How to Beat the Airport Rush This Holiday Season

Carol is an editor with SmarterTravel Media, specializing in travel writing, multimedia production, and trying every local cuisine she can find. You can follow her journeys @cj_mcpherson on Instagram.

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With this past Thanksgiving seeing record-setting travel and the holidays ahead gearing up for more unprecedented numbers, making your airport game plan ahead of time has never been more crucial. Properly timing your arrival to the terminal starts long before you enter the line for TSA. Get ahead of traffic this season with these tips to beat the rush and make your flight home for the holidays.

Top 5 Tips to Avoid Holiday Airport Traffic

Blurry red lights of cars sitting in traffic at night — Kadmy | Adobe Stock

Beware of Rush Hour

Planning your airport commute starts right when you book your flights. Steer clear of flights that will require you to commute during peak weekday rush hours. Although exact timing varies by city, traffic is typically heaviest in the morning between 6am and 10am and in the afternoon between 3pm and 6pm. If you want to take advantage of the first flight of the day (a smart idea, since earlier flights are less likely to be subject to delays or cancellations), then plan to arrive at the airport before the bulk of morning commuters hit the road.

Book Your Ride Ahead of Time

Calling a rideshare is a great way to avoid parking or the chaos of public transit. Booking your ride in advance to avoid the uncertainty of driver availability is the easiest way to have peace of mind, but how far in advance should you book? A spokesperson at Lyft filled us in: “Usually, scheduling an airport ride the day before is perfectly fine. But around the holidays, scheduling your Lyft 2-3 days out helps with ensuring drivers are on the road and ready to go.”

Have a Back-Up Plan If Taking Public Transit

Public transportation is not immune to running behind schedule. Buses, like cars, are at the mercy of traffic and even train systems that run above ground are subject to weather delays. When using public transit, never plan to take the last available bus or train that will allow you to arrive on time. Leave early enough to have at least a few options should your first route be cancelled or delayed.

Build in Extra Time for Traffic

Even if you plan your departure perfectly, there is always a chance for traffic. Whether it be an unexpected weather delay or an accident on the road, you’ll want to built in extra buffer time to your commute in case of any unforeseen events.

“From 2024 Thanksgiving data alone, we actually saw that pickup times decreased by one minute year-over-year,” says a spokesperson at Lyft, “That being said, it’s still good to plan for occurrences less in your control, life traffic. We recommend buffering 45 minutes to an hour into your holiday season airport trips this year.”

Choose Your Airport Strategically

Some airports are simply easier to get to than others. If you live in an area with access to multiple airports, shop around before your book your flights. If the fares are comparable, spring for the option with the easier commute to save yourself a huge headache when travel time comes.

The Most Convenient and Efficient Airports for Holiday Travel

Young family transporting their luggage at an airport — Jacob Lund | Adobe Stock

If you need help judging where you want to book your departing flight this season, Lyft analyzed the thirty largest airports in the US to reveal the top ten most convenient and most efficient to help you prep for your holiday travel. Lucky travelers that live in range of these airports will have an advantage in the fight against the seasonal airport rush. Is your home airport on the list?

The Most Convenient Airports for Holiday Travel

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)

Ratings based on: shortest commute and average Lyft pick up times

The Most Efficient Airports for Holiday Travel

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne Country Airport (DTW)
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Ratings based on: TSA wait, percentage of flights on time, and percentage of flights canceled

You Might Also Like:

• How to Get 50% Off Lyft Rides to the Airport This Holiday
• Apple and Airlines Team Up to Track Lost Luggage
• Major Budget Airline News Causes Panic Just Before Holiday Rush
• The Best and Worst Airports in North America
• Why Is My Flight Delayed? How to Find Out the Reason for Your Delayed Flight

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