busiest travel day canada

Simple Flying

A 'peak' at the busiest & quietest days of the week to fly.

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Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often less busy for air travel due to fewer passengers mid-week.
Weekends and holidays result in busier and more expensive flights, especially Friday evenings and Sunday mornings.
Traveling early in the morning or late at night can provide a quieter experience, with fewer passengers familiar with airport routines.

Have you ever noticed the difference between flying during a regular weekday and a holiday weekend? Getting through airport check-in, security, and boarding becomes quite the breeze when there isn't chaos around, like during most holiday travels. Traveling in the middle of the week also means less crowded airports than during weekends. Simple Flying explores which time of the year is less busy for air travel, including days and times of the week.

Best days of the week

There isn't a definitive answer to which day of the week is the quietest. It is worth doing some research into the airport from which you are flying. However, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often less busy. This is because you have to take more days off work to fly mid-week, which people are usually reluctant to do. Midweek fares are also often cheaper than weekends.

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In contrast, traveling near or on weekends is typically more expensive and busier. Leisure travelers looking to enjoy a weekend away tend to go on Friday and Monday. At the same time, passengers who commute every week for work also travel on Monday and Friday to return home for the weekend. As such, Sundays can be busy as business travelers try to get a head start on the week ahead.

Similarly, people traveling for extended vacations tend to travel during the weekend to maximize holiday time. Friday nights and Saturday mornings can see some airports busier than ever, so traveling before 4 pm on Fridays could be better. Weekend flights are more in demand and subsequently more expensive.

JetBlue Introduces A New Peak And Off-Peak Baggage Fee System

The carrier will now offer different fees based on the date.

The exception to the rule

There is one big exception to the rule: package holiday companies. For some tourist destinations, a large percentage of flights are operated by or in partnership with package holiday companies. In these cases, if you aren’t traveling with one of these companies, the quietest day is just any day, not a changeover day.

The airline industry is always full of new developments! What aviation news will you check out next?

Generally, there is a standardized changeover day (or days) when holiday companies carry vast numbers of passengers over two days. Typically, this is the weekend, but the changeover day can be mid-week if they want to allow passengers a whole weekend at the destination. If the changeover day is a Tuesday, this will become the busiest day, while the weekend might become quiet.

Best time of the day

As the old saying goes, the early bird gets the worm. Getting up early is your best option if you can’t fly on one of the quieter days. If the flight leaves before 8 AM, meaning you must arrive around 5-6 AM, you should be in for a quiet time. Fewer people prefer to travel that early.

However, not everyone can function that early. If you’re a night owl, flying late is also a good option. It may be busier than morning, as many people who fly for business will fly overnight to arrive in time for meetings the next day. So, while you will have to deal with more travelers, they are more likely to be frequent flyers familiar with the airport routine, reducing congestion.

Worst times of the year to fly

Holidays and peak travel seasons call for hiked airfares, crowded airports, and travel congestion. During those times, not only is air travel more costly and inconvenient, but passengers do not get the type of service they pay for. Upgraded Points show some of the worst travel times of the year for air travel in the United States and when the fares are generally hiked during the time period.

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The bottom line

A quick cheat sheet on the quietest times to fly is:

Off-peak time of the year (February to April and September to November)
Mid-week (Tuesday and Wednesday)
Early morning (12 AM to 6 AM)

Traveling during off-peak times will generally ensure lower fares, less crowded airports, relatively convenient travel, and greater chances of receiving the promised services. Air travel over a holiday period or during a major event typically results in overcrowded airports at most times. Regarding the day of the week, traveling on Tuesday or Wednesday will mean avoiding the highest fares and the busiest times. Moreover, an early morning flight will reduce the chance of queueing for hours.

Do you have any tips or tricks for a smooth airport experience? When do you prefer to fly? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

B.C. travellers urged to prepare for busy Canada Day long weekend

For b.c. ferries, canada day long weekend marks the 2nd busiest travel period of the year.

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As British Columbians gear up to celebrate Canada Day, officials are urging the public to plan ahead and stay safe amid expected travel congestion on ferries, highways, and at airports.

For B.C. Ferries, the Canada Day long weekend marks the second busiest travel period of the year, surpassed only by B.C. Day.

"We feel fully prepared heading into the long weekend and we're looking forward to ensuring our customers get to their destinations safely and comfortably," said Reet Sidhu, the company's senior communications adviser, told CBC News on Friday.

She recommends passengers looking to take a ferry from Vancouver's Tsawwassen Bay to Victoria's Swartz Bay – one of B.C. Ferries' busiest routes – without a booking, consider travelling as a foot passenger to avoid sailing waits.

A communications official outside a ferry terminal talking with press.

B.C. Ferries says they're expecting close to 500,000 passengers on all routes Friday through Monday.

The company, which faced a number of challenges last year — from staffing shortages, last-minute cancellations and long waits — said they have increased sailings and made staffing changes this year around for a smooth summer travel experience.

Busy long weekend ahead for B.C. travellers

Sidhu says B.C. Ferries has added 350 new sailings, including 44 between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay along with a new early morning sailing, and has hired 600 new staff for the summer.

It has also tightened its annual refit schedule in an effort to avoid cancellations during peak season. Refits refer to safety inspections and work on major parts, such as engines and brakes, that require a vessel to be pulled out of service, usually for 30 to 90 days.

⛴️ HEADS UP - Expect sailing waits at many <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InlandFerries?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InlandFerries</a> due to higher volumes of traffic this long weekend.<br><br>ℹ️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UpperArrowLakeFerry?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UpperArrowLakeFerry</a> - 1-2 hour wait from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShelterBay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShelterBay</a> <br><br>ℹ️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NeedlesFerry?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NeedlesFerry</a> - 1-2 hour waits from both <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NeedlesBC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NeedlesBC</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FauquierBC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FauquierBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCHwy23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCHwy23</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCHwy6?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCHwy6</a> <a href="https://t.co/sDJeTbprYM">pic.twitter.com/sDJeTbprYM</a> — @DriveBC

YVR also busy

Long weekend preparations at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) also moved into high gear on Friday.

YVR communication specialist Emad Agahi says the airport is expected to see about 84,000 passengers for each day of the long weekend with Friday being the busiest day.

A row of people, in silhouette, wait at an airport departure lounge with an Air Canada plane visible in the background.

According to the airport authority, about 7.8 million passengers are expected to travel through the airport this summer — a 9.6 per cent increase compared to passenger levels last year during the same period.

Agahi says during peak travel times, staff will be stationed at information counters throughout the airport, and digital tools are also available to help people reach their gate on time.

Those travelling on flights this weekend could also be impacted by a mechanics' strike at WestJet , with the airline cancelling more than 150 flights on Saturday due to the strike by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA).

High-risk driving behaviours amid heavy traffic

Elsewhere in the province, traffic enforcement will be stepped up across the province during the long weekend, according to B.C. Highway Patrol.

In a statement this week, B.C. Highway Patrol said it will be watching for impaired drivers, particularly around recreational areas and festivals where alcohol is served.

Penalties for impaired driving include 24-hour driving prohibitions, immediate driving prohibitions of three, 30, or 90 days with vehicle impoundment, and potential criminal charges.

A bunch of cars are running on a highway, with buildings and a hill in the background.

In an email to CBC News, the Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC) said over Canada Day long weekend, on average, one person is killed and 176 injured in about 605 crashes in B.C. Speed and impairment were the top contributing factors in most of those crashes.

Passengers should exercise caution before travelling: province

Ahead of the Canada Day long weekend, the B.C. government issued a statement advising travellers to exercise caution and readiness due to heightened wildfire risks stemming from warm weather and drought conditions across many areas of the province.

It is urging travellers to stay informed about wildfire conditions, adhere to fire bans and restrictions, and check for updates on road closures, evacuation notices, and other restrictions, including B.C. Parks closures.

No reservation? Avoid taking your car on Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route this weekend, B.C. Ferries says
B.C. Ferries, YVR expect busy Canada Day long weekend

B.C.'s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is also asking motorists to anticipate additional traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway over the long weekend and to allow extra travel time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shaurya Kshatri is a web writer and reporter at CBC News Vancouver. You can reach him at [email protected]

With files from Sohrab Sandhu

Expedia Names Top Canada Day Destinations + TSA Expects Record Screening in Advance of July 4

Canada Day is right around the corner and Expedia data is showing it to be the busiest travel weekend of the summer. Domestically, Toronto (32%), Vancouver (23%), Montréal (25%), Calgary (24%), and Edmonton (17%) are the most sought-after destinations for Canadians, and are also seeing double digit increases, up from Canada Day 2023.

