Study Urges Three-Hour Airport Arrival Over Holidays
Upgraded Points analysis of 44 major U.S. airports recommends travelers arrive well ahead of the standard two-hour benchmark during winter holiday periods.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Air Travel
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Upgraded Points released a study recommending that travelers arrive more than three hours before departure at many major U.S. airports during the holidays. The analysis weighed 15 factors, including parking availability, TSA wait times, terminal size and departure delays.
Why it matters
Holiday travel volume strains checkpoints and parking, making a two-hour buffer insufficient at many large airports. The findings give travelers a data-based benchmark for planning arrival times.
The study compares recommended arrival times against a two-hour median benchmark, with 23% of the 44 analyzed airports peaking at TSA checkpoints on December 28, 2025. The analysis is based on 2025 TSA FOIA data, and it does not project exact checkpoint volumes for the 2026 holiday season.
The players
Upgraded Points
A travel rewards and points-optimization publication headquartered in Austin, Texas, that produced the study and survey.
The details
The analysis covers domestic flights during Thanksgiving week and the two weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year's Eve. A survey of 500 frequent holiday travelers conducted in October 2026 accompanied the study, which was released November 10, 2026, via PRNewswire.
Timeline
2025 holiday season: TSA volume peaked at 23% of analyzed airports on December 28, 2025.
October 2026: Upgraded Points surveyed 500 frequent holiday travelers.
November 10, 2026: The study was released via PRNewswire.
Travel Outlook
The study draws on 2025 TSA throughput records from the TSA FOIA Electronic Reading Room to convert peak checkpoint volumes into a recommended arrival window. Holiday peaks recorded in federal data suggest that the two-hour benchmark used across much of the industry may understate congestion at the busiest hubs.
Travelers flying during peak holiday periods should consider arriving well ahead of the standard two-hour window, especially at large hubs with heavy checkpoint traffic. Booking early-morning departures can also reduce exposure to the busiest checkpoint times.
The takeaway
Building in extra time at the airport during the holidays is a low-cost way to reduce stress and avoid missed flights. Checking checkpoint conditions at your specific airport before departure can help you set a realistic arrival time.
Further reading
For more on how airports handle peak demand, see Air Travel coverage across the United States.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Star Local.
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