Every day, millions of people travel by plane, whether for business or leisure. But, of course, some days are busier than others. Earlier this year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported its all-time busiest travel day ever: 3,013,622 people passed through TSA security checkpoints on July 7, marking the first time in history that the number had climbed over 3 million.
But that record might be surpassed this year. Most of the busiest days of the year tend to be right before or after holidays. According to TSA, the busiest travel days of the year are usually the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. But the holidays aren’t the only times we can expect busy airports.
Here are the busiest travel days of the year.
Busiest travel days of the year
Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to be among the busiest travel days of the year, but other holidays like Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Labor Day also see high volumes of air passengers.
So far this year, daily passenger numbers have been growing each month. In all of 2023, there were only three days that saw more than 2.8 million fliers. Between January 1 and October 15, 2024, 38 days have seen that many fliers or more.
These have been the 15 busiest travel days in the past 12 months:
- July 7, 2024: 3,301,622 passengers
- June 23, 2024: 2,996,495 passengers
- July 18, 2024: 2,957,170 passengers
- May 24, 2024: 2,951,859 passengers
- June 24, 2024: 2,944,001 passengers
- June 28, 2024: 2,938,292 passengers
- July 14, 2024: 2,937,845 passengers
- June 14, 2024: 2,929,467 passengers
- July 25, 2024: 2,924,478 passengers
- July 28, 2024: 2,922,306 passengers
- July 27, 2024: 2,921,490 passengers
- June 9, 2024: 2,914,565 passengers
- August 30, 2024: 2,909,901 passengers
- November 26, 2023: 2,908,785 passengers
- July 21, 2024: 2,908,201 passengers
Tips for flying during the busiest times of the year
There are a few ways to make travel easier and to clear busy TSA checkpoints more quickly this holiday season, as passenger numbers start to rise.
Get TSA PreCheck, Clear, and/or Global Entry
Never have these security expediting services been more valuable than during the current congestion happening at U.S. airports. TSA PreCheck recently reduced its prices from $85 to $78 for a five-year membership, and it’s only $70 to renew. Clear costs $199 per year. International travelers should consider the $120 Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck, for expedited customs screening upon arrival in the United States. 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.
Check to see if your airport has a fast-pass security lane you can book in advance—for free
No TSA PreCheck or Clear? Select U.S. airports give travelers the option to make an advance “fast pass” reservation to head to the front of the security line—free of charge. We’ve compiled the full list of airports that offer this service.
Consider traveling with a carry-on only
For those who don’t want to risk their luggage getting lost during a busy travel time when airports remain understaffed or who don’t want to wait endlessly at the baggage claim carousel, traveling with a carry-on may be your best bet. Another alternative? Luggage-shipping services.
Know what you can bring through security
If you’re traveling with a carry-on, refamiliarize yourself with the rules about what you can and cannot pack in said carry-on. By now, you know you can only carry on liquids in containers 3.4 ounces or smaller, so be sure that holiday items such as gravy, cranberry sauce, or wine are either left behind or packed in a checked bag as they are considered liquids and could otherwise be confiscated (and create delays). Check Afar’s in-depth guide to what foods you can bring through TSA to make sure that what you’ve packed in your carry-on can pass through security.
Thoroughly check your bags before leaving the house
TSA recommends that travelers fully empty their bags before packing to ensure they don’t accidentally bring something to the airport that might cause delays. Around the holidays of 2022, TSA found a cat that had snuck into a traveler’s bag—and there are a few other surprising things that TSA won’t let you carry on board either.
Monitor the weather
Check the weather and forecasts available on sites such as the National Weather Service, the Weather Channel, and AccuWeather so that you can prepare for possible disruptions and establish backup plans for delayed travel. Here’s how airlines make decisions about whether or not to fly in bad weather.
Get to the airport earlier than you’d think
The lines and wait times at the country’s airports (and abroad, too) are longer than they’ve been in years. Better to arrive early and have some extra time post-security than risk missing your flight waiting in an hours-long check-in or security line. Aim for at least two hours before domestic flights and at least three for international flights.
Know if and when you are due a refund because of a delayed or canceled flight
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued new rules mandating that all airlines flying to, through, or from the United States provide travelers with immediate cash refunds in the event of a cancellation or significant delay.
Effective October 2024, airline passengers are entitled to a prompt refund for:
- Any canceled or significantly altered flight. You can get a refund if your flight is canceled or significantly delayed if you do not accept the travel voucher or alternative transportation offered by the airline. The new rule defines a significant delay or change as a departure or arrival time of more than three hours after initially scheduled for domestic flights and six hours for international flights; a change in arrival or departure airport; an increase in the number of connections (for instance, adding a layover to what initially supposed to be a nonstop flight); a downgraded class of service; connection through a different airport; or switching to an aircraft that is less accessible for a person with a disability.
- Delayed baggage. You are entitled to a refund of your checked bag fee if your luggage is not delivered within 12 hours of a domestic flight arrival or 15 to 30 hours after an international flight arrival (the time frame is dependent on the length of the flight).
- Services that aren’t provided. A refund is required for any service that was paid for but not received, including Wi-Fi, specific seat selection, and in-flight entertainment.
Before the DOT issued this new rule, airlines could create their own parameters around what flight-schedule changes would result in a refund. Consequently, “refund policies differed from airline to airline, which made it difficult for passengers to know or assert their refund rights. DOT also received complaints of some airlines revising and applying less consumer-friendly refund policies during spikes in flight cancellations and changes,” the DOT stated.
According to the new rule, the required refunds from the airlines must be:
- Automatic: Airlines need to automatically issue a refund without making passengers “explicitly request them or jump through hoops,” the DOT stated.
- Prompt: Refunds should be issued within seven business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods.
- Issued as cash or in the original form of payment: Airlines can’t sub in a travel voucher or future flight credits unless the passenger agrees to the alternative form of payment.
- For the full amount: The refund must include taxes and fees, minus any portion of transportation already used.
Also, the airlines will be responsible for immediately informing travelers affected by a canceled or significantly delayed flight that they have a right to a refund.
This article originally appeared online in 2018; it was most recently updated on October 17, 2024, to include current information.