For international travel, New York came in as the top city overall (31%), but Cancun and Las Vegas prove to be the fastest growing with increases of 112% and 61% respectively. Canadians looking to celebrate the holiday abroad are also jet-setting to Rome (22%), Athens (25%), Los Angeles (17%), and London (4%). Interestingly, a new study I mentioned yesterday named New York City, L.A. and Las Vegas as three of the best cities in the U.S.

The Canadian flag at Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta. Expedia Photo

Paris, usually an extremely popular spot for Canadian travellers, has seen a drop for the long-weekend and summer overall as Canadians are looking to avoid the crowds ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.

A much-needed break

The long-awaited long-weekend holiday comes at a time when Canadians are reporting burnout from their jobs. Last week Expedia released its 24 th annual Vacation Deprivation Report where over half of Canadian workers (58%) claimed they weren’t getting enough time off. Surprisingly, only a quarter had booked or already taken vacation for 2024 at the near half-way point proving it’s time to get out there and take that well-deserved PTO.

Last minute trips

For those looking to travel to these trending domestic long-weekend destinations, check out these great still-available stays located near Canada Day festivities:

The cozy and inviting Ace Hotel in Toronto is a sanctuary in the city located near the iconic CN tower. Guests will enjoy the in-room record players and vinyl libraries curated by local independent label Arts & Crafts. A great central location to enjoy the Canada Day offerings such as free admission to the Royal Ontario Museum, live music at Harbourfront Centre, or taking in a Blue Jays game. There’s also a great rooftop bar with fine views of the city.
At Paradox Hotel in Vancouver travellers will find a state-of-the-art-gym, a Chinese ‘haute cuisine’ restaurant and the new 3D cinematic dinning adventure Le Petit Chef . Dogs are also welcome so the whole family can celebrate Canada Day together. A short walk from Canada Place which celebrates the nation with a multi-cultural food-truck line-up, musical main stage, indigenous displays and storytelling.
Hotel Bonaventure in Montréal is an eco-hotel with a rooftop terrace, shopping on site, a relaxing garden and outdoor hot springs and sauna. Located close to top attractions including the Old Port of Montréal which hosts a family friendly Canada Day block party with games, entertainment, and fireworks.
With a 9.2-star rating in the Expedia app, Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Calgary is a comfortable and convenient option for Canada Day travellers. Guest can enjoy a number of nearby festivities such musical entertainment at Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (formerly Fort Calgary), and watching the fireworks over Stampede Park.
At historic Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in Edmonton , travellers can enjoy onsite celebrations such as a Canadian-inspired brunch featuring maple syrup and poutine, and games on the lawn. For those venturing out, the ICE District is hosting a Canada Day bash, and free family programing with activities, food trucks, and ceremonial events is open at the Alberta Legislature.

The Ace Hotel in Toronto has fine views of the city. JIM BYERS PHOTO

Looking to save on upcoming travel? Now through July 14, Expedia members can save 25% or more on thousands of hotels with Expedia’s Summer Sale . With deals valid for travel through the end of October, it’s the perfect time to become a member and lock in a trip to ensure PTO days don’t get left behind this year.

RECORD TSA SCREENING ON JUNE 23: NEW RECORD EXPECTED JUNE 28

Simple Flying says that on June 23, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) set a new record when it screened 2.99 million passengers in the U.S. If .the current trends are anything to go by, US passenger air traffic could set several records in the coming months, particularly around the July Independence Day holiday.

The agency believes that Friday, June 28, will witness peak travel day and expects to screen more than 3 million travelers. Interestingly, seven of the top 10 busiest travel days ever have been recorded over the past month. I guess revenge travel is still with us.

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The Fairmont Kea Lani resort on Maui.

Tagged as: Canada Day , Expedia , Fourth of July , Hawaii Tourism , July 4 , top places to visit for Canada Day , TSA Screening

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Airport peak times

To help you better plan your travel, we’re using past airport data to show you the busiest times of the day.

Busy travel times

If you’re travelling during a busy time, please show up at least 3 hours in advance for flights to the US and international destinations, and at least 2 hours in advance for flights within Canada.

Terminal 1 – Domestic

Busiest at: 5 pm

Hover or click/tap on the bars to see representations of normal, busy, and very busy.

Terminal 1 – International

Busiest at: 4 pm

Terminal 1 – United States

Busiest at: 6 am

Terminal 3 – Domestic / International

Busiest at: 7 pm

Terminal 3 – International

Terminal 3 – United States

Busiest at: 4 am

Additional health processes have increased the processing time at Canadian borders. You may be required to wait onboard the aircraft until space becomes available in the Customs hall.

Busiest at: 3 pm

For the most up to date information, please be sure to follow us on Twitter .

For more on how to prepare for travel through Pearson, please visit our Travel Information Hub .

What to expect

Processing times can vary depending on the day of the week and time of day. Please note that depending on today’s operational realities, you may experience longer wait times outside of the time periods mentioned above.

This information contains data for the previous two weeks. While this information is currently not available in real time, better understanding busier times of day may help you to plan for your arrival at the airport.

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Travelling for Canada Day or U.S. Independence Day? The CBSA gives tips for a smoother trip

From: Canada Border Services Agency

News release

June 25, 2024 Ottawa, Ontario

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reminds travellers of what to expect when crossing the border for the upcoming Canada Day and U.S. Independence Day holidays.

Every day, the CBSA works hard to protect Canadians, support the economy and ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods across our borders. In 2023, we welcomed over 86M travellers and intercepted more than 72,200 kg of prohibited drugs, cannabis, narcotics, and chemicals, representing an increase of close to 30% from 2022.

The CBSA dedicates significant efforts to planning and preparing for peak periods, including long weekends and summer months. We monitor traveller volumes and plan to minimize border wait times at land ports of entry and at international airports, without compromising safety and security.

Here are some tips to help you plan for your trip:

Before you travel, plan ahead

Early mornings are the best time to cross the border to avoid wait times
The Mondays after holiday long weekends tend to be the busiest.
Consider an alternative port of entry with shorter wait times or less traffic.
Check the port of entry’s hours of operation on the official CBSA Directory of Offices and Services
If you are using a GPS application (such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze) to direct you to a port of entry, consider checking different navigation options (such as fastest and shortest routes) to determine the preferred route of travel.
Have your travel documents handy. Speed up processing times by always coming prepared with your travel documents.
Travelling with children? When travelling with a child who is not your own or for whom you don’t have full legal custody, we recommend you have a consent letter from the parent or legal guardian authorizing you to travel with the child. We are always watching for missing children , and in the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions.
Flying into Canada? Use Advance Declaration and make your customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of your arrival into Canada at participating airports.
Entering Canada by boat? You must report to the CBSA without delay. Review reporting requirements for private boaters before making travel plans.

At the border, b e prepared to declare

Declare everything you have with you upon entry into Canada. If arriving by land, you are responsible for everything inside your vehicle. If you are the operator of a boat entering Canadian waters with the intent to disembark, you are responsible for reporting your goods on board.

Are you bringing any of the following into Canada?

Food, plant, or animal products: Consult the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) before bringing any food, plant, or animal products into Canada.
Poultry products: Be sure to review current restrictions on poultry and birds from the United States before bringing these products across the border. Homemade food or leftovers containing poultry cannot be brought into Canada.
Fireworks: Consult Importing, exporting and transporting fireworks to ensure that the fireworks you are bringing in are authorized.
Medication: Make sure you understand your responsibilities when travelling with medication.
Firewood: Firewood from outside of Canada is not permitted as it may contain diseases or invasive insects. Buy local and burn local.
Make sure know how much you are bringing back in Canadian dollars and have your receipts readily available for the officer.
Use the CBSA duty and taxes estimator to help estimate the amounts owed on goods purchased abroad.

Restricted and prohibited goods

Make sure you review the necessary information before attempting to bring certain items into Canada. If not, you risk having your goods seized or facing fines and/or prosecution.

Firearms: Leave them at home. You are encouraged not to travel with firearms. If you choose to do so, be sure to check the rules on importing firearms .
Weapons: Other restricted and prohibited goods include pepper spray, switchblades, and butterfly knives.
Narcotics : Narcotics such as cocaine and heroin, are illegal in Canada. If you are found to be in possession of illegal drugs (on your person, in your vehicle, or in your luggage) you will be arrested and may be charged. The drugs will be seized.
Cannabis: Don’t bring it in. Don’t take it out. While cannabis is legal in Canada, bringing it across the border in any form, including oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is a serious criminal offence subject to arrest and prosecution. A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization.

Not sure? Ask a CBSA officer. The best way to save time is to be open and honest with the CBSA officer. If you are not sure about what to declare, don't hesitate to ask.

For more information, visit the CBSA Website or call us at 1-800-461-9999.

