Which Times of Year are the Busiest for Air Travel in the US?

The lines and wait times at US and international airports are longer than they’ve been in years. It’s best to arrive early and have some extra time post-security than risk missing your flight

The busiest travel days of the year in the US

Demand for air travel is surging. Every day brings millions of people to airports travelling for business or pleasure. Some periods are busier than others, with the days leading up to and after certain holidays being most likely to be crowded. On July 7, 2024, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reached a new milestone: 3,013,622 people passed through TSA security checkpoints in a single day, the first time in history that the number had passed the three million mark.

That number will likely continue to be surpassed as more and more people choose to fly, so it’s important to know the busiest days to fly in the US so you can arrive prepared.

Thanksgiving weekend

It’s no surprise that most of the busiest flight days land on holidays. AAA predicts a high volume of people will fly this Thanksgiving holiday. Additionally, travelers may encounter higher-than-usual airfare costs due to increased demand.

During Thanksgiving, the number of people flying typically reaches record levels, making it one of the busiest travel periods in the US.

The day before Thanksgiving

Some of the busiest travel days of the year are usually the Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving

The Sunday after Thanksgiving ranks as one the busiest and most hectic days to fly in the entire year. For those looking to avoid peak crowds, flying on Thanksgiving Day itself or returning on the Friday or Saturday following the holiday may be a better strategy than flying on the Sunday or even Monday afterward.

Christmas and New Year’s Day

The busiest times for Christmas travel generally start about a week before the holiday and extend through New Year’s Day. December 23 is one of the busiest days each year, as travelers like to arrive at their holiday destination just before Christmas Eve. In the years when Christmas falls during the week, the weekend leading up tends to see high passenger volumes.

For those looking for less hustle and bustle, December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 25 (Christmas Day) are often not as crowded. Likewise, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day see lighter traffic, as people either return early or extend their stays through the New Year’s holiday. Flying on or around these actual holiday dates tends to offer cheaper tickets, lower airport congestion, and fewer delays.

Summer vacation season

Early July (Independence Day)

Independence Day air travel is exceptionally busy, continuing the upward trend in Fourth of July holiday travel. Historically, the busiest day to fly is the Friday before the holiday, with airports experiencing high passenger volumes as people start long weekend vacations. The Sunday after the holiday is also typically one of the busiest days for travelers to return home. To avoid the heaviest crowds, consider mid-week options, like the Tuesday or Wednesday before or after the holiday.

Late August (end of summer)

Late August is a busy time for air travel in the US, coinciding as it does with the tail end of the summer travel season. It’s a cluster of vacations, last-minute trips before school starts, and the preamble to Labor Day weekend. This period tends to see higher demand and elevated ticket prices, especially on popular routes. Flights tend to peak on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and midday flights may be more crowded due to popular connecting times. Summer flights can also experience delays due to seasonal thunderstorms and hurricanes, especially in the Southeast and Gulf Coast regions.

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day is a popular travel holiday, particularly for beach and outdoor locations. Airports will be busiest from the Friday before through the Monday holiday itself.

Spring Break

Air travel for spring break continues to grow in popularity. Peak travel for spring break is expected to take place from March 7 to March 25, which are the most popular dates for spring vacations, especially for students and families.

Other notable public holidays

Easter

Easter typically brings increased travel, especially on the Thursday and Friday before and the Monday after the holiday weekend. In years when spring break coincides with Easter, the week preceding Easter can be particularly busy. Many people take the opportunity to travel over the extended Easter weekend (Friday through Monday), leading to busier airports and potentially higher ticket prices on popular routes.

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. Expect crowded airports, especially on Thursday and Friday when travelers head out for the long weekend.

Tips for navigating the busiest airport days

Booking tips for peak travel times

For Thanksgiving and Christmas flights, the cheapest time to book typically falls between early September and mid-October. The following guidelines are based on typical booking patterns.

Thanksgiving

Best time to book: The cheapest fares are usually available six to eight weeks in advance – around early September to early October. You can still find good deals in mid-October, though prices often rise sharply after that.

Late booking costs: Prices often increase significantly in the last two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, especially starting in early November.

Christmas

Best time to book: For Christmas, booking up to twelve weeks in advance (from late September to early November) is ideal. Prices tend to rise around mid-November and become very expensive in December.

Peak fare increase: The weeks leading up to Christmas see major fare increases, especially for flights around the key holiday dates (December 22-26).

Invest in trusted traveler programs

Programs that speed up the security process are especially valuable with current congestion levels at US airports. According to the TSA, 99% of passengers enrolled in the PreCheck program wait less than ten minutes at airport checkpoints. A few years ago, TSA PreCheck reduced its prices from $85 to $78 for a five-year membership, and it’s only $70 to renew. International travelers who go on four or more trips a year should consider the $120 Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck, for expedited customs screening upon arrival in the US.

Some credit cards, including the Capital One Venture X and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card, reimburse the costs of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. CLEAR, another traveler program, costs $189 per year. It uses biometric technology – primarily fingerprint and iris scanning – to allow members to bypass the traditional ID checks at airport security.

In 2021, CLEAR introduced Reserve powered by Clear, which has teamed up with several airports to allow travelers to book a TSA security line time slot in advance and jump to the front of the line during their designated slot. Although CLEAR charges for its security expediting services, access to the Reserve powered by Clear fast pass system is free. As of August 2023, CLEAR received more than five million reservations at airports across the globe. Users report that the Reserve lanes save them up to 30 minutes in security line waiting time.

Airport strategies for stress-free travel

Opt for carry-on

If you don’t want to risk your luggage getting lost during busy travel periods, when airports can be understaffed and you don’t want to wait endlessly at the baggage claim carousel, going lean with just carry-on luggage may be your best strategy.

Know what you can bring through security

If you’re traveling with carry-on luggage, familiarize yourself with TSA rules about what you can and cannot pack. In your carry-on, you can only carry on liquids in containers of 3.4 ounces or less. This applies to holiday leftovers like cranberry sauce, too. Containers carrying more than 3.4 ounces of liquid need to be checked in.

Do your weather due diligence

Check the weather and forecasts available on sites such as the National Weather Service so that you can prepare for possible disruptions and create backup plans for delayed travel. Thunder, lightning, hail, winter storms, hurricanes, and strong winds can all lead to significant travel delays.

Early does it

The lines and wait times at US and international airports are longer than they’ve been in years. It’s best to arrive early and have some extra time post-security than risk missing your flight waiting in a congested check-in or security line. Aim for at least two hours before domestic flights and at least three for international flights.