HOUSTON — The Thanksgiving holiday travel rush is underway, with Houston airports preparing to welcome a record 2.2 million passengers during the travel period, which officially runs from Wednesday, November 27, 2024, through Monday, December 2, 2024.
Both George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) are expecting increased passenger numbers compared to previous years.
What to expect at Bush Intercontinental Airport
Bush Intercontinental Airport alone anticipates 1.7 million travelers, marking a significant increase from the last two years. According to airport officials, the busiest travel days will be:
- Sunday, December 1, 2024: 206,000 passengers
- Friday, November 29, 2024: 205,000 passengers
- Sunday, November 24, 2024: 200,000 passengers
The lighter travel days are expected on:
- Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024: 117,000 passengers
- Black Friday, November 29, 2024: 159,000 passengers
Tips for a smooth airport experience
Airport officials encourage travelers to arrive early and plan ahead to avoid delays. Jim Szczesniak, airport director, shared insights into how staffing changes aim to enhance the travel experience.
“When you come into these large airports, they're confused on certain things. And so we've changed our staffing so that we now have our staff in orange polos, so that you can actually see them, and then you can ask them the questions,” Szczesniak said.
Travelers are also advised to reserve airport parking online to save time and reduce stress during this high-traffic period.
Tips for travelers
- Arrive early: Officials recommend allowing extra time to navigate congestion at the airport.
- Reserve parking online: This can save valuable time and help reduce stress on busy travel days.
- Look for staff in orange polos: If you have questions or need assistance, airport staff are ready to help.
Check your flight status
Before heading to the airport, you’ll want to check with your airline on the status of your flights. Below are links to check at Bush and Hobby.
- Bush IAH: Arrivals | Departures
- Hobby Airport: Arrivals | Departures
You can also keep tabs on things through FlightAware’s website.
Reserve parking
You will also want to reserve parking before heading to either airport.
Check TSA lines
And how long will you wait in lines for security? You can check that out, too
- Bush IAH: Security wait times
- Hobby airport: Security wait times
What foods can you and can't bring on plane for Thanksgiving
According to the Transportation Security Administration, here are the foods you can and cannot bring on a plane if you are planning to fly for the holiday.
Thanksgiving foods that can be carried through a TSA checkpoint
- Baked goods. Homemade or store-bought pies, cakes, cookies, brownies, and other sweet treats.
- Meats. Turkey, chicken, ham, steak. Frozen, cooked or uncooked.
- Stuffing. Cooked, uncooked, in a box or in a bag.
- Casseroles. Traditional green beans and onion straws or something more exotic.
- Mac ‘n Cheese. Cooked in a pan or traveling with the ingredients to cook it at your destination.
- Fresh vegetables. Potatoes, yams, broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, beets, radishes, carrots, squash, greens.
- Fresh fruit. Apples, pears, pineapple, lemons, limes, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, kiwi.
- Candy.
- Spices.
Thanksgiving foods that should be carefully packed with your checked baggage
- Cranberry sauce. Homemade or canned are spreadable, so check them.
- Gravy. Homemade or in a jar/can.
- Wine, champagne, sparking apple cider.
- Canned fruit or vegetables. It’s got liquid in the can, so check them.
- Preserves, jams and jellies. They are spreadable, so best to check them.
- Maple syrup.