- Salt Lake City Airport was ranked most reliable during the holidays with 82.62% of flights on time.
- Be cautious about bringing wrapped gifts through security because they may be unwrapped during screening.
- During the holidays, there are fewer business travelers and more families traveling together.
The holiday travel season has arrived on time — it always does — which can be daunting for those who see traveling at this time of the year as stressful and hectic.
Traveling through airports for the holidays can be extra stressful, especially for people who don’t fly very often. As the main airport in Utah, Salt Lake City International Airport is working to make travel go more smoothly for everyone going through the airport, and has plenty of advice.
Nancy Volmer, the airport’s communication director, shared ways that travelers can navigate through the airport more smoothly this through the end of the year.
Salt Lake City Airport ranked as most reliable airport for holiday travel
Using data from the U.S. Department of Transportation for December 2023 and December 2024, the eSIM service Saily ranked the most reliable and most unreliable airports for holiday travel.
Airports were ranked based on how likely it is that a flight will be delayed or canceled during the holiday season, according to Travel Agent Central.
In December 2024, Salt Lake City International Airport was the most reliable major airport with 82.62% of flights departing on time. Salt Lake City also led along with Minneapolis-St. Paul and Detroit in 2023.
For the two-year average, Salt Lake City emerged as the most reliable major airport as well with 85.61% of flights on time.
“When we see these rankings, it just shows that whatever not just the airport is doing but what the airlines are doing, what our concessions are doing, all of that, it just shows that we’re really making an impact on passengers,” Volmer said.
She continued: “We strive to make sure that we’re providing the best passenger experience from curb to gate.”
The other airports in the top five most reliable for holiday travel were Minneapolis-St. Paul, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Detroit.
On the other end of the rankings, the least reliable airports for holiday travel were Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore/Washington International, San Diego, Miami and Orlando.
How travelers can improve their holiday airport experience
Volmer emphasized that during the holidays there are different types of travelers than during the rest of the year.
“We see a lot of business travelers throughout the year, but not as many during the holidays. So you’re seeing more families that are traveling that maybe haven’t traveled recently,” she said.
Because there are more people traveling who don’t travel as often, there will be people who don’t know what they can or cannot take through TSA screening. She advises these people to check the TSA guidelines so they don’t face any issues with their carry-ons.
“For those who travel on a regular basis, it’s almost second nature. But for those who don’t travel very often, it’s something they really have got to remember to check,” she said.
“Sometimes I see people out in the lobby area repacking their bags, and you hate to think they’re not able to take something that they wanted to, especially if it’s a gift item because it’s not allowed,” Volmer added.
Packing for holiday travel is also different from packing for typical trips; oftentimes people bring wrapped presents through security or have them in their checked luggage.
Volmer shared that travelers should be wary of traveling with wrapped packages because sometimes TSA has to unwrap them during screening.
She also recommended checking out TSA’s list of holiday packing tips.
Volmer also offered a list of other tips and advice for holiday travel:
- Arrive two hours before departure for domestic flights and three hours before departure for international flights.
- Allow extra time because sometimes things can take longer when the airport is busier during the holidays.
- Make a parking reservation online.
- Download the new SLC International app, which has information such as TSA wait times, information on the parking garage and flight schedules.
- Check your airline’s app or website to make sure your flight hasn’t been delayed or changed.
- Those entering the airport on the first floor can use the new TSA screening area there.
- Those picking up passengers who are arriving at the airport should wait in the park and wait lot until the passenger is ready at the curb.
What the holiday rush looks like at the SLC airport
On a typical travel day, Salt Lake City International has around 26,000 people departing and around the same amount arriving from their flights. That makes for a total of more than 50,000 people coming and going in the airport — and that doesn’t include those who just have flight connections.
During the holidays, Volmer said workers can see up to 60,000 people arriving and departing at the airport each day.
“So you’ve got the passengers who are leaving Salt Lake City to go visit relatives, friends, go on vacation, and then you have those passengers who are coming into Salt Lake for the same reasons and to ski. That just gives you an idea of what the increase would be on a busier day.”
The holiday travel rush at the SLC airport this year is expected to be from Sunday, Dec. 21, through Monday, Dec. 29.
“We always work with TSA to find out what the passenger numbers are looking like. So we know which days are going to be the busier days,” Volmer said.
The busiest days this year will be Dec. 21, 22, 26, 28 and 29.
Volmer added that this year’s numbers are not record-breaking for the airport.
How Salt Lake City International works to provide a smooth experience for travelers
“I think that is something that people can feel confident in, the fact that when you’re flying in or out of Salt Lake City, and no matter what the weather is, that we’re prepared,” Volmer said.
She shared that the airport does a lot of coordination with its partners such as airlines and TSA to prepare for how many people they will have coming through the airport. Crews also work to stay on top of de-icing and snow removal when needed.
“We’re always prepared whether it snows or not so that does not impact our airport,” Volmer said.
She added that normally if the airport starts to see delays due to weather it is because of bad weather in another part of the country that is causing backups.
When issues come up, even if it is something that is out of the airport’s control, workers will make accommodations for passengers who have to stay at the airport later than planned.
“We look at the different components the passengers say are most important to them, make sure that we’re meeting their expectations and their needs,” Volmer said.
In the last year, the airport has opened a new area of Concourse B that has a new art installation as well as new shops and restaurants. Since the last holiday season, there have also been two new sensory rooms added in Concourse B.
Salt Lake City Airport strives to provide a special holiday experience
Along with trying to improve the logistical experience for travelers, the airport also strives to bring the cheerful holiday spirit. One way is by filling the airport with decorations for the holidays.
And who wouldn’t like a little music?
There are also performers scheduled to perform at the airport on Dec. 23 and 24. The performers include a harpist, saxophone players and guitarists.
“We’ve been doing that for many years. It’s a tradition here, just to make sure the passengers feel more in the holiday spirit, and then they feel a little more relaxed when they’re traveling to the airport,” Volmer said.
During the busy holiday travel period there will also be some therapy animals moving throughout the airport to help relieve travelers’ stress.