What to expect for busy Thanksgiving travel at San Diego Airport
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Airplanes line up waiting to depart from SAN as traffic passes by. Photo: Kevin Carter/Getty Images
Airport congestion is only going to get worse over the next two weeks as record-breaking travel is expected over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Why it matters: San Diego airport officials are advising passengers to plan ahead and arrive early, especially with ongoing Terminal 1 construction.
By the numbers: SAN anticipates as many as 460,000 people traveling through the airport between Tuesday, Nov. 26 and Sunday, Dec. 1.
- An average of 76,000 passengers are expected to be arriving and departing each day.
- That's a 5% increase from last year's projections, and a 12.5% increase from 2019.
The big picture: Thanksgiving is typically the busiest holiday for travel nationwide, and TSA and AAA predict a record-breaking number of travelers at airports and on the roads this year.
- With more than 80 million Americans expected to travel, people will face traffic, long lines and delays whether they're flying, driving or cruising.
Zoom in: SAN is predicting its biggest crowds on Sunday after Thanksgiving, with heavy traffic on the Tuesday and Wednesday before as well.
- The busiest times curbside are 4-6:15am, 9:30am-12:30 pm, and 8pm-12am.
The latest: Travelers heading out of the airport should expect delays on North Harbor Drive near West Laurel Street/Anchor Island this week.
- Workers are installing the foundation for an overhead sign that'll go up next month for the future roadway to Terminals 1 and 2.
Between the lines: Parking should be easier this year with the new Terminal 1 parking facility now open, which added about 2,800 more covered spaces to make the total nearly 5,000.
- It's about a 5- to 7-minute walk from there to any airline in either terminal.
- Make online reservations and use the promo code HOLIDAYS to save 20%.
1 tip to go: "Certain foods, such as gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam and preserves – which are considered liquids or gels – must be packed in a checked bag if they exceed 3.4 ounces," according to the TSA.