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Travel deal mega-site Orbitz has some news for you: O'Hare is going to be really, really busy at Thanksgiving and you should fly out of Midway instead. Of course, chances are you already knew that. And, given the way prices for Thanksgiving are almost twice as expensive as any other weekend of the year, chances are you booked well in advance and you're either stuck with O'Hare or Midway already. But in the event you've waited til the last minute (seriously, Thanksgiving is two weeks from today! Don't disappoint Mom!), Orbitz thinks Midway is the better option.
So what are the top 10 busiest airports according to the survey? Well, the same airports that would probably top the list in order or another any other time of the year.
- O'Hare
- Los Angeles
- Denver International
- San Francisco International
- Atlanta Hartsfield International
- Boston Logan International
- New York LaGuardia
- New York John F. Kennedy International
- Newark Liberty International
- Seattle Tacoma International
So if you're flying through any of these airports, we suggest ordering this so you'll have something to occupy you during your inevitable travel delays.
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There is dire news about O'hare and Thanksgiving every year and almost every year I fly in and out of O'hare at Thanksgiving (or pick people up and drop them off) at Thanksgiving and I've never, not even once, had any issues.
As a matter of fact, 2 years ago I did O'hare at Thanksgiving and both ways it was positively quiet...when I came back it felt like I was at the Manchester, NH airport (which is tomb-like).
That being said, I'd rather deal with mayhem at O'hare than drive to Midway. I really hate Midway.
(I shouldn't post this...I've probably jinxed myself now...... *knock on wood*)
Different experience: I don't fly nearly as often as I used to (damn you, recession, damn you straight to hell), but when I had a choice, (the new improved renovated) Midway always won out for me in terms of lines and hassle. My experiences are more similar to mickcube's on this matter.
So weird how we all experience O'hare. I have never, not even once, had a problem there. It's easy to get there, never a problem parking, the only line is going through security and even that has been smooth...once I got yelled at for bringing a large tube of toothpaste :)
I think, for me, the worst thing about Midway is just getting there. It's a horrible drive and takes forever. There is no quick or easy way to get there. And, I have to say that it's been probably 10 years since I've even flown out...and yep...I hear you on the recession. Fuck you recession! I'm staying in Chicago this year, and nobody is coming in!! :(
Although, I did visit fam out east in October and it was in and out...no probs!
When do you usually fly out? Thanksgiving day traditionally isn't that busy, it's the wednesday before and sunday after.
As for the airports, Midway being harder to get to is just determined by where you live. From downtown on the el, Midway is a shorter ride. From Evanston where I grew up, O'Hare was obviously much easier to travel to.
Luckily I've never had a huge problem flying in terms of delays or whatever, but I've had a much better experience at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson than at O'Hare, while Midway seems very similar to DC's National airport, in that both places used to be small, accessible airports that have had big expansions and renovations in the last 10/15 years.
As for that list, I'm really surprised that Atlanta is all the way at #5, when it usually tops lists of busiest airports in the world every year. Denver's airport I've never found to be more crowded than Atlanta, and it's design is nearly a carbon copy of Atlanta's.
My guess is that Atlanta handles a crizzapload of South American connections, which don't really spike during Thanksgiving (unlike domestic flights.)
O'Hare and Hartsfield are the two busiest airports in the world because of a combination of domestic and international connections, though in comparison, there aren't that many international flights. No idea why Atlanta should be relatively less busy, as this list would seem to imply.
O'Hare is O'Hare - come prepared - but I don't think I've ever waited more than 30 minutes in the security line at Midway, anytime of year. But baggage check is a completely different story.
I can't stand O'Hare. O'Hare is a modern, gray-carpeted castle of doom. When evil people die, they connect through O'Hare on their way to Hell. If I go to O'Hare, I go with the assumption that I'll be there three days.
Meanwhile, I've never had a problem at Midway. When I travel, if I can't fly out of Midway, I drive.
Midway for life! Way less congested then O'hare, the lines move, barely ever delayed, if your gate changes it doesn't take you more then a stroll to get to the right place and the guys that drive the buses to economy parking are so thoughtful in ensuring that you're on the right bus. They'll repeat the color lot that they're going to a number of times "yellow" "yellow?" just to make sure you're not on their bus in error.
The lines at O'Hare aren't as bad as the fact that I have never, ever managed to fly in or out of that airport without some sort of delay.
Around the holidays, I usually get 2 - 5 hour delays on my flight. I think the worst was a 13-hour delay while I was in Boston. It was overnight, so there was nothing to eat, and they were delaying the plane in 45-minute increments so I couldn't really sleep.
I wish Amtrak was cheaper.
I wish Amtrak was cheaper.
Same here. I have to go to Denver and I would be willing to take a leisurely day-long train trip there and back but the price is ridiculous. As slow as it is, they should be paying us to ride the thing. Nevermind the lack-of-real-security issue. I did a quick check and they want $150+ for one way.
I'm sure someone else knows the train fare reasoning better than i do.
I'm also heading to Denver over Thanksgiving, though I'm driving. It's become something of a tradition ... I've done it the last three years. It's really not that bad a drive, either. By the time you factor in travel to and from the airports, the standing around and waiting, and the risk of delay, I'd say it's about even. And when it comes to cost--especially considering Denver's woeful excuse for public transit--you come out way ahead.
I've never been NEAR an airport on a Thanksgiving...most of the family is still here and the rest of the relatives stay put. But this year is different. I'll be flying out a few days before and coming back a day or so after (The things we do for ... anyway). Y'all have got me scared.
If you have my experience, then you've nothing to be afraid of. And to answer a question above, I fly out of O'hare on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and come home the Saturday after. I've never had a problem doing it this way.
The only problems I've ever encountered are pretty much weather related delays, and you can't really blame the airport for those.
This year, I'm staying home and I guess I'll just have to watch the predicted mayhem on the teevee....maybe I'll be glad I stayed here if the above predictions are right!
I pretty much only ever fly Southwest, so I don't have to dither about which airport I like better. Airports are airports--I go there to get somewhere else, not to have a lovely experience. That said, both Chicago airports beat a lot of places I've flown into.
I miss the old Midway, back when the interior with its linoleum floors and drop-ceiling made it look more like a high school than an airport (National Airport in Washington, D.C. was the same), and you could park a hundred feet from the front door. My parents have flown into Ohare for the past four Thanksgivings (on Thanksgiving day) and they've never had a problem.
I miss the old Midway, back when the interior with its linoleum floors and drop-ceiling made it look more like a high school than an airport
Yes! The first time I flew into Midway was in 1999, and when my wife (then girlfriend) came and got me (back when you could still meet people at the gates *sigh*), the first thing I said was, "this airport looks like a fucking high school." =D
Midway > O'Hare
Flying out of Orlando is miserable. For one, I've never once left on time out of the dozen or so trips I've made there. The terminals are filled with cranky ass families -- kids are cranky from too much stimulation the entirety of the vacation, parents are cranky because the kids are driving them nuts. Employees are cranky because they work at the Orlando airport. I hate it.