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For more information or to schedule an interview with a CBSA representative, please contact:

Media Relations Canada Border Services Agency [email protected] 1-877-761-5945

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Canada Day long weekend travel kicks up across southern B.C.

By Mike Lloyd and Charlie Carey

Posted June 28, 2024 7:10 am.

Last Updated June 28, 2024 8:32 pm.

As the long weekend quickly approaches, people across southern B.C. are packing up and heading out of town.

BC Ferries is seeing multiple sailing waits on Friday morning for those leaving from the Tsawwassen ferry terminal headed to Swartz Bay or Duke Point.

One traveller, Jodi, tells CityNews that she wasn’t expecting the rain, but it’s not putting a dampener on her spirits.

“We need the rain sometimes, and we’re going to have a good day going forward,” she said.

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In Horseshoe Bay, there’s also a multiple sailing wait for those headed to Nanaimo’s Departure Bay.

BC Ferries says that from June 27 to July 2, it’s expecting to see 530,000 passengers and 195,000 vehicles hop aboard its vessels.

“Friday sailings from Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay terminals to Vancouver Island are full, and so are sailings from Vancouver Island back to the mainland on the Canada Day Monday,” the ferry service said in a statement to CityNews.

“There’s still space to sail between Vancouver Island and the mainland on Saturday, Sunday, and the Tuesday, but reservations are filling up quick, with limited spots left to reserve on sailings in the early morning and later in the evening.”

CityNews meteorologist Michael Kuss says the weather around the province will be about normal for the weekend.

“It really doesn’t matter where you go around the province, it’s going to be around seasonal, not really hot as we get into that Canada Day weekend, but not that cold either,” he explained.

Kuss says that those who are braving the ferry lines and headed to southern Vancouver Island have chosen the best spot to be, weather-wise.

“One of the best spots will be the lower Island around Victoria, at least there’s sun in there for this afternoon. Grayer day on Saturday, a chance for showers, highs in the upper teens,” he added.

Around the capital region will hit highs of in the low 20s under a mix of sun and cloud for Sunday and Monday, he said.

Listen to CityNews 1130 for traffic and weather updates every 10 minutes on the ones. You can also follow @CityNewsTraffic and Meteorologist Michael Kuss on X and subscribe to breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.

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The 4 Days in December You Should Never Fly — And When to Travel Instead

L ast December, nearly 4.7 million people passed through Canada’s major airports, according to data from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). If you were among them, or if you’ve flown in December in years past, you’ve probably accepted that pricey tickets, crowds and stress are just part of the holiday travel deal. But that’s not necessarily true.

While December is indeed a busy month at airports, some days are markedly busier than others. And since being busier often correlates to higher prices (good old supply and demand in action), it stands to reason you might want to avoid those days in particular.

But what days are they? NerdWallet analyzed passenger screening data from CATSA[1], comparing numbers year over year. Four dates stood out — and they might not be the ones you’d expect.

The worst days to fly in December

By looking at CATSA’s data for Canada’s eight largest airports from 2019 to 2022, we were able to find each year’s five busiest days in December (i.e., most passengers screened). We then identified any of those busy days that occurred across two or more years.

Busiest travel days in December at Canada’s eight largest airports:

Dec. 15, 16, 17, 21

Next, we followed the same process but for Canada’s 17 largest airports, which included the top eight, as well as the next nine biggest.

Busiest travel days in December at Canada’s 17 largest airports:

Dec. 15, 16, 17, 21, 24.

Whether looking at the smaller pool of eight major airports or the larger pool of 17, the dates are nearly identical. The worst days to travel historically are Dec. 15, 16, 17 and 21, with Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) coming in as a runner-up.

Nerdy Tip: Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, which is one of the busiest days of any given week to fly, so it could be an especially poor travel date this season.

When to travel instead

If you’re flying during the holidays and want to avoid busy, potentially expensive and stressful days, the data is clear: skip Dec. 15-17 and 21.

To figure out when you should fly instead, NerdWallet again analyzed CATSA screened passenger data for the years 2019 through 2022. However, this time we sought out the five days in December each year with the fewest passengers recorded. Regardless of whether we looked at the top eight airports or expanded to 17, the best days to fly were the same.

Best days to travel in December in Canada:

Dec. 2, 4, 5, 6.

Of course, this information isn’t surprising, considering the winter holiday season often hasn’t started in the first week of December. This year, the season kicks off with the first night of Hanukkah on Dec. 7 and runs through New Year’s Day 2024, which is also the final day of Kwanzaa. In between is Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), Christmas Day (Dec. 25), Boxing Day (Dec. 26) and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31).

Knowing most people can’t take a month off of work to travel, say, Dec. 6 through Jan. 6, 2024 just to avoid some busy days, we expanded the search. Including the next five dates in each respective year with the lowest number of passengers screened yielded some additional travel days that, while not the best possible, have tended to be less busy than the majority of the month.

The next best days to travel in December in Canada’s eight largest airports:

Dec. 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 22, 29.

The next best days to travel in December in Canada’s 17 largest airports:

Dec. 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 22, 26, 29.

Last year, Dec. 9, 12, 26 and 29 were actually some of the busiest days of the month for flights at Canada’s top 17 airports. But in the previous three years, that wasn’t the case. It remains to be seen if they are good, bad or somewhere in between for travel in 2023.

To err on the side of caution, you may want to avoid flying Dec. 29 because it falls on Friday this year, and Friday is typically a busier and far pricier day to fly. To that point, Dec. 22 also falls on a Friday, so despite it being a decent travel day the last three years, it could lose its hot streak.

Nerdy Tip: Of the next-best dates listed above, Dec. 7 and 13 are the safest if you’re looking to save money on your vacation . Those have been decent travel dates the last four years and neither fall on a traditionally busy day of the week this year.

More things to consider when booking your flights

Here are some additional things to keep in mind as you plan this and any future holiday travel:

If you spend the holidays in a different country, keep in mind regionality. Boxing Day isn’t observed in the U.S., for instance. Ethiopia observes Christmas on Jan. 7 each year, and Chinese New Year can fall somewhere in January or February depending on the year. Be sure to do a little research before booking any travel.
Don’t be afraid to fly the day of a holiday if it works best for you. These dates can sometimes be cheaper since most people want to arrive at their destination in the days preceding.
Realize a good or bad travel day last year might not be the same this year, especially because some holidays, like Hanukkah, change dates annually.
Know that prices will always vary depending on your departure and arrival cities, number of connections, seat class, airport, airline and more. Always shop around to find the best price irrespective of which days have historically been most or least busy.
Use these tips to keep holiday flight costs down and maximize your travel savings.

Article Sources

Canadian Air Transport Security Authority , “ Screened passenger data ,” accessed October 30, 2023.

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Best & Worst Days to Fly & Travel for the Holidays – Thanksgiving & Christmas 2024

Best Worst Days to Fly for Holiday Travel

There are a limited number of flights available for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, so it is important to book as early as possible (ideally by early September at the latest) for the best prices. Additionally, some days are much better than others to fly when it comes to crowds and cost. This guide will detail how far in advance to book travel for the 2024 holiday season as well as the best and worst days to fly.

Table of Contents

How Far in Advance to Book 2024 Holiday Travel

Ideally, you should book your Thanksgiving and Christmas flights many months in advance. As a rule, we suggest booking domestic flights at least one to three months in advance. For international flights, you should book at least two to eight months in advance, but the earlier the better. For the holidays, you should book even earlier if possible to guarantee a desirable route, time, seat, and price.

Thanksgiving (book before Halloween)

I recommend booking your Thanksgiving flight by late August or early September for the best price. If possible, book in June or July. Book international flights even earlier. If you wait too long, you should aim to book by Halloween at the latest. While it is possible to get a decent deal after Halloween, your chances dramatically decrease. Your odds of finding a desirable flight time also go down when booking after Halloween. Here is a ranking of our recommended times.

June, July, and August – Best combination of inventory and cheap prices
Early through Middle September – Still a great time
Early October – Deals are still available but desirable flights may be limited
Halloween – Book Thanksgiving flights by Halloween at the latest
November – High prices and poor flights (connections, middle seats, bad times, etc.)

Further Reading: When to Book Thanksgiving Flights – Best & Worst Times

Christmas (book before Thanksgiving)

The best deals on Christmas flights are usually available through late August and early September . If possible, book even earlier in June or July. At the latest, you should book by Thanksgiving, but the earlier the better. If it is December and you still do not have a flight, you should expect to pay a premium. Additionally, you will likely only have undesirable flight times to choose from with the potential for one or more connections. Here is a ranking of our recommended booking times.

Early October – Google’s recommendation. Cheap prices but lower inventory
Thanksgiving – Book Christmas flights by Thanksgiving at the latest
December – High prices and poor flights (connections, middle seats, bad times, etc.)

