Heaviest Xmas travel day?
Dec 16, 2012, 3:56 am
#1
Original Poster
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Heaviest Xmas travel day?
So it's been a number of years since I had to fly over the holidays, I'm asking for your opinions. I'm flying into SFO from TPE. From there on DL, SFO/ATL/STT. I fly F, so I'm not worried about U/G, just the airport madhouse.
So when do you think would be the best day, starting 21/12/2012?
So when do you think would be the best day, starting 21/12/2012?
Dec 16, 2012, 4:44 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2009
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So it's been a number of years since I had to fly over the holidays, I'm asking for your opinions. I'm flying into SFO from TPE. From there on DL, SFO/ATL/STT. I fly F, so I'm not worried about U/G, just the airport madhouse.
So when do you think would be the best day, starting 21/12/2012?
So when do you think would be the best day, starting 21/12/2012?
The only concern I would have with this itinerary is the international to domestic transfer at SFO - not that it's a problem, but just allowing sufficient time. MCT at SFO is at least 1 hr 30-45 min depending on the carrier that operates your TPE-SFO flight, and for comfort I'd add a half hour to that.
As to the "airport madhouse", not sure there's really much difference airside at airports over the holidays. The difference is when passing through security, with a much higher percentage of infrequent travelers than usual.
On this itinerary, you'll arrive at the SFO International terminal, and then your onward flight will depart from T1 which is a 10-15 minute walk. You'll enter DL's domestic gates 40-48 through the normal security checkpoint along with everyone else.
Dec 16, 2012, 5:05 am
#3
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Should have added in that I'll probably fly in a day early and check into a hotel for the night. My flight would leave TPE at 2330 and arrive in SFO 4 hours before I left. I have a 12 hour time difference to adjust to!
Dec 16, 2012, 7:19 am
#4
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The airlines run dramatically reduced schedules on the 25th. I can guarantee the airport is going to be pretty dead on the 25th. I suspect the traffic is going to be pretty much spread over the 21st - 24th with many likely taking off work on the 24th and making the holiday a long weekend.
Dec 16, 2012, 7:23 am
#5
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The busiest days for Delta are the 20th, 21st, 26th, 27th and 28th. The slowest that week are the 25th, 24th and the 22nd, in that order.
Dec 16, 2012, 9:07 am
#7
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Assuming the poster meant that the 25th is the slowest, followed by the 24th and then the 22nd, that makes sense. Given that the 25th is on a Tuesday this year, probably not as many people flying out on the previous Saturday for the holiday, though busier than the 24/25 dates.
Flew to ORD a few years ago on Christmas day. Very quiet day for travel.
Flew to ORD a few years ago on Christmas day. Very quiet day for travel.
Dec 16, 2012, 11:32 am
#9
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Dec 17, 2012, 6:25 am
#10
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With Christmas eve/day on mon-tues, it creates a longer weekend for many people, which will push travel dates to fri and sat as being busier. Thurs afternoon/evening won't be pretty either.
Christmas and new years weeks are ultra-peak in STT. Fyi, ATL-STT on the 22nd are J0 across the board, 23rd is J1Y1, 24th is J2Y0 for inventory, so those are packed/oversold. Not much better for availability on the 25th. I think at this point with little time left to departure, inventory availability is the bigger issue than when the airports are a zoo.
Christmas and new years weeks are ultra-peak in STT. Fyi, ATL-STT on the 22nd are J0 across the board, 23rd is J1Y1, 24th is J2Y0 for inventory, so those are packed/oversold. Not much better for availability on the 25th. I think at this point with little time left to departure, inventory availability is the bigger issue than when the airports are a zoo.
Dec 17, 2012, 7:01 am
#13
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Three comments ---
1) The difference between Xmas and Turkey Day is not everyone is traveling the same days --- (for example the college students that typically have a couple of weeks off).
2) More people are getting picked up/ being dropped off, so car traffic at airports is heavier than normal, but the planes aren't any more full because they're normally jammed anyway these days.
3) In some parts of the country, there is heavy traffic for the bowl games. One friend who went to the Rose Bowl a few years ago described the experience as being in a crowd all the time starting with when he got to the airport.
Bob H
1) The difference between Xmas and Turkey Day is not everyone is traveling the same days --- (for example the college students that typically have a couple of weeks off).
2) More people are getting picked up/ being dropped off, so car traffic at airports is heavier than normal, but the planes aren't any more full because they're normally jammed anyway these days.
3) In some parts of the country, there is heavy traffic for the bowl games. One friend who went to the Rose Bowl a few years ago described the experience as being in a crowd all the time starting with when he got to the airport.
Bob H
Last edited by BobH; Dec 17, 2012 at 8:02 am
Dec 17, 2012, 7:40 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2012
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I'm flying MCO-MSP-LAS on the 21st, then LAS-CVG redeye on the 24th, and then CVG-MCO Christmas morning.
Both of my outbound flights look like they could be oversold, but I was already upgraded on MCO-MSP on the 15th. The LAS-CVG flight looks at least half empty, while the CVG-MCO flight looks oversold as well.
Both of my outbound flights look like they could be oversold, but I was already upgraded on MCO-MSP on the 15th. The LAS-CVG flight looks at least half empty, while the CVG-MCO flight looks oversold as well.