‘Will My Flight Be Delayed?’ What We Know so Far About Holiday Travel

The December holiday travel season is one of the busiest travel times of the year. AAA predicts that more than 115 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home this year. While most of those travelers will drive, millions are expected to fly. In fact, AAA believes 7.5 million people will head to the airport, shattering past records. Combine these crowds with the chance of winter weather, and plenty of people will be left anxiously asking, “Will my flight be delayed?”

Weather Delays

The biggest cause of delays at an airport is weather. Nothing slows down flights more, and unfortunately, the weather is out of everyone’s control. A connecting flight through a city like Chicago can create plenty of concern for passengers. Here’s a look at the weather in the cities with the busiest airports starting Saturday, December 23, through Christmas.

Atlanta

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is the busiest in the world. Major airlines like Delta have more than 1,000 daily flights going through Georgia. Fortunately, despite cooler-than-normal temperatures, the weather should not be a huge concern in Atlanta over the next few days.

Chicago

Chicago is home to the fictitious weather delay that stopped Kevin McCallister’s parents from getting home in Home Alone. Flying through the Windy City can make anyone nervous about snowy weather, especially in December. Fortunately, passengers will be mainly in the clear this weekend, but rain chances pick up on Christmas afternoon.

Dallas

Despite being in Texas, Dallas gets its fair share of winter weather, including ice storms. Fortunately, temperatures will help avoid that this year, but passengers may see some delays if they fly late Saturday or early Sunday. Forecasters predict more than 2 inches of rain from Saturday evening into Sunday afternoon. 

Denver

While the mountains west of Denver will be snowcapped, it will not be a white Christmas at Denver International Airport. While there are some cool temperatures and overcast skies, there is little to no chance of rain or snow.

New York

Similar to Denver, New York will also see some temperature lows below freezing. Overall, conditions look relatively pleasant at the moment. 

Los Angeles

Los Angeles and LAX will be as expected. It’s sunny with temperatures in the mid-60s. Like these other airports listed, one of the most challenging parts of flying through LA is handling the thousands of other people doing the same.

Washington, DC

In the end, most of these airports have surprisingly good conditions. In Washington, DC, temperatures will also be mild, with mostly sunny skies. So, hopefully, travelers won’t see any delays.

Holiday Travel Tips

Anyone flying should give themselves extra time as airport parking lots will fill up, and TSA checkpoints are expected to be long. Here are some TSA tips to help passengers get through security quickly:

Pack Smart by Starting with an Empty Bag

TSA officials suggest passengers start packing with nothing in their bags. This way, people don’t accidentally pack illegal items like firearms, knives, flammables and other items.

Arrive Early

Passengers should arrive at least two hours before departure so you have time to park, get through security, and get to your gate.

Bring an Acceptable ID and Have it Ready

Make sure you have a passport or state-approved ID card to keep the line moving.

Ensure Gifts Are Unwrapped and Can Be Inspected

TSA encourages travelers to use gift bags or easy-to-open boxes in case they need to be inspected. Items, like a snow globe, should go in a checked bag.

Travel with Ease with TSA Precheck

TSA officials recommend passengers get TSA PreCheck. The system allows passengers to get through security quickly, and they get to keep their shoes on most of the time. A five-year membership costs $78.

Source: https://outdoors.com/will-my-flight-be-delayed-what-we-know-so-far-about-holiday-travel/