The FAA said Thursday was its busiest travel day so far this year. The Transportation Security Administration said the most flights were scheduled for Thursday, but it expects more passengers going through checkpoints on Friday. Weather is causing disruption across the country as many Americans prepare to travel for Independence Day.
UP IN THE AIR — Flying on what the Federal Aviation Administration said was its busiest day of the year wasn't so bad.
According to the FAA, 53,677 flights were scheduled for Thursday, the busiest day so far in 2024.
When I arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Tuesday, my Lyft driver warned me that the departure lounge was crowded and asked if he could drop me off in the arrivals lobby instead.
Once inside the airport, the security line was longer than expected, but it still didn't take as long as expected.
The Transportation Security Administration said the most flights are scheduled for Thursday, but it expects more passengers going through checkpoints on Friday.
“The peak travel day is Friday, June 28, when the agency expects to screen more than 3 million people,” the agency statement said. “TSA is staffing to meet wait time standards of 10 minutes or less for TSA PreCheck lanes and 30 minutes or less for standard screening lanes. Seven of the top 10 busiest travel days occurred in the past month.”
In its entire history, the TSA has never screened more than 3 million passengers in a single day at the nation's airports.
One week delay
Weather conditions across the country are causing chaos as many Americans prepare to travel for Independence Day, with hundreds of flights canceled and more than 8,000 delayed each day so far this week, according to FlightAware.
The Department of Transportation's interactive dashboard shows how much each airline owes travelers for both cancellations and delays, and some airlines may offer more flexibility than listed on the dashboard.
This summer's airfares
Domestic travel this summer has been a relatively good deal for most travelers, but for those looking to book last-minute Fourth of July trips, the prices could be quite a surprise.
Still, there are strategies you can use to find the best possible last-minute deals, like being flexible with your travel dates and connecting airports, or playing a game of chicken with your booking.
Zach Wichter is a New York-based travel writer for USA TODAY. He can be reached at zwichter@usatoday.com.
