![](https://www.smartertravel.com/wp-content/webp-express/webp-images/doc-root/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/airport-chicagooharepassengersstranded.jpg.webp)
Airlines for America, the trade group that represents American airlines, today released it annual forecast for air travel during the Thanksgiving period (Friday, November 21 – Tuesday, December 2).
If you flew over Thanksgiving last year, this year will be pretty much deja vu all over again. Passenger numbers are expected to tick up only slightly, by 1.5 percent, to 24.6 million.
The 10 busiest airports, from most to least busy:
- Atlanta
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Dallas – Ft. Worth
- New York JFK
- Denver
- San Francisco
- Phoenix
- Charlotte
- Houston International
Again, no surprises there.
The most actionable of A4A’s forecast may be the most and least busy travel days. The busiest days, as you’d expect, will be as follows:
- Sunday, November 30
- Monday, December 1
- Wednesday, November 26
And the least busy days:
- Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving)
- Friday, November 28
So, if a comfortable, low-stress travel experience is a priority, book away from the heaviest travel days. Otherwise, be prepared for long lines and full flights. Just like last year.
Reader Reality Check
What are your Thanksgiving travel plans?
This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Related
Top Fares From
Today's Top Travel Deals
Brought to you by ShermansTravel
Greece: 8-Nt, Small-Group Tour, Incl. Aegina,...
Globus
![](https://d2619hvqn7b355.cloudfront.net/uploads/default_image/image/113/main_greece_2.jpg)
Amsterdam to Copenhagen: Luxe, 18-Night Northern...
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
![](https://d2619hvqn7b355.cloudfront.net/uploads/default_image/image/92/main_europe_2.jpg)
Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati
85OFF.com
![](https://d2619hvqn7b355.cloudfront.net/uploads/default_image/image/121/main_rental_car.jpeg)