Holiday travel chaos is expected to peak in December when many airports see delay rates nearly double compared to November, according to a report by Transfeero.
Weather patterns, high passenger volumes and congested airspace are key contributors to winter flight disruption, the data showed, with airports bracing for record crowds this holiday season.
AAA projects 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday period from Tuesday, Nov. 25, to Monday, Dec. 1. At the same time, this year’s domestic travel forecast includes an additional 1.6 million travelers compared to last Thanksgiving, setting a new overall record.
According to AAA, Thanksgiving is the single busiest holiday for travel when compared to others like Memorial Day and July 4.
“Thanksgiving travel numbers are always impressive because this holiday has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “People are willing to brave the crowds and make last-minute adjustments to their plans to make lifelong memories, whether it’s visiting extended family or meeting up with friends.”
How many will travel by air this Thanksgiving?
- AAA says 6 million U.S. travelers will take domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday period, a 2% increase compared to 2024.
- That figure could end up being slightly lower as some air travelers make other plans following recent flight cancellations.
- The number of Thanksgiving air travelers over the past several years – with the exception of 2020 – has been between 5 and 6 million.
Meanwhile, the average U.S. travel insurance premium reached $311 per policy in 2025, according to data compiled by CoinLaw, averaging about $21 per day for a typical 15‑day trip. Travelers increasingly buy insurance due to flight disruptions or accidents, with Gen Z and Millennials comprising 60% and 54% respectively of U.S. travel insurance buyers in 2025.
The slideshow above illustrates the 5 worst airports for on-time flights this holiday season as selected by Transfeero.
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