Flying on Christmas Day...

[DestinationDisney]

I'm looking for advice from anyone who has flown on Christmas Day (or anyone who can offer us some advice!)

We'll be flying out to Disney on Christmas Day, with a 10:30 am flight. I'm concerned about getting to the airport in time for our flight, especially with the heavy Christmas traffic.

The airport is about an hour away from us with minimal traffic. I was thinking of leaving the house at 7am, but I'm not sure if that will be enough time to get to the airport, check in, and get through security.

What do you think? Is Christmas day ususally a crazy day for flights too?


Thank you!

 

[Tara]

I've flown many times on Christmas Day over the last 10 years or so and it's typically a good day to travel, nothing like Christmas Eve or even the couple of days after 12/25. If you leave at 7am you'll likely have ample time and a nice cushion in case you hit a lot of traffic on the way to the airport.

 

[jiminy14]

I have flown out of Atlantic City on Spirit on Christmas Day. I was totally surprised at the number of people at the airport. I thought we would be one of the few families on the flight but it was entirely full. That said, the traffic was very light. Parking was a problem and got worse after we arrived. The long term lot was already filled but we were allowed to park in short term parking for the same price. People arriving after us had to park in a grassy field and take a shuttle. The security lines were long because they were operating with a holiday staff and every single male (toddler to senior) was pulled aside for extra screening. We allowed 2 1/2 hours at the airport before our flight and we were fine. Not sure which airport you are flying out of but I would look into other parking options besides the lots at the airport. If you are flying out of Philly, there are quite a few private parking lots that are comparable to or even cheaper than the airport. Some of them even accept reservations. I think that parking will be a bigger problem than traffic.

 

[DestinationDisney]

Thank you both so much for your help! I think if we leave at 7, we should be fine.

Jiminy - We will be flying out of Philly, which as you said, has me concerned about the parking. We're considering taking a limo company to the airport, or parking at a private lot. I hope parking won't be too crazy for us!

Thanks again!

 

[jiminy14]

DestinationDisney...I have flown out of Philly on Christmas Eve but not Christmas Day. The airport wasn't too crazy but a little busier than normal. We came from South Jersey and had no problems with traffic. My DH dropped me and my DDs off at the airport and he drove to an off-site lot(Kinney) to park. When he got back he told me that he had gotten the last spot in the lot. He said that he checked the airport lots on his way over and they were all filled. We like Kinney because you park your car, lock it and take your keys with you. They have a shuttle that runs continously between the lot and the airport. At a few of the other companies, you leave your keys and they drive you back to the airport in your car. On the return, they pick you up in your car and you drive the attendant back to the lot. There have been some reports of cars being used by lot attendants with one recently involved in an accident.
As I mentioned before, some lots will take a reservation for a spot. Kinney does not. Most of the lots have discount coupons on their websites. When we used Kinney this past May, we paid $9 a day with tax included.

 

[mamacatnv]

We have now flown on 2 Thanksgiving & 4 Christmas Days.

The airports are busy but do not have the chaos of the days leading up to them. The early morning flights that go to other W. Coast destinations are really busy but the crowds lessen as the day goes on, people want to be at their destinations by late morning.

Here the morning traffic to the airport is non existent. Long term parking tends to fill up. We usually take a cab or have a friend drop us off or we leave our car in short term parking and a friend will go retrieve it for us. Our flight for this coming Christmas day from Reno to Atlanta is fairly empty but the Atlanta to MCO connection is full.

One thing we have learned is that even tho it is an airport, not all the restaurants are open so I would not plan to eat at the airport.

 

[DestinationDisney]

Jiminy....I know what you mean about the off-site parking places where they drive you to and from the airport in your car. I definitely do not like that idea and I've heard quite a few bad things about that system as well.

I'll have to check into Kinney and see if they have any specials coming up. (most likely not for the holidays) I've never done off-site parking, and the thing that worries me is getting in contact with the company to get my car when I come home on the return flight.

The parking at Philly has me worried! We're coming from Jersey (Hamilton) and I know how hectic and crazy the parking lots can be, let alone on Christmas! Just for peace of mind, I think we'll have to leave earlier than 7!

 

[jiminy14]

DestinationDisney...On your return from Orlando, you call Kinney and ask them to send the shuttle over to the airport (let them know which airline). I usually wait for the bags and my DH goes to pick up the car. In most cases my DH is back before I have all the bags.
Kinney usually has coupons on its website. We have always used a coupon even over the holidays. The last coupon was for $9 per day with all taxes. Sometimes they will send the coupons out in those mailers you get at home like Valupak so make sure you check them.
I think that if you leave at 7 AM you will have plenty of time to make your 10:30 flight. You can always have your DH drop you off at the airline check-in with the luggage. Then he can go and park the car. This is much easier than trying to get all of the bags on the shuttle. My DH does this and then meets us just outside of security.

 

[jiminy14]

Here is a link to some of the parking lots. It gives you info on the number of spaces, location, phone number, etc. It is from 2004 but at least you can get a general idea of what's available.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/...17.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

 

[DestinationDisney]

DestinationDisney...On your return from Orlando, you call Kinney and ask them to send the shuttle over to the airport (let them know which airline). I usually wait for the bags and my DH goes to pick up the car. In most cases my DH is back before I have all the bags.
Kinney usually has coupons on its website. We have always used a coupon even over the holidays. The last coupon was for $9 per day with all taxes. Sometimes they will send the coupons out in those mailers you get at home like Valupak so make sure you check them.
I think that if you leave at 7 AM you will have plenty of time to make your 10:30 flight. You can always have your DH drop you off at the airline check-in with the luggage. Then he can go and park the car. This is much easier than trying to get all of the bags on the shuttle. My DH does this and then meets us just outside of security.

Jiminy -

Thank you so much for your advice on Kinney. I'm going to check out their website for specials and coupons that they might be advertising.

So, if I had my BF drop me off at the airline check in while he went and parked the car at Kinney, wouldn't I have a problem checking him in if he wasn't there to show ID and prove it was him?

Oh and thanks for the link on the parking lots...this is a big help!!

Thanks again!

 

[dvc guy]

It will be a lot more crowded at the airport than you think. We fly to MIA one christmas and it was packed.
People will be goign south during the entire week, and as posted the long term lots will most likley be filled.
Make a resveration for an off site lot and soon as possible. Last year friends tried to get a spot off site at LGA a month in advance and they were sold out.
See you are WDW we will arrving on the 27th.

 

[DestinationDisney]

dvc guy -

Thanks for the pointer! I just made reservations for one of the off-site lots near Philly airport. I know that when the time comes, I'm really going to stress myself out about the traffic and how crowded the airport will be. So its definitely better off that I have this out of the way. It will give me at least some peace of mind!

 

[jiminy14]

DD...glad you made the ressie. That's one less thing you have to worry about. As far as checking your BF in, no you can not do that. He has to present his ID and ticket himself. I check-in my DDs and myself and then my DH checks himself in when he returns to the airport. This is so much easier for us then trying to get four suitcases and carry-ons on the shuttle.
We will be flying down to MCO from Philly on December 28th so keep your fingers crossed that we will find a spot at Kinney!

 

[DestinationDisney]

Jiminy-

Unfortunately, since Kinney does not accept reservations, I made reservations through another company. (the name slipped my mind) I called and the manager said that they offer a shuttle, like Kinney does, and they do not drive you around in your own car.

Thanks for the tips on checking in...thats a good idea. Its such a pain to struggle with suitcases and carry on bags in our own car, let alone on a shuttle bus.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you for Dec 28 ....I'm worried that Christmas day is really going to be bad!