Flights on Christmas Day are the least crowded. Holiday travel tips
Millions of Americans will travel during end-of-year holiday season. What travelers should know about carry-on, food and liquids before their flights.
Vero Beach Christmas Parade 2025 lights up Ocean Drive
Vero Beach Christmas Parade 2025 lights up Ocean Drive
- A record 122.4 million Americans are expected to travel for the end-of-year holidays.
- The days surrounding the weekends before and after Christmas are projected to be the busiest for air travel.
- Travelers should arrive at least 2 hours early for domestic flights and 3 hours for international flights.
- Liquids over 3.4 ounces and spreadable foods must be packed in checked luggage.
The most wonderful time of the year doubles as the most bustling time of year for traveling.
The American Automobile Association estimates 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home from Dec. 20 through Jan. 1, surpassing last year’s record of 119.7 million travelers.
AAA projects 109.5 million people will travel by car for Christmas 2025. In 2024, the Transportation Security Administration forecasted it would screen more than 39 million people at airports nationwide during the end-of-the-year holiday season.
Here’s what all travelers should know before heading to the airport this holiday season.
Busiest days to fly during 2025 holiday season
Here are the busiest days to travel around Christmas based on TSA data from 2021 to 2024, according Nerd Wallet:
- Friday, Dec. 19
- Saturday, Dec. 20
- Sunday, Dec. 21
- Friday, Dec. 26
- Sunday, Dec. 28
Is Christmas Day a quiet day to fly?
The least-crowded dates to travel during the holidays, according Nerd Wallet, is on Christmas (Dec. 25) with Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) being the second-quietest option.
How early should I get to the airport for holiday travel?
Travelers should arrive a minimum of two hours before their scheduled domestic flights and three hours before scheduled international flights, the Transportation Security Administration warned in 2024, ahead of Christmas travel.
TSA also encouraged travelers to use the time while waiting in a security checkpoint lane to remove items from pockets and place them into a carry-on bag, and have IDs and boarding passes handy before reaching the podium.
Know what you can bring: TSA liquid size limit, acceptable food
Liquids, gels and aerosols 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or smaller can travel in a carry-on if they fit into a quart-sized, resealable bag, known as the 3-1-1 bag.
Many people travel with food during the holiday season. Solid food items like fruitcake, candy canes and chocolates may be go inside a carry-on bag. Liquids and spreadable foods such as egg nog, wine, champagne, maple syrup and non-solid preserves should be in checked bags, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
“If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it and it is larger than 3.4 ounces, it needs to be packed in a checked bag,” TSA says.
How to check flight status
To check your flight status, click on your respective airline and search flight “By Flight Number” or “By Route”/“Cities.”
Need help while traveling? Contact the TSA Cares program
Guests who need extra help while traveling can request assistance from the TSA Cares program. Contact TSA Cares at least 3 days before a flight by calling (855) 787-2227 or filling out this form.
Assistance is only available through the screening checkpoint. For in-flight assistance or wheelchair assistance from the curb to the aircraft, please contact your airline.
How many days until Christmas 2025?
Christmas Day, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025.
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