Subscribe Now

travelers today

Home » Travel Culture

Thanksgiving Travel Myths You Need to Rethink

Travelers Today       By    Staff Reporter

Updated: Dec 03, 2019 10:38 AM EST

Text Size: A A A

Thanksgiving

(Photo: Pixabay.com)

Traveling around Thanksgiving has become somewhat of a boogeyman for many people around the country. There are a lot of Thanksgiving travel myths circulating around. Data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and AAA show these travel myths.

30 million Americans travel during the holidays. Suddenly those dreams of watching football and the parade with all of your nearest and dearest can seem more like a pain than a pleasure when you realize you have to travel for Thanksgiving. Most travelers dread Thanksgiving travel. It would be better if we were all on the same page with the same reliable information. Thanksgiving travel has a horrible reputation of delays, crowds and hiked up prices. 

This will help you plan ahead to a key to a less confusing and stressful trip. Many of the tricks self-styled experts are either outdated or simply wrong and if you blindly follow them, you could be missing out on better deals and paying more than you need to.

It seems like a good time to take stock of some conventional wisdom that always seem to flood the mainstream media at this time of year.

1. Myth: The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest air travel day.

Are there actually more people traveling than any other time of the year?

You should be more concerned about your return flight on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The busiest air travel day of 2018 was November 25, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, according the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The same goes for 2015 and 2016 (This trend is likely to be repeated in 2019), while July 14 (the peak of summer) was the busiest air travel day for 2017.

2. Myth: Your flight is more likely to be delayed on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year.

Traveling in the week leading up to Thanksgiving may sound exhausting. This myth has led to the illusion of longer lines and lengthy delays. Delays on Thanksgiving remain average, according to reports. In 2018, 81.21% of flights in November left on time - better than May, June, July, and August which proves that November actually proves to be one of the best months for on-time departures, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The flights with the lowest on-time arrival percentages every year on domestic flights are usually in December or January.

3. Myth: Last-minute deals don't exist for Thanksgiving.

According to the AAA, there are always seats the closer it gets to the holiday that airlines are looking to fill. Many airlines and websites hold out until the last moment before dropping deep discounts on travel. Also, last-minute deals on hotels the week of Thanksgiving are possible as there are more options than there are flights generally. Keep in mind that there are plenty of other would-be travelers out there looking out for the best Thanksgiving travel deals.

4. Myth: The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest car travel day.

It is a busy day, but the Thanksgiving Eve car commute is not really all that bad because 50% of people driving home for the holiday wait until Thursday morning to hit the road.

RELATED ARTICLE: 5 Amazing Destinations to Celebrate Thanksgiving

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018

Tags
Holiday Travel, rumors
© 2023 Traverlers Today, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join Our Conversation

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive the latest travel news, reviews, and more..

Most Popular

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

Planning for a trip takes some time, even if it's just you g

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

If you have never traveled before but are thinking of doing so then

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

So there are a few islands that can be found off the Sco

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

You need to know how to plan appropriately and

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

A campus visit's significance could not be overstated. After all, fo

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

Having a gallery wall brings plenty of benefits to your

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

There is something equally relaxing and invigorati

Photo by Erik Odiin on Unsplash

Things That Will Help Cost-Conscious Vacationers Save Money

There are several ways you can significan

Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

How to Make Vet Visits Affordable in 2022

If the situation is minor, you might be lucky and get away

Photo by Tim Samuel from Pexels

Know Your Florida Driving Rules

There is so much to do in the region, but we want to focus on some of

Photo by Ging Ang from Pexels

Holidaying in your own Country: Try these Fun Trips!

Many countries are opening their borders, but if

Photo by Jessica Lewis Creative from Pexels

The Best Tech Tools for Expats

Here’s a quick look at most versatile tech tools for expats on the m

Photo by Tobi from Pexels

How to Turn a Road Trip Into A Luxury Adventure

But a road trip doesn’t have to mean living on the

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Do you want to become a citizen of Australia

Hair transplant Istanbul: Why is it so popular?

Hair Transplant Istanbul: Why is it so Popular?

Getting a hair transplant in Istanbul is affordable i

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

They are incredibly expensive, and they’re also in sh

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

International trade holds great importance in a

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

Riesling is Germany’s best-known wine, but the country makes other fi

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

There is nothing like the great outdoors –– natureâ€

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

Who knew you could pack your entire life away into one litt

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

San Diego is a magnificent place, and it would not be

travelers today

© 2023 TRAVELERS TODAY All rights reserved.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Real Time Analytics