Busiest travel holiday in history
This holiday season is shaping up to be the busiest travel period in history, with projections of over 18.3 million travelers passing through U.S. airports during Thanksgiving week alone, a 6% increase from 2023. Contributing factors include pent-up demand for family gatherings, a growing reliance on air travel, and eased pandemic-era restrictions, which have encouraged more people to book trips. Major airlines and the TSA are bracing for the surge by expanding staffing and implementing tech upgrades to streamline the travel process.
Airports and airlines are focusing on enhancing the customer experience despite the expected congestion. Efforts include increased TSA staffing, expanded use of expedited security programs like TSA PreCheck, and additional self-service kiosks for check-ins. Travelers are advised to arrive earlier than usual and consider using travel apps like FlightAware to track real-time delays or cancellations. Major airports have also ramped up lounge access offerings to provide travelers with more comfort during inevitable waits.
Despite these measures, challenges remain. Key travel days—such as the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the following Sunday—are expected to see unprecedented passenger volume. To mitigate stress, experts recommend packing light, utilizing mobile boarding passes, and booking flights during off-peak times if possible. While technology and staffing improvements aim to reduce wait times, travelers should prepare for delays and maintain flexible plans.
Sources: Wall Street Journal, AP News, Reuters, Explore.com.
