The Sunday after Thanksgiving is typically the busiest day of the year at US airports. The 2024 post-turkey travel rush continued: It brought the busiest day ever for commercial air travel in America.
According to preliminary numbers released Monday, the Transportation Security Administration screened more than three million passengers on Sunday, December 1.
That’s more than any day in the organization’s 23-year history – just shy of the mark set less than five months ago on July 7.
The rush of travelers that filled the terminals on Sunday was highly anticipated. After all, each of the 10 busiest days ever at a US airport has come since May.
Value check: Are airline credit cards still worth it?
“These will likely be some of the busiest travel days in American history,” warned Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, speaking last week at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) near Washington, DC.
A smooth Thanksgiving… a lot
Travelers with more recent memories of Delta Air Lines’ July 2024 meltdown (caused by the CrowdStrike shutdown) and Southwest Airlines’ 2022 holiday operating disaster experienced smooth operations — for the most part.
Even as lake-effect snow threatens return trips for vacationers, flight disruptions remain minimal, to say the least, across the country on Sunday.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) saw the highest rate of delays among US aviation officials on Sunday, with nearly half (46%) of departing flights delayed amid winter weather in the region, according to FlightAware.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for the best news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG experts
Delta Air Lines passengers at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) on Dec. 1, 2024. EMILY ELCONIN/GETTY IMAGES
But the airport — Delta’s hub — saw only two flights canceled on a busy travel day.
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) each saw between 30% and 40% of travel delays on Sunday, while cancellations remained low.
A quiet start to the holiday
The airport record for Sunday comes after Thanksgiving travel got off to a slower start last week than expected. The TSA’s preliminary numbers show 2.6 million and 2.7 million outbound travelers passed through checkpoints on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively — slightly less than the agency had anticipated.
The large crowds the weekend before Thanksgiving suggest that many travelers start the holiday early before joining the crowds heading home this past weekend.
Sunday marked the third time in six years that the TSA has set all-time records for passenger traffic on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Passenger volume on Dec. 1 was about 6% higher than the equivalent date in 2023 – up 7% from the previous record set in 2019.
With Thanksgiving and the end of the year holidays behind us, here are some things you should know to help you start preparing for Christmas and New Year’s travel.
Christmas and New Year crowds are widespread
Unlike Thanksgiving, which often sees large crowds concentrated over a few days (especially the Sunday after the holiday), the December holidays typically see a large but steady flow of passengers spread over the better part of two weeks.
That means no single day between Christmas and New Year’s is likely to draw 3 million passengers to airports like we saw on December 1 — but don’t expect many empty seats near your gate or on your plane, either.
Not booked yet? Don’t wait!
If you haven’t booked your flights for the end of the year holidays, now is the time.
Analysts at Google flights and booking app Hopper had suggested locking in those December flights in October – but booking now is better than waiting too long as prices could rise significantly in the next few weeks.
Go on Christmas if your schedule allows
If you’re having a hard time finding affordable fares, consider checking prices on flights starting on Christmas Day (Dec. 25).
Consider this: While the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest day at US airports, Thanksgiving Day itself (Nov. 28) was the busiest day of the year.
Low demand for travel usually means low prices. Just remember that if you’re flying on vacation, you could risk missing out on that family dinner or get-together if your flight is delayed.
Book your parking space now
Most airports offer online parking reservations in advance. This can help you secure an area where lots are often crowded, eliminating that stressful hunt in the open as the clock ticks ahead of your flight.
Also, some airports offer discounted parking if you book in advance.
Use those travel credits
With the Christmas and New Year travel season in full swing just weeks away, now is the time to start planning to increase any remaining travel debt you may have.
For example, you may have a travel credit you received from an airline when you canceled a previous flight.
Or, you can get annual statement credits offered by a travel credit card sitting in your wallet. Some cards offer reimbursement for airfare and other travel bookings, such as hotel stays. Most of these credits reset in the new year, so you’ll want to maximize those between now and Dec. 31 to make sure you get the most out of your card when you get its annual fee.
Related reading:
Source link
