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Orbitz reveals which airports to avoid this Thanksgiving

by Scott Carmichael (RSS feed) on Nov 23rd 2009 at 10:00AM

As we slowly head into the worst time of year to be traveling, Orbitz has revealed which airports to avoid this Thanksgiving.

The list is not really filled with any surprises, but it is always nice to see some solid research done by those that actually have the data needed to make a top ten like this.

Of course, as with any busy time of year, it pays to be prepared. Know how to pack, know the current TSA rules, and know how to control your anger when you arrive at the airport and find that it looks like something out of a disaster movie.

Here are the top ten "Orbitz Insider" busiest airports for Thanksgiving 2009.

Chicago, IL - Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles International (LAX)
Denver, CO - Denver International (DEN)
San Francisco, CA - San Francisco International (SFO)
Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Hartsfield International (ATL)
Boston, MA - Boston Logan International (BOS)
New York, NY - New York LaGuardia (LGA)
New York, NY - New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
Newark, NJ - Newark Liberty International (EWR)
Seattle, WA - Seattle Tacoma International (SEA)

If you have already booked a flight in or out one of these airports, well, then it sucks to be you. All is not lost for those still waiting to book - Orbitz also compiled a list of the 10 least busy airports.

San Jose, CA – San Jose International (SJC)
Nashville, TN – Nashville International (BNA)
Richmond, VA – Richmond International (RIC)
Sacramento, CA – Sacramento International (SMF)
Jacksonville, FL – Jacksonville International (JAX)
West Palm Beach, FL – Palm Beach International (PBI)
Hartford, CT – Bradley International (BDL)
Orange County, CA – John Wayne International (SNA)
Cincinnati, OH – Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
Fort Myers, FL – Southwest Florida Regional (RSW)

Armed with this this information, smart travelers who hate crowds may be able to book themselves out of alternate airports. Anyone in the New York area is pretty much screwed - LaGuardia, JFK and Newark are all in the top 10, but it is a relatively short drive to White Plains Westchester airport. Passengers planning to avoid LAX may be better off with flights out of Burbank or Orange County and Chicago passengers may be able to find a better flight out of Midway (I doubt it though).

You'll find the complete list of busy Thanksgiving airports over at the Orbitz blog.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Emily Nov 23rd 2009 2:27PM

When you live in the New York City area, you really have no choice but to book in either 7, 8, or 9!

Angela Nov 23rd 2009 3:21PM

I totally agree with you Emily.. and not one is easy to deal with traffic wise!!

Robert Hollis Nov 23rd 2009 4:41PM

I looked at your list of the least busy airports at the Holiday and Saw CVG, I would like to tell you the reason behind it being one of the least busy airports Now. One Delta pulls out it's International flight to FRA and closes Concourse C after buying out Northwest Airlines, Plus they divert 36 flights from the airport and move them to other Hubs, So for the purpose of argument CVG was dealt an Economic blow with the lose of jobs and a closed concourse, That is the reason for the slow down, Otherwise CVG would be rocking for the Holiday, Just thought you would like to know.

KK Nov 23rd 2009 5:11PM

I work at CVG and you're absolutely correct!!

Richard Nov 23rd 2009 6:09PM

This is BS. They didn't name airports to avoid, they named the busiest airports. That's quite a different thing. I lived in Los Angeles and LAX is one of the better airports for moving people in and out. Seattle is not bad either. Busy doesn't necessarily mean bad!

Rick Nov 23rd 2009 5:24PM

OK - Let's see if this makes real sense ??

I'm in Queens NY so instead of going to JFK for a non stop Trans Con flight, or to LaGuardia for a non stop to most cities this side of Chicago, I'm going to get in my car and drive 30 miles to White Plains Airport where there are virtually no flights to anywhere except Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago.

Or, I'm traveling to L.A. and I'm going to fly into Orange County and drive 50 miles to L.A. Or worse, fly into Burbank which means that I have to connect somewhere if I'm traveling from NYC. May as well just sit at the NYC Airport a little longer and stay with my non stop Coast to Coast flight.

OH Yes, I'm going to San Francisco, so I'll take a connecting flight (instead of non stop to SFO) to San Jose, then spend another two hours on the highway fighting traffic to get into San Francisco.

Better to just take an early morning flight if possible over the Holidays. Most early morning flights depart fairly on time from most airports, unless the weather is terribly bad - then it wouldn't matter which airport you were leaving from - everyone is screwed.

I think these articles need to be thought out more before people are mislead into doing stuff like the article suggests. The strategy may work for some people but certainly is the exception rather than the rule.

Robert Hollis Nov 23rd 2009 8:59PM

Thanks for the comment! I do not work at CVG, Or For Delta air lines But I fly them ALL the time and it was sad to see that happen there. I always liked that airport, other than the shuttle buses.

Paul Nov 23rd 2009 5:50PM

Hey, Look at how they listed the airport in Atlanta..... If you're black you better add the name Jackson in there or the naacp will come after you. Get your information correct before you print it....

fkurtin Nov 23rd 2009 6:25PM

FLYING SUCKS, pay a fortune to be treated like trash,lost luggage,delayed flights,canceled connecting flights,flight departs early, flight changed to other end of airport at the last second,cant smoke,gay flight attendants, seated tightly up against a person who has terrible arm pitt odor for 4 hours , just a never ending line of BS . and who can even afford it now days

Larry Wasserman Nov 23rd 2009 6:46PM

You forgot about Islip as an alternate NY airport. It's a WONDERFUL place
to fly to It's always quiet and never busy.

Norm Nov 23rd 2009 7:15PM

If you are flying American and go through, or rather will be lost forever in O'Hare, I really have pity on you. I took American off my frequent flyer list years ago, along with O'Hare.

laGuardia - oh yeah. Here is an airport and a people (New yorkers) that is the "hole to hell". I've been a lot of places, but New York and it's rude mental giants can take that place and shove it - avoid LaGuardia at all possible costs - it is a time warp on retard drugs!

I agree with the guys around LA, what's so tough about LAX - it's a jewel. Easy to get in and out of, easy to find your connections, just plain piece of cake - and I'm just a dumb hayseed from Indy!

They for got PHX, Pheonix - what a great place, especially when Air West was still in the game. Easy stop over, and get a direct into Burbank which is the real hook up if you are going to LA. Even the baggage is outside - what a great little airfield and home of the original "Skunkworks" - oh, did I say that? Yep, right across the field in that Lockheed hanger - where the Stealth fighter left in pieces in the middle of the night and was taken to Edwards for flight tests - right in the middle of tinsel town! Waht a great country!