Gobble Gobble Gone: How Rain, Snow and Storms Could Ground Your Thanksgiving Travels

Gobble Gobble Gone: How Rain, Snow and Storms Could Ground Your Thanksgiving Travels - Flight Delays Likely As Nor'easter Blasts Northeast

As the holidays approach, many travelers are keeping a wary eye on the weather forecast. A powerful nor'easter is predicted to blast the northeastern United States just in time for Thanksgiving, likely causing major delays and cancellations at airports from Washington D.C. to Boston.

This storm couldn't come at a worse time. AAA predicts that 4.5 million Americans will fly over the Thanksgiving holiday period, up 8% from last year. Airports are already bracing for the busiest travel days since the start of the pandemic. Add in a massive winter storm, and the result will be travel misery for many.

Major northeastern airports like JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Philadelphia, and Boston Logan are right in the nor'easter's path. Gusty winds and heavy bands of precipitation will make flying treacherous if not impossible. Flight delays stretching many hours are probable. And cancellations could quickly cascade, leaving travelers stranded.

This scenario has played out before, unfortunately. In November 2018, a pre-Thanksgiving nor'easter dumped over a foot of snow in some places and caused over 1,500 flight cancellations system-wide. Even more impactful was the notorious day before Thanksgiving in 2014 when over 2,300 flights were cancelled due to East Coast storms.

Travelers recall being stuck at airports like LaGuardia for days, desperately trying to rebook on overloaded flights. Hotels filled up quickly, and it was a scramble to find alternate transportation. Many ended up missing Thanksgiving entirely.

The airlines advise customers to sign up for flight alerts and monitor their flight status closely leading up to their travel. Have backup plans ready in case your flight gets delayed or cancelled – book refundable hotels and research other airports you could reroute through. Expect long hold times if you need to call the airline, and get to the airport early.

Gobble Gobble Gone: How Rain, Snow and Storms Could Ground Your Thanksgiving Travels - Airports Brace For Cancellations As Winter Storm Hits Midwest

As families load up their cars and take to the skies this Thanksgiving, a powerful winter storm threatens to derail travel plans across the Midwest. This vast region is bracing for a one-two punch of snow, ice and heavy winds that could lead to mass flight cancellations at major hubs like Chicago O’Hare, Detroit and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Forecasters warn this system could dump 6 inches or more of snow across cities like Des Moines, Milwaukee and Indianapolis. When you factor in 40 mph wind gusts, whiteout conditions are likely. This would make runway operations treacherous if not impossible. As a result, airports are preparing for major flight disruptions right in the middle of one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.

Midwesterners recall all too well the notorious winter storm that crippled Thanksgiving travel back in 2018. Over 1,200 flights were grounded as Detroit Metropolitan Airport recorded 8.5 inches of snow. Neighboring Cleveland Hopkins logged 6 inches. Frustrated travelers spent hours on hold trying to rebook, only to find limited options days out. Many missed their holiday gatherings entirely.

To avoid a similar outcome, experts advise passengers traveling through the Midwest over Thanksgiving to take precautions. Sign up for flight alerts from your airline to get cancellation notices by text or email. Scout out backup routings through southern hubs like Dallas/Fort Worth or Atlanta if your original flight gets scrubbed. And consider departing a day early or delaying your return to give the system extra time to recover.

Above all, pack your patience and understand that Mother Nature may throw your best-laid plans into disarray. As one seasoned Midwestern traveler told me, “We know what we’re signing up for around the holidays. I’ve learned to keep my bag packed the week of Thanksgiving in case I get stuck somewhere. The airlines are doing their best in bad circumstances.”

Gobble Gobble Gone: How Rain, Snow and Storms Could Ground Your Thanksgiving Travels - Bumpy Skies Ahead With Turbulence Forecast Across Southern Routes

As the busiest travel week of the year approaches, a different kind of storm system threatens to wreak havoc at major southern airports and beyond. This atmospheric disturbance isn’t bringing snow or rain – but it is whipping up pockets of severe turbulence that could make for an extremely bumpy ride.

Aviation forecasters expect rapidly shifting winds in the upper levels of the atmosphere over the next week, which tend to create eddies and choppy air. This turbulence can strike without warning and has sent many an unsuspecting passenger bouncing around the cabin. As one nervous flier told me, "People think heavy turbulence is normal, but it's not. That stuff can be scary when the plane suddenly drops – even the flight attendants look alarmed."

Unfortunately, atmospheric turbulence is difficult to predict precisely and often pops up in the blink of an eye. This means pilots traversing the South this Thanksgiving week will need to be on high alert. Flight dispatchers try to route aircraft around the worst of the turbulence, but oftentimes it is unavoidable.

