriate security screening without ever exchanging a boarding pass. Photos are not stored but are immediately deleted after the passenger’s identity is verified. Passenger participation is voluntary and if a passenger chooses not to have their photo taken, they may have their identity checked manually instead without losing their place in line. For more information on how TSA is using facial recognition technology to enhance security effectiveness, improve operational efficiency and create a more streamlined passenger experience, see our TSA Facial Recognition Fact Sheet .

4. Ensure gifts are unwrapped and can be inspected. TSA encourages those traveling with gifts this holiday season to use gift bags that can be easily opened or gift boxes with lids that can be removed, so contents can be inspected if required. Fully wrapped gifts may need to be opened if deemed necessary by a TSA officer. Another option is to place your unwrapped gifts in your checked bag. This includes snow globes, which are popular at this time of the year.

5. Prepare, pack and declare for hassle-free travels with firearms. Passengers may travel with firearms; however, firearms must be unloaded and properly packed in a hard-sided, locked case and must be placed in checked baggage. At the airline ticket counter, passengers must declare their firearm with the airline.

Firearms are prohibited in carry-on luggage and at the security checkpoints and onboard aircraft. Bringing a firearm to a TSA checkpoint is expensive and time-consuming for the passenger and may lead to missed flights. The maximum civil penalty for bringing a firearm to a TSA checkpoint is nearly $15,000. It will also result in the loss of TSA PreCheck® eligibility for at least five years and may result in enhanced screening at the TSA checkpoint. For more information about how to properly travel with a firearm, visit: The transporting firearms and ammunition page on TSA.gov.

6. Be aware of new checkpoint screening technology. TSA uses a variety of security methods and technologies to secure our transportation systems. Some airports have installed new state-of-the-art Computed Tomography (CT) scanners, which give TSOs the ability to review 3-D images of passengers’ bags, so passengers screened in security lanes with CT units do not need to remove their 3-1-1 liquids or laptops. With CT units, all travelers must place every carry-on item, including bags, into a bin for screening.

7. Travel with ease with TSA PreCheck and ensure you have the TSA PreCheck mark on your boarding pass. TSA’s trusted traveler program now has more than 90 participating airlines, is available at more than 200 airports and has two authorized enrollment providers. Those enrolled enjoy the benefits of faster checkpoint screening. The five-year membership costs as little as $78. After submitting an online application, which takes just five minutes to complete, applicants must schedule an appointment at any of the 600-plus enrollment centers for a quick in-person process. After a successful enrollment center visit, most new enrollees will receive their Known Traveler Number (KTN) within three to five days. Members may renew their membership online up to six months prior to expiration for another five-year term for $70.

Most TSA PreCheck members wait less than five minutes at the checkpoint. Children 12 and younger may join TSA PreCheck family members in the TSA PreCheck screening lanes. Children 13-17 may join enrolled adults in the dedicated lanes when traveling on the same reservation and if the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on the child’s boarding pass. TSA PreCheck passengers should ensure that their KTN, along with correct date of birth, is in their airline reservation. For more information about becoming a member of the TSA PreCheck program, visit: www.TSA.gov/precheck .

8. Call ahead to request passenger support. Travelers or families of passengers with disabilities and/or medical conditions may call the TSA Cares helpline toll free at 855-787-2227 at least 72 hours prior to travel with any questions about screening procedures and to find out what to expect at the security checkpoint. TSA Cares also arranges assistance at the checkpoint for travelers with specific needs. 

9. Text or direct message us @AskTSA. Get your questions answered before you head to the airport. Travelers can get assistance in real time by texting their question to #275-872 (“AskTSA”) or through @AskTSA on X (formerly known as Twitter) or  Facebook Messenger . An automated virtual assistant is available 24/7, while staff is available daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, including holidays and weekends. Travelers may also reach the TSA Contact Center at 866-289-9673. Staff is available from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends/holidays; and an automated service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

10. Follow TSO guidance. Some people may not have traveled recently, so it is important to listen to the direction provided by our TSOs at the security checkpoint. There may be information on new technologies that help reduce touchpoints or a TSO may redirect passengers to ensure we keep people moving through the screening process. If flying internationally, upon return to the United States, passengers will encounter a Customs and Border Protection officer to clear customs. Listen for their directions as well. Passengers may also need to have their baggage re-screened by a TSO to continue on to their final domestic destination. Airport and airline employees may also give guidance to help throughout the travel process.

