Holiday travel tips: The best days to fly or drive, according to experts

by Henry Savage
Published Dec. 18, 2023, 2:35 p.m. ET

It’s time for some people to visit loved ones for the holiday season. For those traveling from Philadelphia, be prepared for increased crowds this year.

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Holiday travel tips for PHL airport

Holiday travel tips for SEPTA

Holiday travel tips for Amtrak

Holiday travel tips for driving in Philly

AAA, the motor vehicle service and advocacy organization, reports that one out of every three Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this winter holiday season — a total of 115 million people. That isn’t back to the pre-pandemic level of almost 120 million in 2019 — the busiest holiday travel year on record, according to AAA — but it’s more than last year, so expect a busier time at airports, train stations, and on highways.

For people using Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), expect more delays. According to Heather Redfern, the airport’s public affairs manager, there will be 14% more people at the airport this year than last. From Thursday, Dec. 21, through Wednesday, Jan. 4, more than 1 million passengers are expected to be arriving and departing.

The busiest travel days at PHL airport are projected to be Dec. 26, Dec. 27, and Dec. 22 — in that order— with more than 80,000 travelers on each of those days, according to airport officials. The lightest travel days are expected to be Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Day.

Drivers will also see several days of busy traffic during this time. The busiest road traffic days will be Saturday, Dec. 23, and Thursday, Dec. 28, according to transportation analytics firm INRIX. Saturday, Dec. 30, will also see increased traffic.

Knowing that it will be busier this year is half the battle. Now is the time to prepare with these expert travel tips.

Holiday travel tips for PHL airport

As always, plan ahead and arrive early. Airport officials advise to arrive at least two hours before scheduled boarding times for domestic flights. For international flights, arrive three hours early.

You can track your flight’s status using Flight Aware (flightaware.com). But it’s also a good idea to download your airline’s mobile app and sign up for text and email alerts.

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Need parking? PHL garages and parking lots are open for all passengers. Check for information about on-site parking at phl.org/parking/garages. Departing passengers can also use off-site parking lots that offer shuttle service; find off-site parking options at phl.org/parking/offsite-parking.

Pro tip: Unless you need your car to get to or from the airport, check out SEPTA’s Airport Line on Regional Rail.

For the folks dropping off and picking up travelers, instead of pulling over to the side of roadways or access ramps, use the Cell Phone Waiting Lot by entering through the Arriving Flights ramp and following signs for that lot.

Things to do while you’re at PHL airport

• Check out the 140 restaurants and shops throughout the airport at philamarketplace.com. You can preorder food from certain concessions through OrderAtPHL.com and pick it up without waiting in line.
• PHL will offer free gift wrapping for any purchases made at the airport between 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day through Dec. 24. You can also receive free Philly-themed socks with a purchase of $75 or more.
• There are 20 art exhibitions displayed in terminals, including works celebrating movies filmed locally and the 50th anniversary of Philadephia International Records, and “Jawn 6 — It’s a Philly Thing.”

Be prepared when you arrive for the TSA security check. Find all of TSA’s screening regulations at tsa.gov/travel/security-screening and on the MyTSA app. Before you pack your bags, check the TSA’s searchable “What Can I Bring?” tool at tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring.

If you want the fastest trip through TSA, register for TSA PreCheck. This service allows passengers to use reserved security lines and doesn’t require you to remove your shoes, belt, and light outerwear before walking through detectors. PreCheck is available only for U.S. citizens and holders of green cards. It costs $78 for five years, but approval can take three to 60 days.

All liquids, aerosols, and gels need to be less than 3.4 ounces and packed in a clear 1-quart plastic bag. Pack anything larger — but not medications — in your checked luggage.

If you will need assistance going through security, contact TSA in advance at tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares.

Brand new this year: Remember in the ‘90s or earlier when a non-passenger could accompany someone to see them off at their gate? That was prohibited after 9/11. Now, the airport has started Wingmate: The PHL Guest Pass, which allows non-ticketed people to access terminals to assist family and friends at gates for departure or arrival. Learn more at phl.org/wingmate.

If you need privacy to feed your little one, check out these options:

There are eight car-rental services at the airport. They all provide free shuttles between baggage claim and their rental facility on Zone 2 of Arrivals Road.

SEPTA (septa.org) will be operating on modified schedules on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve: Metro (subways, elevated trains, and trolleys), buses, and Regional Rail will operate on a Sunday schedule.

Christmas Day: Metro and bus routes will operate on a Sunday schedule. All Regional Rail lines will run on special Christmas schedules. Refer to the Special Regional Rail Christmas Schedules for your line.

Regional Rail riders going to the Eagles game on Christmas Day against the New York Giants will be affected by this special schedule. After the game, all rides from NRG Station on the Broad Street Line will be free. The free rides, sponsored by Unibet, begin at halftime and run for two hours after the game or until the last scheduled train.

Check System Status for alerts and detours. To get the latest news, call customer service at 215-580-7800 or follow SEPTA @SEPTA.

Amtrak officials predict that Christmas and New Year’s will not be busy travel periods on their trains. Historically, Amtrak gets busy during Thanksgiving but not during the Christmas holidays. While there may be an uptick in ridership during that time, it won’t “be the same as peak travel time frames such as during the summer or Thanksgiving,” said a spokesperson for Amtrak.

However, officials advise riders to download the Amtrak mobile app and arrive 45 minutes before departure.

Roads will be busier this year during the 10-day winter holiday travel period, according to INRIX. The good news is that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day tend to be the lowest days for traffic.

The worst days to travel by car: Dec. 23, Dec. 28, and Dec. 30.

“Nationwide, drivers could see travel times up to 20% longer this holiday season,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “In major metros, drivers could experience nearly double the typical delays. Avoid peak commuting hours and use traffic apps, local DOT notifications, and 511 services to minimize holiday travel traffic frustrations.”

Pro tip: The best times to drive are before lunchtime or after 7 p.m.