Further Reading: When to Book Christmas Flights – Best & Worst Times

Best & Worst Days to Fly for the Holidays in 2024

Being on a Thursday every year, the best and worst days to fly for Thanksgiving are predictable. Christmas is a little more difficult since it does not fall on the same day of the week every year. Here are the days you should target and the days you should avoid this holiday season.

To come up with our best and worst dates forecast, we sampled hundreds of flight prices around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our sample included numerous departure and arrival cities around the United States. Additionally, we researched TSA data from previous years where Christmas has fallen on the same day of the week.

Thanksgiving (best departure and return dates)

Our 2023 Thanksgiving Travel Survey showed more than 45.21% of American adults intended to travel to a vacation destination or holiday gathering last year. That means tens of millions of people fought over seats for a very limited number of flights. We expect our 2024 Thanksgiving Travel Survey to show increased intent.

Best Thanksgiving Travel Dates for 2024

As the table shows, you want to depart early during the week. If possible, Sunday is even better than Monday. While not ideal, Thanksgiving Day is a great day to fly . Black Friday is also a good day to fly if you can swing a shorter trip.

Most people return home the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so aim to fly back on Black Friday or the Monday after Turkey Day. If you can wait another day, Tuesday is even better than Monday.

Worst Thanksgiving Travel Dates for 2024

Avoid the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at all costs. It is one of the most popular days of the year to fly, so it is very busy and expensive. Additionally, airports are always packed, so it is an extra stressful experience.

Avoid the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving for your return flight. Most people fly that day to get home before the workweek. I recommend flying home on Black Friday or the Monday or Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Christmas (best departure and return dates)

Our 2023 Christmas Travel Survey shows 50.44% of American adults intended to travel to a vacation destination or gathering. We expect our 2024 Christmas Travel Survey to show increased intent.

Since Christmas falls on a different day every year, the best days to fly change. Other things such as school and business closures affect the dates too. Christmas can fall on a weekend, which further complicates things. Generally, the worst day to fly for Christmas is December 23, but that is not a hard rule.

Best Christmas Travel Dates for 2024

The earlier you depart the week before Christmas the better. If possible, fly on Tuesday, December 17, Wednesday, December 18 or Thursday, December 19. Flying on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is ideal for cheaper prices and fewer crowds too, but you may not want to travel on a holiday.

Christmas falls on a Wednesday this year, so many people will fly home the day after. Thursday, December 26 and Friday, December 27 will be popular travel days, so try and wait until Saturday, December 28 or Monday, December 30 to head home. Based on previous years, Sunday, December 29 is likely to be a busy travel day, so you should avoid it.

Worst Christmas Travel Dates for 2024

The four days before Christmas Eve, the 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, are going to be busy travel days. I recommend avoiding them and departing earlier in the week if you can.

Avoid the Thursday and Friday after Christmas for your return flight; Many people look to get home as quickly as possible after Christmas. Additionally, data from previous years when Christmas has fallen on a Wednesday indicate Sunday, December 29 will be a busy travel day.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Travel Tips

Best Dates to Fly:

Saturday, December 28
Monday, December 30
Tuesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve – Specifically at Night)
Wednesday, January 1 (New Year’s Day – In the Morning)
Saturday, January 4, 2025

Worst Dates to Fly :

Sunday, December 29
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Friday, January 3, 2025

We recommend flying out for New Year’s on Saturday, December 28, or Monday, December 30 because Sunday, December 29 is traditionally a busy day to fly. While it is not ideal, flying out on the night of New Year’s Eve or the morning of New Year’s Day is generally cheap. Unfortunately, you will probably miss New Year’s Eve activities if you opt for an evening flight. An early New Year’s Day flight is not optimal either unless you can go bed very early on New Year’s Eve.

Fly home on Saturday, January 4 because Thursday, January 2 and Friday, January 3 are likely to be much busier.

Average Holiday Flight Prices for 2024 – Thanksgiving ($300) and Christmas ($400)

With November here, flight prices are increasing for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Expect to pay on average $300 for a roundtrip Flight for Thanksgiving. For Christmas, expect to pay on average $400 for a roundtrip flight.

Those prices will vary by your destination and dates of travel, so we recommend doing your homework before booking. If possible, travel on our recommended days and avoid the worst days.

We’ve found many domestic Thanksgiving and Christmas flights for under $200. We’ve also found various international Thanksgiving and Christmas flights for under $500.

Flexibility is the key to finding the absolute cheapest holiday flights. Use the Google Flights Explore map to find the best flight deals from your home airport or city around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Air Travel is Setting Records for the 2024 Holiday Season

On most days, hundreds of thousands more travelers are going through TSA checkpoints compared to the same day as last year. For 2024, we expect holiday travel numbers to increase from 2023 figures.

Further Reading: What to Do if Your Airline Cancels or Delays Your Flight and How to Avoid Airline Flight Delays & Cancellations

Other Tips For Scoring a Cheap Holiday Flight Deal

Check out our guide to finding and booking cheap flights for additional tips. A few of the major tips may not be applicable with holiday travel (being very flexible on dates and destinations), but other guidelines can help. Here are a few of them.

Do: Start With Google Flights
Do: Be Open to Different Nearby Departure and Arrival Airports
Do: Be Open to All Airlines
Do: Be Open to Flights With Connections
Don’t: Waste Your Time Clearing Cookies
Don’t: Waste Your Time Browsing in Incognito

Additionally, our best websites to book cheap flights guide and top airline credit cards tutorial can help you save even more money.

Further Reading: Clearing Cookies or Searching Incognito Does Not Show Cheaper Flight Prices

The best days to fly for Thanksgiving are the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday before Turkey Day.

The worst day to fly for Thanksgiving is the Wednesday before.

The best days are the Friday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday after Turkey Day. The worst day are the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving.

It is, but it is not ideal for most people.

It is, but most people do not want to fly home on the day after Thanksgiving.

Book by the middle of September at the latest for the best price, but you should ideally book earlier. Book even earlier for international flights. Do not wait until after Halloween to book.

It depends since Christmas is on a different day each year. Shoot for at least a few days before Christmas Eve.

Avoid the two days before Christmas Eve.

It depends since Christmas is on a different day each year. Shoot for at least a few days after Christmas.

Book by the middle of September for the best price. Book even earlier for international flights. Do not wait until after Thanksgiving to book.

The Vacationer’s Final Thoughts

Ideally, you have already booked your 2024 holiday travel. If you have not done so already, there is still time to get a deal, but you need to move quickly. Shoot for the dates discussed in the article and avoid the bad ones. After the holidays are over, follow our best days of the week to fly and our best day of the week to book flights guides.

By Phil Dengler

In addition to being a co-founder of The Vacationer, Phil Dengler is also the head of editorial and marketing. Previously, he ran a popular holiday deals website where he was a trusted source for all things Black Friday. With The Vacationer, Phil combines his knowledge of deals with his love of travel to help you plan the perfect vacation.

When to Book Thanksgiving Flights – Travel Guide & Tips for 2024

When to Book Christmas Flights – Travel Guide & Tips for 2024

Christmas Travel Survey 2023 – 50.44% (131 million American adults) to Travel for the Holidays; 59%+ Expect Airline Delays & Cancellations

Data shows Toronto is the most sought-after destination for Canada Day getaways

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If you're a Toronto resident who's looking to do some travel over the Canada Day long weekend, it might be time to think again: according to new data, you already live in the hottest destination for Canada Day travellers.

The long weekend is right around the corner and, according to data from Expedia , it's shaping up to be one of the — if not the — busiest travel weekends of the entire summer, and it's the 6ix that travellers have their sights set on.

According to the data, a whopping 32 per cent of people travelling domestically this Canada Day long weekend are booking tickets to Toronto, trumping other major cities in the country like Montreal (25 per cent) and Vancouver (23 per cent).

For those travelling internationally, New York leads the pack at 31 per cent, but Cancun and Las Vegas appear to be the fastest growing in terms of popularity, with search traffic up 112 per cent and 61 per cent respectively.

The surge in travel for Canadian vacationers couldn't come at a better time, it seems, as Expedia recently also dropped their 24th annual Vacation Deprivation Report , and found that more than half the surveyed Canadian workers felt they weren't getting enough vacation.

There's no time like the present, and no better type of weekend than a long weekend to finally get that well-deserved RnR — and if you happen to be staying in (or visiting) Toronto over the weekend, there's plenty of things to do .

Vadim Rodnev /Shutterstock

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The Busiest Days to Fly During the Winter Holidays

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Most weeks of the year, Friday is the busiest day for air travel, and Tuesday is the least busy day. During the holidays, though, that doesn’t necessarily hold true.

In most years, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day at U.S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration, which tracks the number of passengers screened daily. The two days after Christmas also see heavy travel. And since Christmas falls on a Monday this year, that might mean an abnormally busy Tuesday and Wednesday of that week.

