Thanksgiving travel in 2025 is shaping up to be both busier and more unpredictable than usual. After weeks of uncertainty due to the government shutdown ― which forced TSA agents and air traffic controllers to work without pay and led to strain across the aviation system ― travelers are now heading into the holiday rush just as those ripple effects begin to surface.
While the government might be back in business now, experts warn that the disruptions and staffing shortages triggered during the shutdown won’t disappear overnight. Add in potentially record-breaking Thanksgiving crowds, and millions of Americans could be facing a travel week that feels especially overwhelming.
So what exactly should travelers expect? We asked experts to break it down.
We may be in for record-breaking numbers of travelers.
“We are still expecting it to be one of the busiest travel weeks on record as so many people have already made plans to visit family and friends,” Katy Nastro, a spokesperson and travel expert for the flight alert service Going, told HuffPost.
Indeed, a new Thanksgiving forecast from AAA projects that 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the period from Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Monday, Dec. 1. That figure would set a new overall record.
Meanwhile, TSA is continuing to report daily high volumes of passenger screenings, which we can expect to hit a high point the week of Thanksgiving.
“Thanksgiving is always one of the busiest times of the year to fly, and travelers should expect full flights and packed airports regardless,” said Sally French, NerdWallet Travel Expert and co-host of Smart Travel Podcast. “In fact, the Sunday after Thanksgiving typically breaks records for the busiest travel day yet.”
Expect potential airport chaos.
“This year’s Thanksgiving travel season could feel especially tense because of the government shutdown,” French said.
Although the government has now reopened, she emphasized that ripple effects are unavoidable.
“TSA agents and air traffic controllers have already been working without pay, which can lead to staffing shortages and slower security lines as employees call out or quit altogether,” French explained. “We’ve seen it before ― even short shutdowns can cause a hangover effect that takes days or even weeks to resolve across the air travel system.”
Indeed, the aftermath of the shutdown will likely exacerbate the typical holiday travel issues that arise.
“I think we may see a very chaotic and messy week for many travelers,” Nastro said. “Think very crowded airports, long winding security lines and a big air of frustration.”
Eric Napoli, the chief legal officer at AirHelp, similarly predicted some air travel pains.
“Thanksgiving and Christmas week are incredibly popular travel weeks,” he said. “As such, travelers should prepare for extra-long wait times at security and potential slowdowns tied to boarding, takeoff and taxiing.”
KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI via Getty Images
Travel experts anticipate a more chaotic Thanksgiving travel season.
More people will keep their travel domestic.
The great American tradition of Thanksgiving turkey, pie and football isn’t for everyone. That’s why many folks take advantage of the holiday break by planning a longer international trip around this time.
But this year may see fewer people opting to go abroad during Thanksgiving. A recent Deloitte holiday travel survey found budget concerns are pushing many Americans to prioritize shorter, more affordable domestic trips this season.
“While we anticipate an increase in travel to see family and friends around the holiday season, we may see people keeping travel plans domestic,” Napoli said. “With economic uncertainty, there is the potential that people will be reluctant to book bigger, pricier and further trips this year.”
Travelers should stay up to date with the evolving situation.
If you’re planning to fly around Thanksgiving this year, make sure you’re getting the latest news regarding the air travel situation and your specific flight plan.
“Download your airline’s app and enable notifications ― often you’ll see updates about gate changes or rebooking options before they’re announced at the airport,” French said.
You don’t necessarily need to change your travel plans preemptively, but anxious travelers might want to be ready to pivot if there’s an unexpected disruption.
“It is never a bad idea to see what all your options are for the ‘just in case,’” Nastro said. “One decent bright spot is gas prices are down similar to pandemic years so its more affordable than years past to take that road trip.”
Preparation is key.
Those flying for Turkey Day can reduce stress by preparing for these issues.
“My advice is to treat time like money,” French said. “Take the first flight out in the morning, even if it costs more, because delays tend to stack up later in the day. And for peace of mind, build in buffers. I always arrive early, pack snacks and assume lines will be longer than usual.”
Napoli similarly recommended leaving early for the airport and expecting long lines for security and check-in.
“Staffing shortages means everything will take longer, and missing your flight because of a security line is something you want to avoid,” he said. “And try to fly days ahead of the holiday.”
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For families traveling with children, Napoli also advised familiarizing yourself with your seating rights.
“A couple years ago, the U.S. Department of Transportation introduced a new Family Seating Dashboard to name airlines that guarantee family seating,” he said. “Under current DOT guidance, children 13 and under should be seated with a parent at no extra charge, if seats are available. Several U.S. airlines now actually guarantee this, including Alaska, Frontier, JetBlue and Hawaiian. ”
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