Travel analysts at AAA and the Transportation Security Administration have pinpointed December 26 and December 28 as the most congested air-travel days of the 2025 holiday period, which runs December 20-January 1. The advisory, published December 22, projects a record 122.4 million U.S. travelers—nearly half of whom will pass through an airport.
TSA’s guidance echoes its broader holiday-readiness campaign: arrive early, pack gifts unwrapped, respect the 3-1-1 liquids rule, and ensure you have REAL ID-compliant identification. Beginning February 1, travelers without acceptable ID will be routed to the new US$45 “ConfirmID” system, adding both time and cost at checkpoints.
For business travelers trying to squeeze in last-minute meetings, the message is clear: build contingency days or switch to video calls. Peak-day on-time performance historically dips below 60 percent when winter weather combines with heavy passenger loads. Mobility managers should encourage employees to book nonstop flights where possible and to enroll in airline same-day change programs.
![TSA and AAA warn of ‘worst days to fly’ as 122 million Americans travel]()
Need to sort out a last-minute passport renewal or destination visa before braving the peak travel dates? VisaHQ’s U.S. portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) lets you check entry rules in seconds, order expedited processing, and track real-time status updates—saving you an extra trip to the consulate while airport lines are already at their longest.
AAA’s road-traffic forecasts show similar pinch points: major metro corridors in Boston, New York, Seattle and Washington, DC could see delays up to 30 percent longer than normal on the afternoon of December 22 and again on the return rush January 1–2. Employees driving rental cars over the break should budget extra fuel and consider telematics-enabled insurance to track delays.
In the air, CLEAR and TSA PreCheck lanes will run extended hours, but family travelers unfamiliar with new rules could still slow queues. Frequent flyers holding elite status may find lounge access capacity-constrained; several U.S. airports have issued crowd-control alerts and capped guest passes for the week.
TSA’s guidance echoes its broader holiday-readiness campaign: arrive early, pack gifts unwrapped, respect the 3-1-1 liquids rule, and ensure you have REAL ID-compliant identification. Beginning February 1, travelers without acceptable ID will be routed to the new US$45 “ConfirmID” system, adding both time and cost at checkpoints.
For business travelers trying to squeeze in last-minute meetings, the message is clear: build contingency days or switch to video calls. Peak-day on-time performance historically dips below 60 percent when winter weather combines with heavy passenger loads. Mobility managers should encourage employees to book nonstop flights where possible and to enroll in airline same-day change programs.
Need to sort out a last-minute passport renewal or destination visa before braving the peak travel dates? VisaHQ’s U.S. portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) lets you check entry rules in seconds, order expedited processing, and track real-time status updates—saving you an extra trip to the consulate while airport lines are already at their longest.
AAA’s road-traffic forecasts show similar pinch points: major metro corridors in Boston, New York, Seattle and Washington, DC could see delays up to 30 percent longer than normal on the afternoon of December 22 and again on the return rush January 1–2. Employees driving rental cars over the break should budget extra fuel and consider telematics-enabled insurance to track delays.
In the air, CLEAR and TSA PreCheck lanes will run extended hours, but family travelers unfamiliar with new rules could still slow queues. Frequent flyers holding elite status may find lounge access capacity-constrained; several U.S. airports have issued crowd-control alerts and capped guest passes for the week.
