During the holidays, you might experience more stress and busyness, particularly if you have trips planned for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Whether you’re flying within the US to visit family or friends or traveling someplace abroad, the following these holiday travel tips may make your trip a bit easier. We’ll discuss some lesser-known holiday travel info today that can assist in reducing the stress of flying in the crowded months of November and December.
Travel Tips For 2024
Most likely, you are already aware of these crucial holiday travel tips: To ensure you have enough time to pass security and reach your gate, arrive at the airport early. You may want to enroll in TSA PreCheck to make the security check go faster. Given how crowded some airports are over the holidays, most airlines advise arriving at the airport two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one.
Expect Bad Weather and Traffic
Remember that some regions are already experiencing real winter weather in November, even if you live in an area with a more mild climate. This could result in icy or even closed roadways in some places. Additionally, in most places, there are more people on the road than usual during the holidays. In several cities, the highways will be congested. Experiencing multiple traffic jams or accidents is common. In general, you should always allow extra time to travel to your destination, even if your GPS indicates that it will take only an hour to get there from the airport. After all, you can always stop for a coffee or to take in the sights if you arrive early.
The Worst Days to Travel On
The busiest day for tourists traveling to their destination is usually the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which is November 27th this year. There will also probably be a lot of people traveling on November 26th, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Sunday, December 1st, is probably going to be the busiest day at the airport for people coming back home. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is, in fact, often the busiest travel day of the whole year.
Reserve Your Spot In The Security Line
Travelers can now reserve a place in security lines in advance at an increasing number of airports. This initiative, which is distinct from PreCheck, takes inspiration from amusement parks’ FastPass idea. Check out the specifics of which security line the reserve program is available for and how far in advance you may book your spot, as the restrictions for each airport differ.
Make Use of Digital Hotel Keys
You can bypass the front desk and go directly to your room when you arrive thanks to the digital key options that many hotels provide through their mobile apps. For those who arrive late or want to avoid crowded lobbies during the holidays, this expedited check-in process is very practical.
Take the First Flight of the Day
Despite having to get up unusually early, some people choose to take the first flight of the day, especially during the holiday season. Early morning flights are less likely to be canceled or delayed. And even if your early morning flight does encounter a problem, you may be able to get on a different flight later that same day.
Make Sure Your Passports Meet Requirements
You have most likely already verified that your passport is still valid. However, some other countries have additional regulations, such as the need for two consecutive blank pages in your passport. Additionally, you may need to confirm that the expiration date is more than six months away from the date of your intended return. This is necessary in many countries. The U.S. State Department can tell you which countries require a passport with a six-month validity period.
Traveling for the holidays can be difficult. Everyone is excited for the chance to gather and celebrate. Hopefully, if you follow all of the above advice, it’ll result in less stress and, therefore, more enjoyment of the holiday season. So remember: Use technology to its fullest potential. Give yourself more time in case something goes wrong. Expect bad weather and traffic, and consider booking the first flight of the day.
