The best (and worst) times to travel this Thanksgiving

The Best and Worst Times to Travel This Thanksgiving

Beat the holiday chaos by planning your travel timing wisely. Look for our first newsletter arriving soon with the best city highlights and travel tips straight to your inbox.

Plan Ahead for a Smoother Journey

Thanksgiving travel is always challenging, but 2025 adds extra complications due to a prolonged government shutdown affecting key aviation staff. Many air traffic controllers and TSA agents remain on duty without pay, leading to rising absences and operational strain.

Impact of the Government Shutdown on Air Travel

The FAA has imposed a 10% reduction in air traffic at 40 major airports as a safety precaution.
This will likely cause longer lines, slower ground operations, and increased delays.
Experts warn that ongoing shutdown effects could escalate routine delays into widespread airport disruptions.

“Delays and cancellations beget delays and cancellations,” says aviation analyst William J.

Unlike the 2018 shutdown, this current one means affected workers will be two full paychecks behind by Thanksgiving, worsening staffing issues during peak travel.

Stay Informed and Prepare

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Author's summary: Thanksgiving travel faces heightened disruption in 2025 due to a prolonged government shutdown impacting aviation staff and causing increased delays and cancellations.

Time Out — 2025-11-06