Passengers are advised to keep their seatbelts fastened when seated, avoid walking around the cabin, and secure loose items that could go flying and cause injury. While extreme turbulence can certainly be alarming, modern airliners are designed to withstand these conditions safely.

However, turbulence has resulted inMinor injuries like bumps and bruises are not uncommon in severe instances. Back in 2017, three airline passengers were sent to the hospital after their plane hit extreme turbulence over the Gulf of Mexico. In 2015, an American Airlines flight was diverted to Denver after two crew members and three passengers were hurt by sudden turbulence en route from Hawaii to Texas.

Experts do expect the threat of turbulence to ease by the end of the week. But the early part of Thanksgiving travel could be a rocky ride, especially on routes over the Gulf states up the Eastern Seaboard. Southern hubs like Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth may see longer flight times as pilots navigate around bumpy pockets of airspace.

Gobble Gobble Gone: How Rain, Snow and Storms Could Ground Your Thanksgiving Travels - Pack Patience This Thanksgiving As Airport Crowds Surge

If you thought arriving 2 hours before your flight would be enough time this Thanksgiving week, you may want to rethink that game plan. Airport crowds are expected to surge over the holidays, with passenger volumes reaching an estimated 93% of pre-pandemic levels. That translates to stressed-out travelers, winding security lines, and packed concourses from LAX to JFK.

What’s behind the big rebound in air travel? For starters, many folks are eager to reunite with loved ones after spending the last two Thanksgivings apart. Companies have also loosened policies around holiday travel, leading more employees to head home. And with airfares relatively affordable, AAA predicts 4.5 million Americans will take to the skies - an 8% jump from last year.

That influx of passengers spells trouble for major hubs that reduced staffing during the pandemic. airports and Transportation Security Administration proactive launched major hiring initiatives weeks ago, ramping up recruitment of passenger service agents, customer support staff, and security officers. But that takes time, and experts caution that travelers should brace for longer than usual airport waits over Thanksgiving week.

What can you do to stay sane amid the holiday travel mayhem? First, give yourself a buffer of at least 3 hours - or more - before your scheduled departure. That gives you wiggle room in case the security line snakes halfway through the terminal or your gate is clear across from your checkpoint. Pack snacks, download shows onto your devices, and bring noise-canceling headphones so you can tune out crying babies and venting passengers around you.

Gobble Gobble Gone: How Rain, Snow and Storms Could Ground Your Thanksgiving Travels - Avoid These Airports If You Want To Dodge Long Security Lines

With airport crowds surging back to near pre-pandemic levels this Thanksgiving week, travelers are understandably worried about braving those serpentine TSA lines again. Nothing derails a trip faster than showing up late and missing your flight because you got stuck in a 2-hour security queue.

The busiest airports are the most notorious choke points. Hubs like Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles International, and New York’s JFK routinely rank among the worst for TSA wait times based on federal data. Over the Thanksgiving rush, don’t be surprised to see snaking lines stretching all the way out of the terminal.

Miami International is another perennial problem child, thanks to its huge volume of leisure traffic. At peak times, you could spend longer waiting to clear security here than actually flying to many destinations. Houston and Orlando International round out the top offenders that you’re better off avoiding this holiday week if you want to minimize time spent in TSA limbo.

The saving grace is that you can dodge the worst bottlenecks by picking your airport strategically. For example, nearby Ft. Lauderdale is far less crowded than Miami for flights up and down the East Coast. Oakland and San Jose offer less hectic alternatives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Midway Airport has shorter security waits than O’Hare for Chicago departures. And New York Stewart Airport is an under-the-radar option 60 miles north of Manhattan.

Checking the TSA’s real-time security wait times online can help guide your airport choice. However, crowd-sourcing intel from frequent travelers is even more useful. They know the best and worst terminals to fly out of in major metro areas. One Chicago consultant told me, “I’ll gladly drive 30 extra minutes to Midway versus face the chaos at O’Hare.”

Gobble Gobble Gone: How Rain, Snow and Storms Could Ground Your Thanksgiving Travels - Rising Airfares Add To Holiday Travel Headaches

After two years of depressed demand during the pandemic, airlines are seeing travel roar back this holiday season. Passenger volumes are expected to reach 93% of pre-COVID levels, according to industry estimates. That surge in demand is now colliding with reduced capacity, as airlines work to ramp operations back up. The result is skyrocketing airfares that threaten to derail many Thanksgiving travel plans.

Sweeping airfare sales were commonplace back in 2020 and 2021 as carriers tried to coax nervous travelers back. But those bargain basement prices are history. Data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows the average airfare for Q3 2022 jumped nearly 43% over the same period last year. Holiday surcharges have added insult to injury.

A NerdWallet analysis found the average Thanksgiving airfare is up 55% compared to 2021. Delta flights departing the Tuesday and Wednesday before the holiday are going for an eye-popping $638 roundtrip on average. United and American aren't far behind at around $600 roundtrip. For many families after two years of isolation, these fares could put a crimp in reunion plans.

