Holiday Travel Tips to Save Time, Money and Stress This Season

Many of us have been there – we show up with hope, only to be disappointed. No, we're not talking about your high school prom date. We are talking about the worst dates to travel during the holiday season 
 
Never underestimate how much time you can waste hunting for an airport parking spot, standing in security lines and waiting around for checked bags. While it’s true that long lines aren’t entirely avoidable during the holiday rush, there are often lulls in foot traffic you may be able to take advantage of. In 2024, an estimated 40 million passengers traveled through security screening checkpoints between December 19 and January 2 – up 6 percent on the year before. 
 
One easy way to avoid a crowded airport is to book a flight that takes off on the holiday itself. Although traveling on Christmas or Thanksgiving might not be ideal, it can keep you from having to stand in long lines before and after your flight. If you’re planning to travel by car, it may be beneficial to head out before (or after) the Christmas season’s peak travel days, which typically stretch from December 20 to December 24.

Traveling over the holidays but not psyched about spending a ton of money on airfare? The old adage "early bird gets the worm" holds true for flight booking. It's wise to book at least a month or more in advance of your expected departure date if you want to get the best deals. According to airline data, the best window for booking holiday flights starts on September 25 and runs through October 271. During this month-long time frame, you can usually find exceptional deals and availability options that are well suited to your budget and individual travel plans. 
 
Generally speaking, the longer you wait to book your flight, the fewer discounted options will be available. While last-minute travelers may be able to secure decent seating in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas, landing the best deals often requires a bit of proactivity.

Looking for ways to make your travel experience go smoothly? Try packing just a carry-on for each member of the family. You'll be able to arrive at your departing gate more quickly and can avoid the hassle of waiting for your checked luggage upon your arrival. Plus, carry-on luggage often costs nothing as compared to checked luggage, which can cost over $25 per bag. 
 
Plus it’s important to consider how a lost bag may impact your holiday. If you’re bringing gifts along, it’s always a good idea to store them in your carry-on bags, along with any personal items you can’t live without.

Looking forward to airport security carefully scrutinizing and even unwrapping each gift you packed in your suitcase? We didn't think so. Eliminate the hassle of traveling with gifts by doing holiday shopping online and have each item shipped to your destination.

What one word can describe airport parking ramps during the holidays? Mayhem. If possible, have a friend drop you off at the airport to avoid congestion and delays getting to your departure gate.

Gift giving is a great holiday tradition for many. But, once the merriment has passed, how do the gifts get back home? An option for some might be to pack an extra, empty suitcase. But why lug around the extra bulk (and pay for yet another piece of checked luggage)? Ship all of your gifts home to save you time and hassle.

Even if your travel planning goes off without a hitch, your holiday commute can still be slowed or halted by flight delays and inclement weather. Reports show that out of the one billion passengers who took off from U.S. airports in 2024, one in four experienced a flight delay or cancellation2. Although there isn’t much you can do to avoid weather patterns and airline cancellations, there is one tip that can give you a big leg up when it comes to tackling travel issues – if you’re an insured under one of Travel Guard’s travel insurance plans, Travel Guard's 24/7 emergency travel assistance team can go to work on your behalf to help re-book flights and hotels, book rental vehicles, find lost luggage and help keep your holiday travels on track. 

Plus a travel insurance plan can cover you for things like certain travel delays due to inclement weather, trip cancellation/interruption, emergency medical expenses – all to help make your holiday travel a little easier.