Thanksgiving Travel Tips

November 21st, 2019

Thanksgiving is a busy travel time whether you're flying or driving. While lines and traffic are both a given, you can save yourself time by planning ahead. For instance, map out your route, pack light and understand the airport security process. Follow these Thanksgiving travel tips to make getting to that turkey a little easier.

Tips for Traveling on Thanksgiving

Pack the Right Things

You can save yourself plenty of time by packing light and avoiding checking bags. However, packing the right things also means carrying the necessities in your carry-on. Make sure you always have medications, toiletries, chargers and any valuables with you. If you're driving, you should pack a small cooler with drinks and snacks since you never know how long you'll have to be on the road.

Arrive Early

The day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year, and it's when you'll find the most traffic and the longest airport lines. You can avoid some stress by getting to the airport early. Although you'll still encounter lines, you can relax knowing you won't miss your flight. If you're driving, try to leave early as well or take a scenic route to beat the traffic.

Pick the Best Travel Days

We've already mentioned that the day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year, but the Sunday after turkey day is also busy as people make their way home. If you have extra time off work, try to avoid these days by leaving on a Monday or Tuesday. You can also leave on Thanksgiving morning if you're not traveling too far away.

Write Down Important Numbers

You can't always rely on technology, especially when you're traveling. You should keep important numbers in your phone and write them down on paper. Include the numbers for your airline, rental car company, hotel and the person who's picking you up and dropping you off at the airport.

Move Through the Airport Fast

No one wants to be the person holding up the line at the airport. You can save some extra time by making sure you're prepped and packed to go through the line quickly. Transfer smaller items from your pocket to your carry-on, and wear shoes that you can easily take off. You should also download your boarding pass on your phone to swiftly scan it when you're in line.

Bring Back Food the Right Way

When you're traveling for Thanksgiving, tips for bringing back food can be helpful. TSA lets passengers bring turkeys, turkey sandwiches, pies, cakes and other baked goods through the airport. However, any liquid food such as jelly or cranberry sauce needs to be in a checked bag.

Use SuperShuttle

Figuring out a way to get to the airport can also be a problem, but SuperShuttle can help. We'll get you there quickly — without the stress of worrying about who will drop you off or where you'll park. With different ride options from ride sharing to black car services, we have everything you need to enjoy your travel days, so book today!