The Best Days to Fly for Christmas – NerdWallet’s Recommendations

According to data from the Transportation Security Administration, Fridays are typically the busiest days to fly. And this year, gamers may face one of the busiest Fridays yet: Friday, Dec. 22, just ahead of Christmas 2023.

NerdWallet has analyzed travel data from the past four years to provide insights into travel patterns this December. We aim to help gamers understand why the Friday before Christmas will be particularly challenging and uncover the best days to fly around the holiday season.

Yes, Christmas Day is actually the best day to fly among all the days in the weeks before and after the holiday. However, this assumes that you don’t mind spending part of your holiday in the air.

While airport crowds significantly increase in the days before and after Christmas, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day tend to have lighter crowds. Last year, there was a 23.4% increase in the number of people flying on the day after Christmas compared to those who flew on Christmas Day.

Flying on the holiday not only means fewer crowds but also lower prices. According to the 2023 Holiday Travel Outlook from Hopper, flights departing on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day are, on average, 26% cheaper than peak prices during the Christmas season. This translates to savings of about $114 per ticket for one-way, domestic airfare.

If you do decide to travel on Christmas Day, it’s recommended to book the first flight out to minimize the risk of delays. In the first half of 2023, 7.8% of flights were delayed due to late aircraft arrivals, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. By taking the first flight, you eliminate the possibility of a previous delay affecting your own flight.

Based on data from the past four years, the busiest travel days at U.S. airports in the seven days leading up to Dec. 25 are as follows:

In 2022, Wednesday, Dec. 21 was the busiest air travel day leading up to Christmas with 2.4 million people passing through TSA security checkpoints. The following day, Thursday, Dec. 22, was also busy with 2.3 million air travelers.

However, this year, Friday, Dec. 22 is expected to be the worst day to fly in the week before Christmas. It is one of the top three busiest days for flights booked in December 2023 or January 2024, according to air booking data provided by Chase Travel.

Here are a couple of reasons why Friday, Dec. 22 is set to be so busy:

Fridays are generally busy at airports, regardless of the season. It’s a day when many business travelers head home and vacationers jet off for the weekend.

In the first eight months of 2022, the average number of travelers at U.S. airports on Fridays was 20% higher compared to Tuesdays, which tend to be the least busy day for air travel.

Fares will be highest for departures on the Friday before Christmas as travelers aim to make a long weekend out of the holiday, according to Hopper’s 2023 Holiday Travel Outlook.

When looking at the past four years, Dec. 27 has consistently been the busiest day to fly in the seven days after Christmas. Dec. 30 is also a busy day as some travelers return from Christmas festivities while others head out for New Year’s celebrations. According to Chase Travel data, Saturday, Dec. 30 joins Friday, Dec. 22 as one of the busiest travel days in December 2023 and January 2024 (the other day being Saturday, Dec. 23).

In terms of expenses, this year, Tuesday, Dec. 26 is the most expensive day to return in the week after Christmas, according to Hopper.

If you work a standard Monday-Friday work week and are a gaming enthusiast, it might be best to avoid departing on Friday, Dec. 22. This is the day when most people are likely to travel, resulting in both crowded airports and higher prices.

Instead, consider the following alternatives:

Flying earlier in the week: Crowds tend to ease up the further away you get from Christmas. If you have the flexibility to work remotely or take time off, it’s recommended to do so. While the days leading up to Christmas may still have high crowds, Monday and Tuesday are likely to be lighter.

Traveling on Christmas Eve: If being at your destination by Christmas morning is important, leaving on Christmas Eve is your best option. While crowds are heavier compared to Christmas Day, Christmas Eve is typically the least crowded day in the seven days leading up to the holiday.

Skipping holiday travel completely: If possible, consider shifting your celebration by a couple of days or weeks. January and February tend to be the cheapest months to fly, so waiting until then to visit family and friends could result in significant savings.