This Thanksgiving holiday season is expected to be the busiest in 15 years at major airports across the United States as people rush to reunite with their families and loved ones.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is gearing up for its busiest week, with approximately 2.5 million travelers expected to pass through during the Thanksgiving holiday. The busiest day is estimated to be Sunday, with 230,000 passengers anticipated to travel through the terminals. This record-breaking influx of travelers is expected to bring congestion, traffic gridlock, and long security lines to the airport.
Officials from the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) are advising travelers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. To avoid flight delays, domestic travelers are recommended to arrive at least two hours prior to their flight, while international travelers should arrive at least three hours early. If driving to the airport, it is advised to pre-book parking in advance as parking lots may reach maximum capacity during peak travel days.
To mitigate long security lines, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) encourages travelers to enroll in expedited screening programs like PreCheck® through their website. Registered passengers can usually clear security in less than 10 minutes without having to remove shoes, belts, or laptops.
Approximately 90% of Thanksgiving travelers are expected to drive to their destinations. Hertz car rental company forecasts Wednesday to be the busiest day for car rentals. According to AAA, car rental prices are 15% cheaper compared to last year. The highest demand for car rentals is expected in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando, Atlanta, and Newark.
TSA statistics indicate that the average daily passenger volume at airports is 2.48 million, up by 14,000 from last year. During the Thanksgiving travel period from November 20 to December 1, TSA estimates over 17.8 million travelers will pass through security checkpoints. November 30 (Sunday) is projected to be the busiest day with over 3 million people expected to take flights.
AAA predicts an increase of 1.3 million air travelers compared to last year during this holiday season.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also anticipates that this will be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period in 15 years with an estimated 360,000 flight operations between this Monday and next Tuesday, including 52,000 flights on Tuesday alone.
FAA Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl expressed gratitude to President Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Nom for overseeing the record-breaking surge of holiday travelers into airports, marking a golden era for travel in the United States. The agency noted that most of the top ten travel days of the year have already seen peak passenger numbers.
In addition to LAX, other busiest airports during Thanksgiving include Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) with nearly 4 million travelers expected.
According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, between November 24 and December 1, the local airports and roads are expected to accommodate 8.8 million travelers, setting a Thanksgiving travel record. Of these, 3.3 million people will travel through JFK, Newark, LaGuardia, and Stewart International Airports.
Many travelers plan to bring gifts for their families, and TSA reminds passengers that items prone to leakage, spillage, breakage, or compression, as well as those exceeding 3.4 ounces (about 100 grams), must be checked in.
Food items carried on board usually require additional screening and should be packed on the outside of luggage. Permissible carry-on food items include cakes, cookies, desserts, both cooked and frozen meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, candies, among others. However, liquids such as gravies, syrups, jams, jellies, wines, champagne, apple cider, and similar food items should not pass through security.
AAA forecasts at least 7.3 million people will travel by car during Thanksgiving. AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz advises travelers to inspect tires, car batteries, engine oil, and refuel before hitting the road; last Thanksgiving, AAA responded to about 600,000 roadside assistance calls for issues like drained batteries, flat tires, and running out of fuel.
The association also suggests avoiding peak travel times if possible. According to Google Maps travel trends analysis, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is one of the most congested days for travel. Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on that day, traffic is expected to be 14% higher than usual, with peak hours from 1 to 3 p.m.
On Friday from noon to 3 p.m., roads and supermarkets are anticipated to be heavily congested, so it’s advisable to purchase necessary items early and avoid traveling during this timeframe. If driving is necessary on that day, it’s best to hit the road before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m.