Brace yourselves, because the busiest travel days of the year are upon us—the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after. And let’s be real, a record-breaking 81.8 million people are expected to be out there with you, it’s officially time to lock in your Thanksgiving travel advice tips. So, if you want to avoid a full-blown travel meltdown, it’s time to get prepared. Like, right now.
Even with gas prices hovering around a multi-year low of $3.02 a gallon, a recent GasBuddy survey found that fewer Americans are planning road trips this year. Only 60% are hitting the road, down from 72% last year. While that might sound like good news, don’t be fooled—the airports will be an absolute zoo. The TSA is prepping to screen a jaw-dropping 3 million people on Sunday alone.
So, here’s your Thanksgiving travel advice to keep you from ending up as the main character in a holiday travel horror story.
Give Yourself Extra Time (No, Really)
You probably don’t need another reminder, but you’re getting one anyway: leave earlier than you think you need to. Traffic around the airport will look more like the merch line at a Beyoncé concert than anything resembling sanity. Parking decks? Full before sunrise. Give yourself an obnoxious buffer or risk spending Thanksgiving dinner with a sad, vending machine turkey sandwich.
Travel Light (or Track Like a Pro)
Here’s some free advice the frequent fliers swear by: avoid checking luggage. Carrying on means you breeze past the check-in counter, skip the infinite wait at baggage claim, and sidestep the chance your things take an unplanned detour to Cleveland. If you must check a bag, play it smart: drop a tracking device like an Apple AirTag or Samsung SmartTag inside. That way, you can keep tabs on your bag’s whereabouts, even if the airline has other plans for it.
Master the Security Line Shuffle
Want to avoid those epic security lines that seem to snake into infinity?
- Know the Drill: Before you even get in line, stash your metal items—keys, coins, belt—in your bag. Digging through your pockets at the scanner is a classic rookie move.
- Streamline Your Gear: Pack your liquids and laptop in easy-to-reach spots so you don’t turn into a frantic excavator in front of a dozen impatient strangers.
- Consider an Upgrade: If you really hate waiting, services like TSA PreCheck and CLEAR can slash your time in line. Just double-check that your airport offers them before you sign up.
Stay in the Know
Don’t be the person in line asking, “What’s going on?” when a computer system outage hits.
- Follow Your Airline on X (formerly Twitter): Yes, we know X is a full-time dumpster fire now that Elon owns it, and no, we don’t use it regularly anymore either. However—when a system outage hits or delays start piling up, airlines still post real-time updates here faster than anywhere else. Hold your nose, open the app, and get the info you need. Find your airline here: @AlaskaAir, @Allegiant, @AmericanAir, @Delta, @FlyFrontier, @JetBlue, @SouthwestAir, @United.
- Bookmark the FAA Delays Page: The Air Traffic Control System Command Center gives you a live look at airport delays across the country. It’s the intel you (and your ride from the airport) need.
- Know What You Can Pack: Not sure if your famous gravy counts as a liquid? Text your question to the TSA at 275-872 or check the MyTSA app. A quick message saves a lot of side-eye at the checkpoint.
Pack Your Own Snacks and Drinks
Airport food courts are notorious for long lines and high prices. Do yourself a favor and stash some snacks in your carry-on. For drinks, bring an empty reusable water bottle and fill it up after security. Just keep the bottle spout away from the germy fountain bits, please. A well-stocked snack stash means you can focus on your journey, not your growling stomach.
Be Extra Nice to the Crew
Let’s be real: holiday travel can bring out the cranky in all of us. But a genuine smile or a simple “thank you” to the gate agents and flight attendants goes a long way. They’ve survived more travel meltdowns than you can imagine. A little kindness might just make your own journey smoother.
Now go grab that smug feeling of being the most prepared traveler in Terminal B with these Thanksgiving travel advice tips. And, you know, have a great trip. Hope you enjoy the dark meat.