To avoid crowds and save money, consider skipping the busy days and book your flights on one of the slower ones. Here’s a breakdown of the best and worst days to fly during the winter holidays, and how you can strategize to avoid crowds and save money.

» Learn more: Popular airline cards used to book holiday travel

The busiest days to fly around Thanksgiving

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is brutal for airport crowds. Last year, about 83% more people flew on the Sunday after Thanksgiving than on Thanksgiving Day, according to TSA data, making it the busiest travel day of 2022.

That same Sunday was also the year’s single busiest airport travel day in both 2019 and 2021. In 2020, the busiest days of the year for air travel were largely concentrated in January and February, before the widespread impact of COVID-19, which would reduce holiday travel later in the year.

Here’s a look at the days surrounding Thanksgiving week over the past four years, ranked in order of most to fewest air travelers at the TSA’s U.S. checkpoints:

Assuming past trends continue in 2023, expect Sunday, Nov. 26, to be the busiest travel day around Thanksgiving , followed by Wednesday, Nov. 22. Even if you fly out one day ahead of the biggest crowds, Saturday, Nov. 25, will also likely be busy.

And this year, crowds will likely be bigger based on the fact that past 2023 holidays have already set air travel records. For example, 2023’s Fourth of July weekend set records for U.S. air travel. More than 2.884 million people passed through TSA checkpoints on the Friday before July 4, according to TSA checkpoint data. That topped the previous record, which was on the Sunday after Thanksgiving 2019, when a recorded 2.882 million people passed through TSA checkpoints.

The busiest days to fly around Christmas

Christmas airport crowds can be trickier to predict than Thanksgiving crowds given that the holiday falls on a different day of the week each year and air travel patterns are often dictated by the workweek. This year, Christmas falls on a Monday.

But just as the Sunday after Thanksgiving tends to draw huge crowds, the days just after Christmas are wildly popular . And much like how few people travel on Thanksgiving Day itself, relatively few people travel on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

Here’s a look at Christmas and the seven calendar dates before and after over the past four years, ranked by most to fewest average air travelers, based on TSA checkpoint data:

This year, you might expect Friday, Dec. 22, to be particularly busy. Friday is typically the busiest travel day in any given week, and — especially during Christmas week — many holiday travelers may leave on that day.

According to Chase Travel, Friday, Dec. 22, is one of the top three busiest days across all flights booked in either December 2023 or January 2024 (the other two busiest days are Saturday, Dec. 23, and Saturday, Dec. 30). Similarly, booking site Hopper anticipates that day having the highest fare for the Christmas season.

This holiday travel season may see some relief, though. Hanukkah, which begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, can sometimes align closely with Christmas. The eight-day celebration ran from Dec. 18-26 in 2022, but this year will commence on Dec. 15 — likely before the Christmas crowds start.

Another consideration for travel is that the weeklong celebration of Kwanzaa runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.

How to choose less crowded (and cheaper) travel days

The holiday travel season is always expensive, but there is some decrease from last year's prices. Airfares for Christmas trips are averaging $400 according to Hopper data. That’s down 12%, or about $52 per ticket, from last year. The bad news is that it's still 29% higher than holiday airfares were in 2019.

Travel on the holiday: Traveling on the holiday is often the best way to avoid crowds and save money. Last year, 23.4% more people flew on the day after Christmas versus Christmas Day, which fell on a Sunday.

And that demand has a strong effect on prices. According to Hopper, domestic flights on Christmas Day average about 26% less than peak prices.

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Book morning flights: If you are traveling on the holiday, catch the first flight out for the day and you might arrive in time for evening festivities. Taking early flights is also considered good practice to reduce your odds of a flight delay . In the first half of 2023, 7.8% of flights were delayed because an aircraft arrived late, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data.

Stay longer: If you can take the days off or work remotely, then it can make sense to fly as long before or after a holiday as possible.

For Thanksgiving, Hopper recommends flying the Monday of Thanksgiving week and returning any weekday the following week. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is historically the busiest day to fly, so extending your trip by just one day can save you money. According to Hopper, airfares average 40% less on the Monday after Thanksgiving versus the Sunday after.

For Christmas, Hopper recommends departing the Monday or Tuesday before Christmas weekend and returning midweek following the holiday.

Skip holiday travel completely: If you don’t mind celebrating in an unconventional way, consider participating in something like an un-holiday, where you shift the celebration by a couple of days or weeks.

How to maximize your rewards

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No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

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Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

How to survive the busiest travel day of the year at Pearson International

Travellers flying out of Toronto Pearson International Airport on Friday will need to plan ahead and gird themselves for what is expected to be the airport’s busiest travel day of the year, according to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority.

More than 170,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport on Friday, breaking last year’s record of more than 160,000 passengers.

The GTAA recommends planning ahead, checking the traffic to the airport, and arriving early to give buffer time for the larger crowds.

For those travelling internationally, an eDeclaration app is available from Canada Border Services Agency, which can help save time when processing through Canadian customs.

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) also has an app that allows travellers to check wait times at major Canadian airport security screening checkpoints, as well as other information such as what is allowed or not allowed in carry-on and checked baggages.

Feeling overwhelmed about crowds and flying? The GTAA has you covered with a therapy dog program to help calm frayed nerves.

“If you’re an anxious flyer, you don’t really like crowds, St John Ambulance is part of our welcome team here. There’s 13 dogs that will walk up and down in some of the passenger areas and just give people a chance to pet the dogs, chill out a bit,” Robin Smith, GTAA media spokesperson told CTV News.

Pearson is ranked top five among the world’s most connected airports alongside London Heathrow, Chicago O’Hare, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam. The airport, a megahub for international travellers and the biggest gateway for Canadians heading abroad, is expecting a record-breaking 10.7 million passengers between the Canada Day and Labour Day long weekends, the GTAA said.

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These Are the Busiest Travel Days of the Year, According to TSA

The holidays and holiday weekends often bring with them some of the most congested days at the country’s airports and on the roads..

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Long lines at TSA security screening checkpoint

The Tuesday and Wednesday just before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after Thanksgiving are often among the busiest travel days of the year.

Photo by Jim Lambert / Shutterstock

Every year, millions of people embark on journeys, whether for business or leisure. After a few years of much less crowded airports due to the pandemic, the International Air Transport Association is reporting that passenger numbers are just about what they were prepandemic levels.

However, there have already been a number of days that have surpassed prepandemic levels and they’ve largely fallen right before or after holidays.

Take Independence Day, for example. In 2023, AAA projected that 4.17 million people flew over the July Fourth holiday period, surpassing the previous air travel record of 3.91 million travelers, set in 2019. Similarly, TSA screened a record number of passengers on the Sunday following Thanksgiving in 2022, with more than 2.56 million passengers.

According to the TSA, the busiest travel days of the year are usually the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after Thanksgiving . TSA recorded its highest passenger screening volume in its history on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2019, when nearly 2.9 million passengers passed through TSA checkpoints. But Thanksgiving and Christmas aren’t the only times we can expect busy airports. Here are the busiest travel day of the year.

Busiest travel days of the year

Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to be the busiest travel days of the year, but other holidays like Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Labor Day also see some of the highest volumes of air passengers.

So far this year, daily passenger numbers have been growing each month. In all of 2022, only one day had more than 2.5 million air passengers in the United States: November 27 (the Sunday after Thanksgiving), with 2.560 million. As of August 20, 2023, there had already been more than 75 days in the calendar year that had surpassed 2.5 million air passengers, according to TSA checkpoint data .

These have been the five busiest travel days in the last full year:

July 30: 2.793 million passengers
July 28: 2.785 million passengers
July 23: 2.789 million passengers
June 30: 2.884 million passengers (the new record for the busiest air travel day ever in the United States)
June 16: 2.785 million passengers

For reference, the busiest travel day in all of 2019 was November 27, with 2.882 million passengers.

The busiest travel days around Christmas and New Year’s, historically

As for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the number of travelers is likely to ramp up during the end of December and into early January as well. In 2019, the highest number of travelers during the Christmas and New Year period was on Friday, December 17 (one week before Christmas), when 2.6 million travelers passed through TSA checkpoints. The second busiest day was Christmas Eve, with 2.58 million travelers, followed by the day after Christmas with 2.57 million travelers.

Decorated Christmas trees frame skyscraper in New York City

New York City consistently ranks as one of the top domestic travel destinations for the holidays.

Photo by Elias Andres Jose/Unsplash

Tips for flying during the busiest times of the year

There are a few ways to make travel easier and clear busy TSA checkpoints more quickly, this holiday season.

