The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has forecasted that this Thanksgiving may witness the busiest travel period in 15 years, with nearly 82 million people expected to travel via planes, cars, or other means. This makes it a potentially record-breaking week for holiday travel as families prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving together.
Upcoming Peak Travel Days
According to AAA, the travel rush is anticipated to reach its peak on designated days. Specifically, Tuesday is projected to be the busiest airport day, with over 52,000 flights scheduled. To navigate the increased passenger volume, the TSA has advised travelers to arrive well ahead of their scheduled flights—two hours for domestic flights and three for international ones.
Navigating Airport Procedures
To ease airport congestion, travelers should avoid packing items that are banned in carry-ons and checked baggage. The TSA provides a resource, “What Can I Bring?” to help ensure passengers include only permitted items.
In the event of unforeseen delays due to traffic or long TSA lines, travelers are encouraged to communicate with their airline as soon as possible to explore rebooking options. If missed at the airport, customers can seek assistance from airline representatives stationed at customer service desks or gate agents.
Flight Cancellations and Delays
If a flight is delayed or canceled due to the airline’s fault, passengers have rights outlined by the Transportation Department through the Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard, which details policies for the top 10 U.S. airlines regarding passenger compensation.
Driving Considerations
For those planning to drive, Allstate’s Holiday Travel Report indicates that Wednesday and Sunday will be the busiest days on major highways, with peak congestion occurring from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and during morning rush hours on Thursday and Friday. Drivers should also remain vigilant about distracted driving patterns, which typically increase during busy travel times.
For further travel tips during this holiday season, travelers can refer to the FAA’s Holiday Travel page.