Is the stock market open or closed on Good Friday 2024? See full holiday schedule

United States stock markets will be closed on Friday, March 29 in observance of Good Friday, the day in which Christian and Catholic churches commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.

The Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange will be closed Friday and reopen Monday, April 1. The U.S. bond market will close at 2 p.m. ET Thursday and will also be closed Friday, according to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association .

After shuttering for Good Friday, it will be business as usual on Wall Street until late May. The next scheduled stock market closure is on Monday, May 27, 2024 in observance of Memorial Day.

United States stock market 2024 holiday schedule

Markets will be closed for the following holidays:

Good Friday: Friday, March 29
Memorial Day: Monday, May 27
Juneteenth: Wednesday, June 19
Independence Day: Thursday, July 4
Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 2
Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 28
Christmas: Wednesday, Dec. 25

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].

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COMMENTS

Busiest Days to Fly During the Winter Holidays
This year, you might expect Friday, Dec. 22, to be particularly busy. Friday is typically the busiest travel day in any given week, and — especially during Christmas week — many holiday ...
These are the busiest days to travel this holiday season
Last year, the three busiest days for air travel over the December holidays were as follows, per TSA data: Dec. 21, 2022 (a Thursday) Dec. 30, 2022 (a Friday) Jan. 2, 2023 (a Monday — and a federal holiday following New Year's Day) This year, Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on a Monday. It seems a safe bet that airports will be busy ...
Christmas travel tips: Best and worst days to fly or drive
The most expensive days are Dec. 22 and Dec. 26. United Airlines said it expects its busiest-ever holiday travel season, with about 9 million passengers planning to fly from Dec. 21 to Jan. 8 ...
These are the best and worst air travel days around ...
Rank Travel date In 2023, that date is a: 1 Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) Monday 2 Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) Sunday 3 Dec. 31 (New Year's Eve) Sunday Source: Transportation Security Administration ...
Best & Worst Days to Fly & Travel for the Holidays
Friday, December 22. Wednesday, December 27. Saturday, December 23. The three days before Christmas Eve, the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, are going to be busy travel days. I recommend avoiding them and departing earlier in the week if you can. Avoid the Tuesday and Wednesday after Christmas for your return flight.
What are the Busiest Dates for Winter Travel?
The Busiest Travel Dates for Winter. Consider avoiding travel on these busy dates if you can help it: November 28 - The weekend after Thanksgiving marks the time when people are just finishing up Black Friday shopping and have a couple of days off of work to fly. December 1 - The first day of December is a popular air travel date for those ...
These Are The Busiest Days to Fly During the Winter Holidays
Assuming past trends continue in 2022, expect Sunday, Nov. 27, to be the busiest travel day around Thanksgiving, followed by Wednesday, Nov. 23. Even if you fly out one day ahead of the biggest crowds, Saturday, Nov. 26, will also likely be busy. And this year, crowds will likely be bigger than they were over the past couple of years.
Flying For Christmas? Here Are the Best Days
The following day, Thursday, Dec. 22, was also busy with 2.3 million air travelers. ... (the least busy day for air travel, on average). ... 2.24 million. Thursday. 2.18 million.
The Best and Worst Holiday Travel Days 2022
These dates vary because it doesn't always fall on the same day each year. So for this year, avoid traveling on these dates: Thursday, December 22; Friday, December 23; Monday, December 26 ...
The Best And Worst Days Of The Year For Holiday Travel
Day after the New Year: Tuesday, January 2. While January 2 is usually one of the more expensive days to fly during the holidays, since everyone's trying to get home, January 2 falls on a Tuesday this year. Last year, January 3 landed on a Tuesday, which saved passengers roughly $85 on their fares.