Get TSA PreCheck, Clear, and/or Global Entry

Never have these security expediting services been more valuable than during the current congestion happening at U.S. airports. TSA PreCheck recently reduced its prices from $85 to $78 for a five-year membership, and it’s only $70 to renew . Clear costs $189 per year. International travelers should consider the $100 Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck, for expedited customs screening upon arrival in the United States—and there’s a secret way to speed up the application process .

Check to see if your airport has a fast-pass security lane you can book in advance—for free

No TSA PreCheck or Clear? Select U.S. airports are giving travelers the option to make an advance “fast pass” reservation to head to the front of the security line—free of charge. We’ve compiled the full list of airports that offer this service .

Consider traveling with carry-on only

For those who don’t want to risk their luggage getting lost during a busy travel time when airports remain understaffed, traveling with carry-on may be your best bet. Another alternative? Luggage-shipping services .

Know what you can bring through security

If you’re traveling with carry-on, know what you can and cannot pack in said carry-on. By now, you know you can only carry on liquids in containers 3.4 ounces or smaller, so be sure that holiday items such as gravy, cranberry sauce, or wine are either left behind or packed in a checked bag as they are considered liquids and could otherwise be confiscated (and create delays). Check AFAR’s in-depth guide to what foods you can bring through TSA to make sure that what you’ve packed in your carry-on can pass through security.

Thoroughly check your bags before leaving the house

TSA recommends that travelers fully empty their bags prior to packing to make sure that they don’t accidentally bring something to the airport that they didn’t intend to bring, which could cause further delays.

Monitor the weather

Check the weather and forecasts that are available on sites such as the National Weather Service , the Weather Channel , and AccuWeather so that you can be prepared for possible disruptions and establish back-up plans for delayed travel.

Get to the airport earlier than you’d think

The lines and wait times at the country’s airports (and abroad, too) are longer than they’ve been in years. Best to arrive early and have some extra time postsecurity than risk missing your flight waiting in an hours-long check-in or security line. Aim for at least two hours before domestic flights and at least three for international flights.

Know if and when you are due a refund because of a delayed or canceled flight

On September 1, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) launched a new Aviation Consumer Protection website to help travelers track down what kind of refunds or compensation their airline should provide when there is a cancellation or delay.

Airlines aren’t required to compensate passengers when flights are delayed or canceled due to problems deemed beyond the company’s control, like bad weather. They also aren’t required to provide a refund when the passenger initiates the cancellation or flight change. But a refund is required by U.S. law when the airline cancels, delays, or alters a flight, or passengers are involuntarily bumped from a flight that is oversold or due to issues originating from the airline, such as operational or staffing problems.

Additionally, after the federal government began cracking down on airlines this year, all of the major U.S. airlines vowed to provide meal vouchers for delays of more than three hours and to provide transfers and hotel stays to passengers affected by an overnight cancellation. They have all also agreed to rebook travelers on an alternate flight at no added cost due to a delay or cancellation and most will also rebook on a partner airline.

This article originally appeared online in 2018; it was most recently updated in August 2023 to include current information.

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The Best—and Worst—Times to Travel Over Labor Day Weekend

Time your trip to avoid traffic.

When Is Labor Day?

Travel Times to Avoid
How to Beat the Crowds

Svetlana-Cherruty / Getty Images

Labor Day weekend is almost here, and whether you’re staying home to get some much-needed rest or traveling across state lines, the streets will be filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic. Knowing the exact times when traffic will peak is an important part of planning your holiday weekend, but don’t worry—we’ve gathered the best and worst times to travel over Labor Day weekend, so you don’t have to. Follow our advice and save yourself from the gridlock this weekend.

This year, Labor Day 2024 will take place on Monday, September 2. The federal holiday was designed to celebrate workers across the country and their contributions to the American economy, and as a result, most working people are granted a three-day weekend. The holiday is hugely popular, with many people getting on the road and treating their weekend as a mini-vacation—but the journey can be grueling.

The Best and Worst Times to Travel During Labor Day Weekend

If you’re traveling by air, avoid scheduling flights for Friday, August 30, especially during the midmorning and midafternoon (the busiest time for air travel). The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) anticipates August 30th will be its busiest day, with an estimated 2.86 million travelers expected to fly. Additionally, multiple airlines—including United Airlines and American Airlines—are expecting to host a record-breaking number of travelers this year.

For road travelers, the worst time to drive on Thursday, August 29 is between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with rush hour traffic at its peak during the midafternoon. On Friday, August 30, the worst time to hit the road is between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. On Monday, September 2, the roads will be packed from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

How to Beat the Crowd Ahead of Labor Day

If you're traveling, it's likely you'll be delayed by large crowds at some point this Labor Day weekend, but by knowing what to expect and planning ahead, you can be better prepared. Leaving an hour or two early can help you avoid peak congestion, especially on Labor Day. If you’re traveling by plane , arrive at the airport several hours in advance to give yourself enough time to check in, go through security, and find your gate. Remember: this isn’t your average get-to-the-airport-an-hour-before-the-flight experience.

Additionally, now is the time to optimize your TSA pre-check and E-ZPass to speed through as quickly as possible. The faster you make it through routine processes, the quicker you’ll get to your destination. Don’t forget to drive safely, hydrate often, and practice the virtue of patience .

Christmas travel tips: Best and worst days to fly or drive

AAA predicts this holiday season will be the busiest ever for air travel.

Millions of Americans are gearing up to hit the highway and take to the skies ahead of the holidays.

Here's what you need to know before packing your bags:

Holiday travel by air

AAA predicts this holiday season will be the busiest ever for air travel, with 7.5 million people projected to fly from Saturday, Dec. 23 to Monday, Jan. 1. This would break the record high of 7.3 million flyers set during the 2019 holiday season.

Thursday, Dec. 21 and Friday, Dec. 22 are forecast to be the busiest days for departures, according to Hopper.

Domestic airfares are averaging $349 round trip -- a 3% increase from last year, according to Hopper.

MORE: Delta flight carrying 270 diverted to remote Canadian town

The cheapest days to fly will be Dec. 19, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to Hopper. The most expensive days are Dec. 22 and Dec. 26.

United Airlines said it expects its busiest-ever holiday travel season, with about 9 million passengers planning to fly from Dec. 21 to Jan. 8. This is a 12% jump from last year.

United said it anticipates Dec. 22 and Dec. 23 will be its busiest days for Christmas travel, while Jan. 2 will be the busiest day for New Year's travel.

Delta Air Lines is preparing for nearly 9 million customers during its holiday travel period, which runs from Dec. 21 to Jan. 7.

Delta said its peak days are expected to be Dec. 21 to Dec. 22 and Dec. 26 to Dec. 30.

Holiday travel by road

MORE: What every motorist needs to know about driving in snow

AAA expects 104 million people to hit the road over the holidays -- a 1.8% increase from last year.

The busiest days are forecast to be Saturday, Dec. 23; Thursday, Dec. 28; and Saturday, Dec. 30, according to transportation analytics company INRIX.

If you're leaving for the holidays on Dec. 23, the best time to head out the door is before 10 a.m., according to INRIX. And if you're heading home the day after Christmas, the roads will be emptiest before noon, INRIX said.

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GBTA Canada Business Travel Forums 2024

Sponsorship Opportunities

Know Before You Go

GBTA Canada Business Travel Forums

The GBTA Canada Business Travel Forums are meticulously crafted as a one-day education and networking program replicated in four Canadian cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto. The program is strategically structured to deliver invaluable knowledge, profound insights, and cutting-edge education to an industry grappling with escalating costs, supply chain uncertainties, and multifaceted disruptions.

Alongside the invaluable educational content, the Forums offer curated networking opportunities, with ample time allocated for meaningful buyer interaction within the Supplier Showcase. By participating in these enriching workshops, our esteemed sponsors gain a crucial platform to highlight their commitment to evolving in alongside the ever-changing landscape of travel programs and traveler expectations.

Sponsoring the Business Travel Forum unequivocally underscores our travel suppliers’ dedication to advancing the Canadian Business Travel Industry and fortifying the development of robust Corporate Travel Programs. Join us in driving the growth of the Canadian business travel sector while forging lasting connections and staying at the forefront of industry innovation.

September 17

September 19, 2024 sponsor.

Ready to Sponsor?

Ready to sponsor or need expert advice on which opportunity is best for your organization? Fill out the form below and a member of our Sponsorship team will reach out to you shortly.

All events will feature the same agenda.

7:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Registration, 8:00 am – 9:30 am, sponsor showcase, 8:30 am – 9:15 am, buyer only breakfast, 9:30 am – 9:35 am, welcome and opening remarks.

• GBTA Welcome • Host Hotel Welcome

With: Janette Acosta Sanchez Country Director – GBTA Canada

9:35 AM – 10:20 AM

Session #1 – “content crisis” – ever changing distribution strategies for suppliers.

