Holiday Travel 2025-2026: What Travelers Should Expect When Traveling This Season

The 2025-2026 holiday season is shaping up to be a bustling one for U.S. travelers. For the first time in years, more than half of Americans (54%) say they’ll journey somewhere between Thanksgiving and early January, according to Deloitte.

Crowds, staffing and service crunches (including air-traffic controller shortages and rental-car bottlenecks), rising prices for hotels and cars, and the ever-present risk of inclement weather — all remain in play and could add headaches to the holiday travel experience.

Before you travel this holiday season, here’s what you need to know and how you can best prepare, regardless of your destination.

Challenge 1: Airport Staffing and Delivery Issues

This year’s holiday travel season is arriving just after a messy stretch for the airline industry. The recent federal government shutdown froze key FAA functions, pausing air-traffic-controller hiring and training and triggering waves of delays and cancellations. Although operations have improved since the shutdown ended, the issues that existed before it began still persist.

Several major regions are operating with thinner ATC staffing, leaving little room for weather or schedule hiccups. And until Congress reaches a long-term funding deal, the FAA can’t fully rebuild its pipeline, so occasional bottlenecks are still likely. According to Flight Global via WPR, air traffic controller staffing is a “long-standing issue,” and it may not be resolved any time soon.

Airlines are also working around ongoing Boeing delivery delays, which have forced some carriers to trim routes or adjust schedules heading into winter. In short, the system is more fragile than usual, and things won’t feel completely “back to normal” until Washington finalizes FAA funding and manufacturers catch up.

How To Prepare: A Little Planning Goes a Long Way

With more travelers on the move, fewer aircraft in service, and staffing still stretched thin, things can get unpredictable fast. Here are a few ways to stay ahead of any potential hiccups:

• Get to the airport early. With waves of travelers heading to the airport, there’s no reason to risk showing up at the last minute to be met with an anxiety-inducing line. If you have time to spare, you can kill that extra time in an airport lounge.
• Use X to your advantage. Follow accounts for both the airport and the airline you’re flying with — updates about delays or issues often appear there first. And if something goes wrong, DM the airline. I’ve received faster help through social media than by waiting in a customer service line.
• Have a plan of action. I’ve experienced the panic of having a significant travel headache too many times to count. If you suspect that your travel plans will be disrupted, start making alternative plans, such as booking a refundable hotel room or exploring other flight options.
• Avoid checking a bag.  It’s easier to deal with disruptions when you only have carry-ons. This way, you’re not waiting at baggage claim or worried about a bag getting lost if your flight is delayed or canceled. Since many airlines charge extra for checked bags, skipping them saves money and potential headaches.
• Use your points and miles. I find that some of my best uses of points and miles have nothing to do with the cent-per-point value; instead, they’ve saved the day. Award tickets have helped me avoid cancellation/delay hiccups and have also gotten me home quickly during emergencies. Know your points and miles balances and be prepared to draw on your stash quickly, if needed.

Challenge 2: Now It’s Not Just Higher Prices, It’s More Complex

We’ve all heard the story for years now: travel is expensive, and costs continue to rise. But 2025 brings a slightly different reality. According to Deloitte’s latest survey, more Americans are planning trips again — 53% expect to take a leisure vacation this year — but they’re being more cautious with how they spend.

In other words, people are still traveling, but they’re just keeping a closer eye on their wallets. And that makes sense, because prices are moving in different directions depending on where you look:

• Flight prices remain uneven compared to pre-pandemic levels, but travelers can expect prices to increase significantly as the holiday season approaches.
• Rental cars: While the pandemic-era spikes have subsided, rental car rates remain high compared to pre-2020 levels. They’re no longer jumping by double digits, but they’re still high enough to cause sticker shock in specific markets and holiday weeks.
• Hotels and restaurants: Hotel prices vary widely by destination, and while some markets have softened, others (especially beach and resort destinations) remain pricey. Dining out costs continue to increase, making restaurant tabs a big part of the travel budget.

How To Prepare: Book Early and Be Flexible

• Book flights and rental cars early. Book your travel as early as possible. The closer your travel dates approach, the higher prices can potentially go.
• Consider alternative travel options. If hotel prices are higher than expected, consider using an Airbnb or Vrbo. Additionally, if rental car prices are surging, look at Turo or Costco Travel for potentially lower prices.
• Book cancelable options and stay alert for deals. Last summer, I booked a cancelable hotel rate in Cancun for a few days around the peak New Year’s dates. When I snagged a better Black Friday deal, I was able to cancel and rebook for a lower price. Never stop checking, even when you think your trip is already arranged — it could save you money in the long run.

Challenge 3: Weather

Winter holiday travel always comes with a wildcard: the weather. Every year, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s fall right as large parts of the U.S. enter their most unpredictable stretch: early snow in the Midwest, ice in the Northeast, heavy rain in the Pacific Northwest, and sudden cold snaps just about anywhere. For example, O’Hare Airport in Chicago has had the snowiest December since 1978.

Even if your destination is sunny and calm, storms in big hub cities can easily ripple across the entire system. One snowstorm in Chicago or Denver, or a messy rain-and-wind day in New York or Atlanta, can trigger nationwide delays — especially on peak travel days, such as the Wednesday before Thanksgiving or the final days of December between Christmas and New Year.

How To Prepare: Be Ready To Pivot — and Have Protection in Place

• Book your travel with a credit card with travel insurance. Booking flights and other travel expenses with the right credit card can automatically protect you when you’re on the road. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® and the Platinum Card^® from American Express offer coverage for incidental expenses, such as hotel stays, food, and transportation during delays or cancellations.
• Use weather alert apps. Staying updated on real-time weather conditions at departure and connecting airports is essential. Many apps provide forecasts and send alerts about severe weather so travelers can make quick adjustments if needed. In fact, United’s mobile app now sends weather alerts to help you understand what’s happening around the country — and how that might impact your flight.
• Airlines may be responsible for rebooking or refunding you. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has recently released new guidance for airlines to follow regarding rebooking or refunding passengers in the event of significant delays or cancellations. Before you travel, be sure to understand your rights.

Final Thoughts

The holidays are always a busy time to travel. Flights are fuller, airports feel more hectic, and hotels and rental car counters are busier.

That doesn’t mean your holiday trip has to be stressful. It just means a little extra patience and preparation can go a long way. Give yourself some wiggle room, know your backup options, and be ready to pivot if something goes sideways.