As an expert in the travel industry, I have seen firsthand the chaos and stress that can come with holiday travel. With the holiday season just around the corner, many people are starting to plan their trips to visit family and friends or to take a much-needed vacation. But when is the best time to travel? And more importantly, when should you avoid traveling at all costs?According to almost every indicator, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is considered the worst day of the year to fly. This is based on data from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which shows that this day has the highest number of passengers.
Not only is it crowded, but it's also expensive. In fact, it's one of the most popular days of the year to fly, so airlines often raise their prices. In addition to high prices, airports are also extremely busy on this day, making it a very stressful experience for travelers. As someone who has navigated through crowded airports during the holiday season, I can attest to how overwhelming it can be. That's why it's important to plan your trip carefully and avoid peak travel days if possible.
The Busiest Travel Days of the Holiday Season
The holiday season is a busy time for travel, and this year is no exception.The TSA expects some of the busiest travel days of the season in the coming weeks, specifically on Wednesday, December 22nd. However, many people mistakenly believe that Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day. In reality, trips are evenly distributed over six holidays, from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after Christmas. According to a survey by vacation rental site Evolve, 32 percent of travelers do not include the Delta variant in their travel plans at all. And of those who do, 46.5 percent are not willing to cancel their plans even if the variant becomes much closer to their travel dates.
This shows that people are eager to travel and are not letting the pandemic stop them.
The Perfect Time to Book Your Trip
For those of us who are planning a vacation during the holiday season, it's important to know when the best time to book is. Thankfully, the travel news resource The Vacationer has done the research for us and has revealed the perfect time to book a trip. According to their findings, December 23rd is the busiest travel day before Christmas, while the Sunday after Christmas is the busiest travel day after the holiday. However, winter vacation trips are a bit more complicated as the most popular travel days are determined by which day of the week Christmas falls on.How to Make Traveling Easier and Cheaper
Now that we know which days to avoid, how can we make traveling during the holiday season easier and cheaper? One way is to keep an eye on the busiest travel days and try to plan your trip around them. This can help you avoid long lines and crowded airports, making your trip less stressful. Another tip is to book your trip early.While some travelers may be hesitant due to uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 variants, experts suggest taking advantage of flexible cancellation policies offered by travel companies. As we get closer to the holidays, prices will only continue to rise, so booking early can save you money in the long run.
