Busiest air travel day in history: Thanksgiving Sunday sets all-time US passenger record
The Sunday after Thanksgiving is typically the most crowded day of the year at U.S. airports. 2024’s post-turkey travel rush went a step further: It brought the busiest day ever for commercial air travel in America.
According to preliminary numbers released Monday, the Transportation Security Administration screened more than 3 million passengers Sunday, Dec. 1.
That’s more than any day in the agency’s 23-year history — narrowly topping a mark set less than five months ago on July 7.
The rush of travelers who filled terminals on Sunday was widely expected. After all, each of the 10 busiest days ever at U.S. airports has come since May.
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“These will likely be some of the busiest travel days in U.S. history,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had warned, speaking last week at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) near Washington, D.C.
A smooth Thanksgiving ... mostly
Travelers with all-too-recent memories of Delta Air Lines’ July 2024 meltdown (sparked by a global outage at CrowdStrike) and Southwest Airlines’ holiday 2022 operational disaster encountered relatively smooth operations — for the most part.
Even as lake effect snow threatened holiday travelers’ return trips, flight disruptions remained minimal, generally speaking, throughout the country Sunday.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) saw the highest rate of delays among U.S. airports on Sunday, with nearly half (46%) of departing flights delayed amid winter weather in the region, according to FlightAware.
Delta Air Lines passengers at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) on Dec. 1, 2024. EMILY ELCONIN/GETTY IMAGES
But the airport — a hub for Delta — saw just two flights canceled on the busy travel day.
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) each saw between 30% and 40% of departures delayed on Sunday, while cancellations remained low.
A quieter start to the holiday
Sunday's airport record comes after the Thanksgiving travel rush actually got off to a slightly lighter start last week than expected. Preliminary TSA numbers show 2.6 million and 2.7 million outbound travelers passed through checkpoints on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively — a bit lower than the agency had projected.
Sizable crowds on the weekend prior to Thanksgiving, though, suggest that droves of travelers got an early start on the holiday before joining the masses in returning home this past weekend.
Sunday was the third time in six years that the TSA set all-time records for passenger throughput on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The passenger volume on Dec. 1 was about 6% higher than the equivalent day in 2023 — up 7% from a past record set in 2019.
With Thanksgiving now behind us and the year-end holidays still to come, here are some things to know to help you start preparing for Christmas and New Year's getaways.
Christmas and New Year’s crowds are more spread out
Unlike Thanksgiving, which typically sees huge crowds concentrated on a few days (most notably the Sunday after the holiday), the December holidays generally see a heavy but steadier flow of passengers spread out over the better part of two weeks.
That means there’s no single day around Christmas or New Year’s likely to draw 3 million-plus passengers at airports like we saw Dec. 1 — but don’t expect a lot of empty seats near your gate or on your flight, either.
Not booked yet? Don’t wait!
If you haven’t booked your year-end holiday flights yet, now is the time.
Analysts at Google Flights and booking app Hopper had suggested locking in those December flights in October — but booking now is better than waiting any longer since prices are apt to rise significantly over the next few weeks.
Travel on Christmas if your schedule allows
If you’re having a difficult time finding affordable fares, consider checking prices on flights departing on Christmas Day (Dec. 25).
Consider this: While the Sunday after Thanksgiving was the busiest day ever at U.S. airports, Thanksgiving Day itself (Nov. 28) was the least crowded day of the entire year.
Lower demand for travel generally means lower prices. Just keep in mind that if you do fly on the holiday, you may risk missing that family dinner or gathering if your flight is delayed.
Book your parking now
Many airports offer online parking reservations in advance. This can help you secure a spot when lots tend to fill up, removing that stressful hunt for an open space as the clock ticks ahead of your flight.
Plus, some airports discount parking if you book ahead of time.
Make use of those travel credits
With weeks to go until Christmas and New Year’s travel gets into full swing, now is the time to start planning to maximize any outstanding travel credits you may have.
For example, you may have trip credit you received from an airline when you canceled a previous flight.
Or, you could have annual statement credits offered by a travel credit card sitting in your wallet. Some cards offer reimbursements for airline fees and other travel bookings, such as hotel stays. Many of these credits reset with the new year, so you'll want to maximize those between now and Dec. 31 to make sure you're getting the most out of your card in exchange for its annual fee.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.