Holiday travel: O’Hare airport expects record numbers for 2024 holiday season as Chicago gas prices lower

CHICAGO (WLS) — The holiday rush is expected to break records across the country; both in heaven and on earth.

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Monday is expected to be the busiest day at O’Hare airport. Sunday, December 29 is expected to be the busiest day at Midway Airport.

The TSA said it expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2, which is more than a 6% increase from last year.

United Airlines says it is preparing for its busiest travel period ever, adding hundreds more flights every day.

American Airlines was also preparing for a similar influx of travelers. The airline said it expected to hand out more than 6 million bags of pretzels.

For those looking to book a last-minute flight, the cheapest times to fly are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to Expedia.

One of the most expensive days to fly on is Sunday 22 December.

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Meanwhile, 90% of travelers plan to drive to their vacation destination this year.

AAA predicts that 107 million people will hit the road.

Gas prices are also lower than last year. The national average hovers around $3.04 per gallon for regular.

The best time to hit the road is Sunday before After that, experts say the highways will be congested.