The summer travel
season may be drawing to a close, but it’s not over yet. In fact, Labor
Day weekend will likely be one of the busiest times to try and take a trip
this summer, if the Fourth of July’s record-breaking number of passengers for a
single day (3
million) is any indication.
With the Labor Day
holiday expected to produce a similarly high-volume surge, U.S. travelers would
be well-advised to try and avoid the rush as much as possible.
Planning your
flight itinerary around less popular days can save time, money and headaches at
the airport, ensuring a smoother overall travel experience. And, a new NerdWallet
analysis was designed to give travelers the edge they’ll need to circumvent
the worst of the holiday congestion.
As you might
expect, NerdWallet found that the best days to travel fall outside the long
weekend itself.
These are the least crowded days to travel before and after
the Labor Day holiday, ranked in order of busyness.
Pre-holiday:
- Tuesday before
- Wednesday before
-
Saturday before
Post-holiday:
- Saturday after
-
Wednesday after
-
Tuesday after
These
are the most crowded days to travel before and after the Labor Day holiday, ranked
in order of busyness.
Pre-holiday:
- Friday
before Labor Day
- Labor Day Monday
-
Thursday before
Post-holiday:
- Sunday after
- Friday after
- Monday after
NerdWallet Travel
Expert Sara Rathner emphasized the importance of being adaptable when it comes
to traveling during busy holiday periods.
She said, “This Labor Day,
you’ll not only spend more on airfare if you plan to travel, but you’ll have to
deal with super-long security lines at the airport. But, a little flexibility
can go a long way on holiday weekends. If you can adjust your schedule and
travel on lower-demand days, like the Saturday before and the Tuesday
after, you can save money and enjoy a less stressful travel experience.”
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