Flight Routes to Avoid This Memorial Day Weekend

Image: A plane flies above Los Angeles International Airport. (photo via TriggerPhoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
Image: A plane flies above Los Angeles International Airport. (photo via TriggerPhoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 4:59 PM ET, Tue May 21, 2019

It's estimated that 43 million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend so you'll want to plan ahead to avoid any unnecessary headaches.

Flying Friday, May 24 gives you the best odds of running into problems, according to new data from AirHelp. The air passenger rights organization found that the Friday of Memorial Day weekend was the busiest airport travel day last year.

To be more specific, AirHelp reported that 17 percent of all flights from Memorial Day weekend in 2018 were disrupted, experiencing either delays or cancellations. What's more, the impact was felt by more than 2.5 million passengers in the U.S.

In anticipation of another hectic Memorial Day weekend travel period, AirHelp has revealed the 10 most disrupted flight routes based on last year's data, with Los Angeles to San Francisco being the most problematic.

That's not all that surprising though given that U.K.-based air travel intelligence company OAG found that California will be the most popular U.S. destination this Memorial Day weekend, welcoming approximately 475,000 incoming domestic travelers.

SFO is included in six of the 10 worst routes for disruptions, according to AirHelp. San Francisco to Seattle and vice versa; Denver to San Francisco; San Diego to San Francisco and New York City (via John F. Kennedy International Airport) to San Francisco are among the most disrupted flight routes to kick off summer.

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to Fort Lauderdale International Airport ranks fifth-worst while Seattle to L.A.; Orlando to NYC (via Newark Liberty International Airport) and NYC (via Newark Liberty International Airport) to Fort Lauderdale are also disrupted more often than most other routes.

Planning for a last-minute holiday weekend getaway but not sure where to go? Consider one of these exciting destinations.


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Related Videos

Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Upcoming Webinar
ALG Vacations® is Powering Up Fall with PartnershipTuesday, September 8, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
At ALG Vacations®, partnership means deliver smarter tools, stronger resources, and more opportunities...
Upcoming Webinar
Sell More Great Lakes Cruises with Victory Cruise LinesWednesday, September 9, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Cris Desouza, VP of Sales, and Barbara Davis, Director of Sales, for an inside look at what’s new...
Upcoming Webinar
Beyond the Ship: Maximizing Pre and Post Cruise ExperiencesThursday, September 10, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Discover how to enhance the cruise experience with strategic pre and post cruise planning. Learn how...
Upcoming Webinar
ALG Vacations® is Powering Up Fall with PartnershipTuesday, September 8, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
At ALG Vacations®, partnership means deliver smarter tools, stronger resources, and more opportunities...
Upcoming Webinar
Sell More Great Lakes Cruises with Victory Cruise LinesWednesday, September 9, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Cris Desouza, VP of Sales, and Barbara Davis, Director of Sales, for an inside look at what’s new...
Upcoming Webinar
Beyond the Ship: Maximizing Pre and Post Cruise ExperiencesThursday, September 10, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Discover how to enhance the cruise experience with strategic pre and post cruise planning. Learn how...