The Best and Worst Days to Fly During Thanksgiving Travel Period

Last year, AAA projected more than 54 million Americans would travel for Thanksgiving, the most in over a decade. With millions set to take to skies to visit family and friends again this year, knowing what days to book and what days to avoid will be key to reducing stress on both yourself and your wallet.

Traveling the Sunday before Thanksgiving will ensure that you reach your destination with plenty of time to spare but you won't be alone and you might wind up paying more for your tickets compared to if you wait until the next day.

If you've got the flexibility, there are immense benefits to traveling the Monday before Thanksgiving as you're more likely to save on your airfare and have far fewer travelers to contend with at the airport and on your flight.

Departing for your Thanksgiving destination the Tuesday before the holiday isn't recommended but it'll likely result in a smoother experience compared to Wednesday even if you're still hit hard by lofty airfares. Plus, you'll have a little more wiggle room in case of an unexpected delay or cancellation.

Thanksgiving Eve is notorious for being the worst travel day of the year and 2019 promises to be no different. Data from Hipmunk shows that Wednesday accounts for nearly half (45 percent) of flight bookings from Monday-Thursday, 16 percent more than Tuesday and 33 percent more than Monday.

Flying on Thanksgiving Day is hardly ideal given that most people want to wake up with their family in their holiday destination but traveling on the holiday means lower costs and fewer crowds and chaos. Consider flying out early in the morning so you don't miss too much of the food, fun and football.

If your family is already getting on your nerves and you aren't in a hurry to do any Christmas shopping, Black Friday is one of the better travel days during this holiday period as you're more likely to find some value and get ahead of the weekend crowds.

Traveling the Saturday after Thanksgiving will be busier and more expensive compared to Friday but it isn't the worst day you can return home after the holiday. Plus, you'll give yourself an extra day to settle in ahead of the new work and school week.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is right up there with Thanksgiving Eve among the days that travelers will most want to avoid this holiday season. According to Hipmunk's data, Sunday accounts for a 57 percent share of return flight bookings for the weekend, more than Friday and Saturday combined. If you have no other choice but to fly on Sunday, you'll need to pack plenty of patience.

With the bulk of Thanksgiving travelers already back home, you're likely to notice fewer crowds at airports across the country the Monday after Turkey Day. Nonetheless, December's arrival brings an increased possibility of inclement weather in some parts of the country, which could throw a wrench into your travel plans.