Thanksgiving travel is almost here — here's what to expect
It may feel like summer was just last week, but believe it or not, the holiday travel season is already approaching.
With just days until Thanksgiving travel begins in earnest, Americans are expected to take to the roads, rails and skies in record numbers starting this weekend. Surely, everyone traveling will be hoping for smooth sailing over the next two months, and nothing like last year's Christmas meltdown.
For now, though, as we get ready to kick off the holiday travel season, here's what travelers can expect as they go to their Thanksgiving celebrations.
Record-breaking Thanksgiving Crowds
It's going to be a busy one.
This year is expected to be one of the busiest holiday travel periods in more than 20 years and certainly the busiest since the pandemic began.
About 55.4 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the five-day period from Wednesday, Nov. 22, to Sunday, Nov. 26, according to AAA projections. Of those travelers, 4.7 million will fly — a 6.6% increase from last year and the highest number since 2005.
In reality, however, the Thanksgiving travel period has broadened on both sides of the holiday, partly thanks to the proliferation of remote work. That's good news for travelers: By spreading travel out over a longer period, crowds closer to the holiday are better evened out over the entire week than they would have been otherwise.
Airlines for America, the industry group representing U.S. carriers, says airlines are expecting nearly 30 million passengers across the broader 11-day period from Friday, Nov. 17 to Monday, Nov. 27 — an all-time high. That averages to 2.7 million passengers per day, a 9% increase over last year.
The Transportation Security Administration is similarly predicting record crowds.
The single busiest day is expected to be the Sunday after the holiday, Nov. 26, with another record-breaking 3.2 million air passengers on U.S. airlines.
Each major airline defines the Thanksgiving travel period a bit differently, but the biggest three carriers all said they expect to see records broken. American expects 7.8 million travelers, Delta expects up to 6.4 million and United anticipates 5.9 million.
A record number of flights in the air
It won't just be a record-breaking number of passengers in the air; the number of aircraft in the skies will soar as well.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the number of flights is expected to peak on Wednesday, Nov. 22, with about 49,600. That tops last year's peak of 48,192, though it falls just short of the busiest day of 2023. On Thursday, June 23, 52,999 flights took to the skies.
The greater number of flights can pose challenges that sometimes result in delays.
Ongoing air traffic controller staffing shortages can make it difficult to manage flights when bad weather requires more spacing between them, and short staffing can make it difficult to get things back on track if delays start stacking up for any reason.
"We certainly need to see more air traffic controllers in place," American Airlines chief operating officer David Seymour told ABC News this week. "We just have to be mindful that when weather hits certain parts of the country, there are going to be constraints."
For the airlines, it's a matter of managing whatever factors are within their control.
"In addition to monitoring the weather conditions and everything that we're up against, this team here is working directly with the FAA and all of their air traffic control programs and figuring out how we navigate the system," said Matt Sparks, a senior vice president at Delta who oversees the airline's operations and customer center.
"We also have representatives from all over the airline, from our airports, maintenance, and reservations, so they can handle situations in real-time and make sure that we get the quickest resolution for our customers and keep the operation moving," Sparks added.
Although the airlines are optimistic and in a better position in terms of their staff than they were last year, bad weather is the big wild card that can throw everything off.
"My No. 1 recommendation to people would be pray for good weather," Airlines for America CEO Nick Calio said on ABC. "That is always the key."
Bad weather poses a threat to Thanksgiving travel
Things should be relatively easy for Americans traveling for Thanksgiving on the earlier side, according to AccuWeather. Some rainy and breezy conditions can be expected in the Northeast and parts of the West Coast on Saturday, along with spotty showers over the central and southern Plains, but the rain and wind shouldn't be too intense.
Conditions will mostly clear by Sunday, although a fast-paced storm could bring some rain (and snow, in higher elevations) around the Northwest.
As Thanksgiving week begins, however, things may deteriorate, according to AccuWeather.
There is potential for a storm to develop on Tuesday and Wednesday that could bring heavy rain from the Ohio and Tennessee valleys all the way across the Northeast. This would affect airline hubs across the region, including those in Atlanta, Detroit and New York, where the air traffic controller shortage is most acute.
At the same time, rain and possibly snow across the Plains and the Midwest could lead to further air delays along with slick roads for drivers. The Northwest and northern Rockies could see an impact as well.
The good news is that things should clear up after Thanksgiving, making for a smoother return home.
Tips for Thanksgiving Travel
If you're traveling for the holiday, be sure to leave extra time. Get to the airport early or leave a little earlier for your drive. Consider leaving for Thanksgiving a day or two earlier if you have the flexibility.
If you haven't flown in a little while, make sure that your TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Clear membership is active, and double-check that your Known Traveler Number is attached to your flight reservation.
Download and log into your airline's app if you're flying, and check your reservation periodically to stay on top of any delays.
Keep an eye on TPG for the latest, and most importantly, have a Happy Thanksgiving!
TPG Tip: If you want to try Clear and sign up using TPG's special offer, you can save $50 on the first year's membership.
Related reading:
- Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a beginner or expert traveler
- The best travel credit cards
- Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
- 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.