Airlines are not the only ones disrupting the way we get content. NDC for Hotels? Yup, that’s a thing and it’s coming soon. Sourcing rail content from aggregator is becoming common. NDC vs. EDIFACT, what is the difference, and why do I care? My hotel gives me bonus points if I book on their app. Are loyalty points the new world currency? All of these changes make us less dependent on a GDS, how will a TMC service a booking? I’m confused! Help, this is a crisis!

VANCOUVER speaker: Lana Day, Global Account Manager, WestJet CALGARY speaker: Lana Day, Global Account Manager, WestJet MONTREAL speaker: Kristen Hrycoy, Sr. Global Partner Business Manager, SAP Concur TORONTO speaker: Kristen Hrycoy, Sr. Global Partner Business Manager, SAP Concur

10:20 AM – 10:40 AM

Supplier spotlight .

The Spotlight will be on our participating sponsor suppliers as they share a brief highlight important for Canadian business travel.

10:40 AM – 11:00 AM

Networking break & sponsor showcase , 11:00 am – 11:45 am, session #2 – meeting and events attendee experience .

This session will map out the attendee journey from pre-event and registration to post event engagement, helping to identify opportunities to provide personalized experiences, target attendee preferences, pain points and understand audience expectations. We will provide best practices for delivering a successful event with high attendee engagement. Our panelists will share insights and perspectives on how to successfully plan for the attendee journey to achieve overall goals.

VANCOUVER speaker: Eduardo Galvao, Executive Director of Specialty Markets and Canada, Hilton CALGARY speaker: Eduardo Galvao, Executive Director of Specialty Markets and Canada, Hilton & Natasha Botbijl, Meetings & Event Co-ordinator, Ledcor Industries Inc. Jeff Reyes, Account Director, IHG Global Sales MONTREAL speaker: Adam Levine, Regional Sales Manager – Corporate, URGO Hotels & Resorts Canada PAR HHMM Hotels TORONTO speaker: Lisa Veress, Manager, Travel Operations Manulife Financial & Vanessa Menard, Global Account Executive, Global Sales U.S & Canada – Marriott

11:45 PM– 12:30 PM

Session #3 – individual profile risk .

An inclusive organizational culture isn’t just about internal dynamics—it’s also crucial for managing travel risk effectively. We will talk about how individual traveler profile characteristics can multiply the risk level of a destination, and how to identify these multipliers, and ensure you are providing the right advice and adequate protection to all your business travelers. We will discuss strategies for addressing individual profile risk in trip preparation, and the additional value that this will bring to your travel program, and your organization.

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Networking lunch & sponsor showcase , 1:30 pm – 2:15 pm, session #4 – “don’t show me the money” invisible hotel payment process.

Explore virtual payments, their mechanics, benefits, drawbacks, and self-assessment questions to gauge their suitability for your organization. We will dive into the problems they can solve and how they work along with possible concerns to be aware of. This is well suited for anyone making payments for corporate travel.

VANCOUVER speaker: Michael Duffy, VP Product and Innovation Grasp Technologies CALGARY speaker: Carmen Stinson, Managing Director, National Corporate Housing MONTREAL speaker: Juliann Pless, SVP, Travel Solutions, Edenred TORONTO speaker: Michael Duffy, VP Product and Innovation Grasp Technologies

2:15 PM – 2:30 PM

Session #6 – ndc report card – part 1.

NDC Report Card: Implementation status and learnings from around the world – A separately taped fireside chat with two IATA representatives to discuss how NDC implementation is going for other regions around the world and what Canada can learn from them on our journey.

Pre-recorded Video-panel discussion Yanick Hoyles, Director, Distribution, IATA Michaela Zaharieva, Manager, Distribution Communications, IATA

2:30 PM – 2:50 PM

Supplier spotlight .

The Spotlight will be on our participating sponsor suppliers as they share a brief highlight important for Canadian business travel.

2:50 PM – 3:15 PM

Break & sponsor showcase, 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm, session #5 – role of sustainability procurement standards in a hotel program .

Hotel procurement forms a crucial part of managed travel programs, with travel managers often evaluating thousands of hotel RFP (Request for Proposal) responses annually. As sustainability becomes a core objective in many travel programs, having a straightforward approach to assess the sustainability of hotel suppliers is more essential than ever. To meet this need, the GBTA Foundation, in collaboration with the Sustainability Committee, has released the new Sustainable Procurement Standards for Hotels. • Where is your organization at on your sustainability journey • What are the right questions to include in your RFPs that align with your sustainability goals • Are your hotel partners supporting your sustainability goals VANCOUVER speaker: TBD CALGARY speaker: Derrick Britt, Director, Sales Canada, Choice Hotels MONTREAL speaker: Megan Page, Senior Advisor, Norton Rose Fulbright TORONTO speaker: Brenda McCullough, Area Sales Manager, Hilton Hotels

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM

Session #6 – iata fireside chat – part 2.

A separately taped fireside chat with two IATA representatives to discuss how NDC implementation is going for other regions around the world and what Canada can learn from them on our journey.

Yanick Hoyles, Director, Distribution, IATA Michaela Zaharieva, Manager, Distribution Communications, IATA Facilitator: TBD

4:15 PM – 4:30 PM

Wrap-up & prize drawing , 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm, networking reception in sponsor showcase .

*Please note that the agenda can be subject to change

GBTA Canada Business Travel Forums | Vancouver

Event details.

The GBTA Canada Business Travel Forum 2024 in Vancouver will take place on Tuesday September 17 th , 2024, hosted by: Hilton Vancouver Metrotown 6083 McKay Avenue Burnaby, BC V5H 2W7 604-438-1200 Hotel Website

Thank you to our venue sponsor:

Rooms are available at a rate of $279 per night, plus applicable taxes. Each individual guest must make their own reservations by, Friday, August 23, 2024. They must identify themselves as members of the Global Business Travel Association Group. All reservations must be guaranteed and accompanied by a first night room deposit or guaranteed with a major credit card. Reservations can be made by calling the Hotel Toll Free Line at 1-888-744-5866, Locally at (604) 438-1200, Central Reservations at 1-888-559-4599 or by using this reservation link .

Cancellations made less than 48 hours prior to arrival date and no-shows will be charged one night room and tax to their credit card.

Check in Time: 4:00PM Check Out Time: 12 Noon

Attendee Day Parking: Complimentary parking for the first 3 hours is available in the underground parkade in Red, Brown and Green zones on P1, P2, P3 and P4, $3.00 each half hour or portion to a maximum of $13.00 per day inclusive of tax (subject to change). The parkade is accessible off Kingsborough Street.

Overnight Registered Guests: There is a Blue Zone located on each level and parking in this zone is reserved for overnight hotel guests/valet service only. Guests must register their vehicle’s license plate at the front desk. Access to the Hotel Lobby via stairs or elevator is located in the “Blue” zone. Overnight self-parking is available at $21.00 inclusive of tax per day. Daytime valet parking is available at $19.00 and overnight valet parking is available at $29.00, both inclusive of tax per day. Subject to change.

The clearance of the parkade is 6’6”. The hotel does not have on site over-height parking, however, please reach out for alternative parking options. Additional charges may apply.

Registration Pricing:

Gbta canada business travel forums | calgary.

The GBTA Canada Business Travel Forum 2024 in Calgary will be Thursday September 19th, 2024, hosted by:

Alt Hotel Calgary University District 482 McLaurin St. NW Calgary, AB T3B 6K3 403-648-0482 Hotel Website

Rooms are available for this event at a starting ate of $175 per night, plus applicable taxes, Rooms must be booked by August 20 th , 2024.

Rooms can be booked by calling the hotel directly at 833-391-0482 or 403-648-0482 or by using this reservation link .

All reservations must be guaranteed with a major credit card.

Check In Time: 3:00PM Check out Time: 12 Noon

Underground Parking is available day and night. $20 for 24 hours.

GBTA Canada Business Travel Forums | Montreal

The GBTA Canada Business Travel Forum 2024 in Montreal will take place on Tuesday October 22 nd , 2024, hosted by:

Marriott Montréal Chateau Champlain 1 Place du Canada, Montréal QC H3B 4C9 Tel: 514-878-9000 Hotel Website

Rooms are available for this event at a rate of $275 per night, plus applicable taxes. Rooms must be booked by September 21 st , 2024.

Rooms can be booked by calling the hotel directly, 514-878-9000, 800-200-5909 or by using this reservation link .

All reservations must be guaranteed with a major credit card. The Hotel will not hold any reservations unless secured by one of these methods. Individual reservations may be cancelled at no charge up to 48 hours before the arrival date. The Hotel will assess a fee equal to one (1) night’s stay, plus applicable taxes, if cancellations are received after this deadline.

