Flying Christmas Morning?
Dec 22, 2014, 7:55 am
#1
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,913
Flying Christmas Morning?
I always thought that flying Christmas morning (7 AM flight) was a great time to fly if you are looking for empty seats but looking at my flight it looks like almost all the seats are assigned. What is the normal Christmas morning airport traffic like these days?
Dec 22, 2014, 8:21 am
#2
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It's normally pretty quiet. Christmas afternoon even more so. But then again the airlines reduce flights more compulsively these days so maybe the ones they do operate are more full now.
The online seatmap is no true indicator of a flight's sold status.
The online seatmap is no true indicator of a flight's sold status.
Dec 22, 2014, 10:12 am
#4
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We have a bi-coastal Christmas many years. Christmas Eve with the South Carolina relatives, Christmas Day flights and, thanks to the miracle of time zones, Christmas Dinner with the Los Angeles relatives. These are not last minute flights. Booked in March and changed beyond recognition by AA/US schedule changes.
Dec 22, 2014, 2:18 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2011
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I've taken the Christmas night overnight flight from New York to Sao Paulo each of the last three years. Biz class is pretty much empty and perhaps the airline gifts upgrades to anyone who has status. Not bad, gold and lie flat for a ten hour flight for nada.
Dec 22, 2014, 3:09 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2014
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I work with international students - about 50% of the ones who are travelling home or for tourism for the holidays are flying Christmas Day. For many they have no family here/its not their major holiday so they jump on the cheaper flights.
My experience was that its a much more pleasant flying experience. Less crowds and also people seem to be very sympathetic towards each other. Most of the cabin crew I've spoken to seemed happy enough for one reason or another to be flying that day, and with less people who are more friendly they seem to reciprocate it back!
My experience was that its a much more pleasant flying experience. Less crowds and also people seem to be very sympathetic towards each other. Most of the cabin crew I've spoken to seemed happy enough for one reason or another to be flying that day, and with less people who are more friendly they seem to reciprocate it back!
Dec 22, 2014, 3:46 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2006
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I flew LHR-LAX last year on Christmas Day and it was pretty quiet. A bit of a pain to get from Central London to Heathrow, but that's a different story.
However, given that Christmas Day this year is on Thursday, that may affect the travel pattern a bit. Perhaps more people are taking the days after Xmas off and therefore, starting on Christmas Day? To get a longer weekend?
However, given that Christmas Day this year is on Thursday, that may affect the travel pattern a bit. Perhaps more people are taking the days after Xmas off and therefore, starting on Christmas Day? To get a longer weekend?
Dec 22, 2014, 7:16 pm
#14
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I've flown long haul (TATL and TPAC) on Christmas Eve and Christmas night, but never Christmas morning. Outside of major hubs, lounges tend to be closed. You might also have to go through regular security rather than an elite lane or PreCheck; few checkpoints will be open.
Dec 22, 2014, 7:25 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 81
I flew out of EWR to MIA Christmas morning a couple of years ago. Both airports were eerily silent. I'd suppose the traffic in and out of the airport picked up later that afternoon (as others have mentioned).