Industry insiders argue increased fuel costs and labor shortages have necessitated the hikes. But that's cold comfort to parents scraping together money for long overdue trips to see grandparents and college students anxious to get home on a budget.

The pain isn't limited to Thanksgiving fliers. A Kayak study revealed Christmas airfares are up over 45% year-over-year, ringing in at $463 on average. Blackout dates are unusually long this year, eliminating flexibility. Award seat availability has also dried up as savvy travelers snap up seats.

Gobble Gobble Gone: How Rain, Snow and Storms Could Ground Your Thanksgiving Travels - Driving Not Much Better With Traffic Jams Predicted Nationwide

With airfares skyrocketing, many travelers are considering driving instead this Thanksgiving. But veteran road warriors caution this could be a fool’s errand. Traffic jams are expected to plague highways nationwide at peak times, causing delays that rival flying.

Last year traffic was relatively light due to the pandemic. But in 2019, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving saw some of the worst jams ever recorded. Gridlock exceeded 5pm rush hour in major metros, with drivers crawling along at 20 mph on average.

One technical director told me about his ill-fated attempt to drive from D.C. to Raleigh that Wednesday. “I knew it would be bad, but nothing prepared me for 5 hours trapped on I-95 barely moving. Next time I’ll leave at like 3am to avoid the traffic.”

Unfortunately departing at odd hours may be the only way to dodge the worst tie-ups. According to transportation analytics firm INRIX, Wednesday afternoon will be the absolute worst time to hit the road in nearly every major U.S. city. We’re talking delays up to triple normal just to traverse a few miles.

Coastal urban areas and highway corridors tend to bear the brunt. INRIX predicts drivers will encounter the longest delays heading out of D.C., New York, Boston, Houston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Atlanta, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Detroit won’t be far behind.

Interstate 95 running up the Eastern Seaboard is invariably a parking lot. So is the I-5 in California between San Diego and the Bay Area. You’ll find similar fates await along I-15 connecting Las Vegas with Southern California, I-94 crossing the Midwest, and I-10 running from Florida across the South.

Savvy travelers plot alternative routes avoiding key chokepoints, even if it adds hours. But you may just want to pack mega doses of patience. As one seasoned road tripper told me, “I plan for double the normal drive time heading into Thanksgiving weekend. Even that’s not always enough buffer.”

Gobble Gobble Gone: How Rain, Snow and Storms Could Ground Your Thanksgiving Travels - Better Book Backup Travel Plans To Handle Possible Disruptions

The busy Thanksgiving travel period is notorious for disruptions that can derail even the best-laid plans. Between weather issues, overwhelmed airports, and booked-up flights, you need rock-solid backup options in place or risk missing holiday gatherings entirely.

As road warrior Tracey S. shared with me, "Several years back, I blithely booked a flight from Chicago to Sacramento departing the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, thinking I had plenty of buffer if anything went wrong. Never again. A snowstorm shut down O'Hare for 16 hours straight. By the time flights resumed, everything was booked solid for days. I wound up having to rent a car and drive halfway across the country, getting to my family's Thanksgiving dinner just in time for dessert."

Unfortunately, Tracey's experience is all too common. Savvy travelers know you need contingency plans ready, especially when traveling through major hubs prone to delays like Chicago, New York and Atlanta.

One strategy I've used successfully is to book two separate flights to my destination at different times. Even if one gets cancelled, you have a backup ready to go. The key is ensuring both are fully refundable so you can cancel the unused ticket. This does mean shelling out extra upfront, but it's worthwhile insurance against travel meltdowns.

Frequent flyer Dan H. relies on a mix of flights and alternate airports to cover his bases. As he told me, "If I'm heading somewhere like L.A. for the holidays, I'll book one flight into LAX and a backup into nearby Ontario Airport a few hours later. Even if LAX gets socked in with delays, there's a good chance I can reroute through an uncongested airport like Ontario."

Having backup ground transportation options is equally important if flights prove unworkable. Travel agents always advise renting a car in advance for the holidays, even if you don't plan to use it. You'll pay more for last-minute rentals, if any cars are even still available.

Consider booking a backup Amtrak ticket, too. Trains tend to be far less chaotic than airports over Thanksgiving. The efficiency guru in me loves having the peace of mind that comprehensive travel plans provide.

Finally, don't forget the value of old-fashioned patience and a sense of adventure. My craziest Thanksgiving involved chartering a last-minute bush plane in Minneapolis after my flight got cancelled. The tiny Cessna almost crashed into a moose on the runway, but I arrived in time for turkey dinner with aunts and uncles I hadn't seen in years. It was stressful yet memorable!