As far as busy travel days ahead of the holiday, expect the preceding Friday (Dec. 22 this year) to be among the worst days to fly ahead of Christmas.

In 2026, December 22nd is projected to be one of the busiest travel days of the year, as it falls on a Tuesday just before the Christmas holiday weekend. According to 2026 TSA and AAA forecasts, the window from December 19th to January 4th will see record-breaking volumes, with over 8 million Americans flying domestically for the holidays. While the absolute "peak" days are typically the Fridays before and after Christmas, December 22nd is a major transition day for families and students starting their long breaks. Travelers can expect wait times at security to exceed 45 minutes at major hubs like Atlanta (ATL) or Los Angeles (LAX). If you are flying on this day in 2026, the "pro-tip" is to arrive at least three hours early and utilize digital tools like "TSA Reserve" or "Clear" to mitigate the heavy terminal congestion that is characteristic of this critical holiday travel corridor.