Check In Time: 4:00PM Check Out Time: 12 Noon

Underground Self Parking: $23 for 12 hours $32 for 24 hours $39 for 24 hours with in and out privileges

Valet: $46 The parking structure has a maximum if 6 foot height and is unable to accommodate oversized vehicles.

GBTA Canada Business Travel Forums | Toronto

The GBTA Canada Business Travel Forum 2024 in Toronto will take place on Thursday October 24th, 2024, hosted by: Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel & Conference Center 801 Dixon Rd Toronto ON M9W 1J5 416-675-6100 Hotel Website

Rooms are available for this event at a rate of $239.00 plus applicable taxes. These rooms are available until September 24 th , 2024. Rooms can be booked by calling 866-932-7058 or by using this reservation link .

All reservations must be accompanied by a first night room deposit or guaranteed with a major credit card. Hotel will not hold any reservations unless secured by one of the above methods.

Check In: 3:00PM Check Out: 12 Noon

GBTA Canada Business Travel Forums 2024 Sponsorship Prospectus

Join us in driving the growth of the Canadian business travel sector while forging lasting connections and staying at the forefront of industry innovation. Sponsoring the Business Travel Forum unequivocally underscores our travel suppliers’ dedication to advancing the Canadian Business Travel Industry and fortifying the development of robust Corporate Travel Programs.

Give your organization the best opportunity to connect to the business travel community while expanding your network, increasing lead generation efforts, and enhancing branding opportunities.

Interested? Contact our sponsorship team with any questions.

One (1) tabletop exhibit
Two (2) complimentary supplier staff registrations.
Two (2) complimentary buyer registrations. Sponsor is encouraged to invite 2 buyers for this event.
Logo recognition on GBTA website, official materials, and slide recognition banners.
All-attendee registration list distributed two (2) times: (name, title, company) 2 weeks prior, 1 week post.

$12,500 CAD

Two (2) minute speaking opportunity during general session (may be used for video commercial (60-second max), speech and/or presentation).
Opportunity to be included in the raffle. Sponsor is required to contribute a prize per city to participate.

$18,500 CAD

$24,000 CAD

Interested in sponsoring or have a question? Fill out the form below and a member of our team will reach out shortly.

Make the Most of Your GBTA Canada Business Travel Forum 2024 Experience

We look forward to welcoming you soon at one of our Business Travel Forums! Take advantage of these helpful tips to make the most of your day:

Venue and Hotel:

Hilton Vancouver Metrotown 6083 McKay Avenue Burnaby, BC V5H 2W7 604-438-1200 Hotel Website

Ideally situated in the heart of Burnaby, the award-winning the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown Hotel offers a world of opportunities and experiences. Mere steps away, you’ll find Metropolis at Metrotown – BC’s largest shopping and entertainment complex with more than 470 stores and services. The hotel is also steps from the city’s SkyTrain transit system, which offers an easy and scenic 18-minute train ride into downtown Vancouver.

Overnight Registered Guests & Attendee Day Parking:

The Blue Zone on each parking level is reserved exclusively for hotel guests and conference attendees. To park in this zone, guests must register their vehicle’s license plate at the front desk. Access to the hotel lobby via stairs or elevator is conveniently located in the center of the Blue Zone. Overnight self-parking is available at $21.00 per day (tax included). Daytime valet parking is offered at $19.00 per day, and overnight valet parking at $29.00 per day, both inclusive of tax. These rates are subject to change. The Blue Zone (hotel parking) spans the upper levels of P1, P2, P3, and P4, with public parking located on the lower levels of P1, P2, P3, and P4. Access to the Blue Zone is available from the front of the hotel on McKay Avenue or via the Crystal Mall entrance on Kingsborough Street.

Public & Attendee Day Parking :

Complimentary parking for the first 3 hours is available in the underground parkade within the Red, Brown, and Green zones on the lower levels of P1, P2, P3, and P4. After the initial 3 hours, a fee of $3.00 per half hour (or portion thereof) applies, with a maximum daily rate of $13.00 (tax included). These rates are subject to change. Parking meters are located on each level close to the Crystal Mall entrances. The parkade can be accessed via Kingsborough Street, leading to the Crystal Mall.

The parkade clearance is 6’6”. For vehicles exceeding this height, the hotel does not offer on-site parking, but alternative options are available upon request. Additional charges may apply.

Please click here for the latest agenda. This will also be provided via a QR Code located on the back of your Registration Badge. General Session will be in Crystal Ballroom 2 & 3 and supplier showcase will be located in Crystal Ballroom 1 on the 3 rd floor.

Dress Code:

This event is business casual. Please keep in mind, temperatures in the meeting rooms can fluctuate, so for those who tend to get cold, a light sweater or jacket is recommended.

Weather in Vancouver BC is generally between 12 C and 19 C during the month of September.

Registration:

General Registration for the event will be from 7:00AM and 1:30 PM on the day of the event, located in the Crystal Ballroom Foyer on the 3 rd floor, directly outside of the General Session.

Social Media:

Follow GBTA Canada LinkedIn for news and updates anduse #GBTABTF2024 to post about this event!

Exhibitors:

Exhibitors can set up starting at 6:30AM to 8:00AM on the Day of the event. A Table will be available labeled with your company name in the supplier showcase. Please see the Registration desk prior to setting up in order to register and locate any items you may have shipped to the event.

Located in the heart of Expanding University District.

Check in Time: 3:00PM Check Out Time: 12 Noon

Underground Parking is available day and night. $20 for 24 hours, based on availability. Additional parking: Street and parking lots available. Please see map here.

Weather in Calgary AB is generally between 4 C and 16 C during the month of September.

General Registration for the event will be from 7:00AM and 1:30 PM on the day of the event, located in the Meeting Foyer. The General Session is located in the Cyan Room on the 2 nd floor of the hotel. The Supplier Showcase and Reception are also located on this level.

Follow GBTA Canada LinkedIn for news and updates anduse #GBTABTF2024 to post about this event!

V enue and Hotel:

Marriott Montreal Chateau Champlain 1 Place du Canada Montreal, QC H3B 4C9 514-878-9000 Hotel Website

Enjoy your urban adventure by staying at the most iconic hotel in downtown Montreal.

$46 The parking structure has a maximum of 6-foot height and is unable to accommodate oversized vehicles

Please click here for the latest agenda. This will also be provided via a QR Code located on the back of your Registration Badge. General Session and supplier showcase will take on the Chateau Floor of the hotel, on level A, in the Champlain and Samuel rooms. Please click on the Chateau level on the smart elevators screen, or go 1 level below main lobby if you want to use the stairs.

Weather in Montreal is generally between 6°C and 13°C during the month of October.

General registration for the event will be from 7:00AM and 1:30 PM on the day of the event, located in the Chateau Foyer. The General Session is located in the Samuel Room on the Chateau floor of the hotel. The Supplier Showcase and Reception are also located on this level.

Follow GBTA Canada LinkedIn for news and updates and use #GBTABTF2024 to post about this event!

Exhibitors can set up starting at 6:30AM to 8:00AM on the Day of the event. A table will be available labeled with your company name in the supplier showcase. Please see the registration desk prior to setting up in order to register and locate any items you may have shipped to the event.

Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel & Conference Center 801 Dixon Rd Toronto, ON M9W 1J5 416-675-6100 Hotel Website

Comfortable Stays in Ontario begin here, offering a shuttle service to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ)

The hotel will offer complimentary self parking for this event.

Guest driving in with guestroom Guest may register at Front Desk upon check-in.

Guest driving in with no guestroom: Outside each function space, a QR code with a Unique parking code below will be posted for attendees to scan.

They will be prompted to enter their parking code & license plate details for swift registration.

Once the Guest has registered their License Plates, the information is noted automatically on our Database, and we do not require anything to be displayed on the Car.

Weather in Calgary AB is generally between 8 C and 59 C during the month of October.

General Registration for the event will be from 7:00AM and 1:30 PM on the day of the event, located in the Meeting Foyer. The General Session is located in the Ambrosia Ballroom on the 1 st floor of the hotel. The Supplier Showcase and Reception are located in the Ambrosia Foyer.

Follow GBTA Canada LinkedIn for news and updates and use #GBTABTF2024 to post about this event!

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Busiest times and quietest days to travel this holiday season from Canada. Our data reveals that Canadian travellers are looking to set off for their holiday vacations between December 12-21. Specifically, December 12, 13, 16, 18 and 21 have the highest search volume, which likely means that those will be the busiest travel days of the holiday ...
GBTA Canada Business Travel Forums 2024
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Canada Day long weekend travel kicks up across southern B.C.

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Best & Worst Days to Fly & Travel for the Holidays – Thanksgiving & Christmas 2024

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