The holiday season is full of hustle and bustle, but for travelers planning on flying somewhere to see friends or relatives in the next few weeks, authorities are suggesting it might be a lot of hurry up and wait at airports across the nation.
“Please don’t forget to pack your patience. Our officers are working hard to keep people safe during this busy travel season,” the TSA tweeted on X (formerly Twitter).
The TSA also sent out a video on social media that included agents asking that air travelers remain polite and respectful to staff members.
It’s not a surprising request as 2023 proved another turbulent year for flyers, with worker shortages causing a number of delayed and cancelled flights, resulting in travelers scrambling for other ways to get where they needed to go.
One analyst cautioned that flying on the most competitive days could also result in the most issues if problems arise.
“So the busiest and most crowded times are going to be in the few days leading up to the holiday,” Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com, told NPR. “Think Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and December 21st, 22nd and 23rd around Christmas.”
If a weather event arises that delays flights on those days, “that’s when you’re going to have the most competition with other travelers,” he said.
When asked about any tips he could give airline customers, “It’s one of the worst times to travel,” he said. “My secret, best advice for travel over the holidays is: if at all possible, just don’t do it.”
