Understanding Holiday Travel Delays: Key Insights
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The winter season often brings challenges for holiday travelers, particularly due to inclement weather. Recent research highlights that specific airports and airlines are more susceptible to delays during this time.
Airports Most Affected by Weather Disruptions
According to a comprehensive analysis conducted by Upgraded Points, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) ranks as the airport with the highest probability of experiencing weather-related delays from November through January, with a staggering 42.3% of flights affected. Following closely is Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) at 42.1%, while LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York sees 38.3% of its flights delayed due to weather conditions.
Other notable airports include Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), which has a delay rate of 38.1%, and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) at 31.3%. In contrast, airports located in milder climates tend to experience fewer disruptions; for instance, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) records only an 11% delay rate attributed to weather.
A Closer Look at Airlines Impacted by Weather Conditions
The study also sheds light on which airlines face the brunt of these delays during peak travel times. Alaska Airlines stands out with an average delay rate of 30.2%, primarily due to its operations in San Francisco and Seattle-Tacoma—two heavily impacted airports during the holiday season.
The following major carriers reported their respective rates of weather-related delays:
- United Airlines: 29.4%
- Allegiant Air: 24.5%
- Spirit Airlines: 24.4%
- Delta Air Lines: 22.6%
- Frontier Airlines: 19.4%
- American Airlines: 19%
- JetBlue Airways: 18.9%
- Hawaiian Airlines :7 .5 %
Navigating Holiday Travel Effectively
This analysis reviewed data from the busiest U.S airports and major domestic airlines between the years of2019and2024 while excluding disruptions caused by COVID-19 in2020.The findings serve as valuable insights for travelers looking to navigate potential setbacks this holiday season effectively.
Savvy travelers can stay ahead by learning how to monitor flight statuses before official announcements are made; some airlines like United even provide live radar maps via text updates during adverse weather conditions and offer automatic rebooking options for significantly delayed or canceled flights.