These Are the Busiest Days for Holiday Travel This Year
Kayak, AAA, and Expedia all expect Saturday, December 21, to be the busiest travel day leading up to Christmas. Likewise, Airlines for America says December 20 and 21 will be the most popular days ...
Christmas Traffic: Best and Worst Times to Travel
Christmas Day is usually not very busy at airports, as most people prefer to travel before or after the holiday. Which two days before Christmas Day are usually the least crowded at airports? The two days before Christmas Day that are usually the least crowded at airports are December 23 and 24, as most people try to avoid traveling on these days.
These are the busiest days for Christmas and New Year's travel
The 18 days between Dec. 19 and Jan. 5 will be the busiest end-of-year holiday season ever for air travel, predicts industry trade organization Airlines for America. On average, 2.6 million people will fly on each of those days, peaking around 3 million on Dec. 20, 21, 26 and 27. All told, about 47.5 million passengers will take to the skies in ...
When to Travel Over the Holidays, According to AAA
The best and worst times to drive over the holidays in 2024. AAA says to expect the worst traffic on Saturday, Dec. 23, and Thursday, Dec. 28, as well as some congestion on Saturday, Dec. 30 ...
Good to Know: Best and Worst Days for Holiday Travel
The least busy days, which makes them the best travel days, are December 24, 25, and 31, and January 1. That confirms what savvy flyers have long known, that traveling on the holiday ...
The busiest days to fly during the winter holidays
According to Chase Travel, Friday, Dec. 22, is one of the top three busiest days across all flights booked in either December 2023 or January 2024 (the other two busiest days are Saturday, Dec. 23 ...
These Are the Busiest Days to Travel for Christmas and New Year's ...
The TSA said the most crowded days at airports across the country are forecast to be Thursday, Dec. 21, Friday, Dec. 29, and Monday, Jan. 1. Last year, the busiest day was Dec. 29.
The busiest days to fly during the winter holidays
Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve). Dec. 31 (New Year's Eve). Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) (least crowded). The 2022 holiday travel season will be different because Hanukkah, which begins on the 25th of Kislev ...
When should I fly for Christmas? Holiday air travel tips from experts
Most people are predicted to fly out for their holiday trips on Thursday, Dec. 21, and Friday, Dec. 22. And expected to return home on Thursday, Dec. 28, and Friday, Dec. 29. Travelers can ...
LAX's busiest days of holiday travel season are here. Here's what to
Dec 28. Dec 21. Dec. 18. Jan. 1 (New Year's Day). Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve). Dec. 31 (New Year's Eve). Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) (least crowded). The 2022 holiday travel season will be different ...
These are the best and worst air travel days around Thanksgiving ...
Nov. 24. Source: Transportation Security Administration checkpoint data, 2019-2022. Assuming past trends continue in 2023, expect Sunday, Nov. 26, to be the busiest travel day around Thanksgiving ...
TSA is prepared for busy winter travel season, expects high volumes
The official end-of-the-year holiday travel period starts Thursday, Dec. 21, and will continue through Tuesday, Jan. 2. The busiest days are projected to be Thursday, Dec. 21, Friday, Dec. 29, and Monday, Jan. 1, when the agency will screen more than 2.5 million passengers each day, which is a 6% increase from 2022.
Is the stock market open or closed on Good Friday 2024? See full
Here's what you need to know about the stock market and whether it is open or closed on Good Friday this year.
Baltimore Port: What impact will bridge collapse have on shipping?
A major bridge collapsed in the U.S. port of Baltimore in the early hours of Tuesday after being struck by a container ship, plunging cars into the river below.

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Best & Worst Days to Fly & Travel for the Holidays – Christmas & New Year’s 2024

How Far in Advance to Book Holiday Travel

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