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SALT LAKE CITY — Travel experts with AAA estimate that about 6.4 million Americans will fly at some point between Wednesday and Jan. 2, which would be nearly triple the number of people who flew during the Christmas and New Year's holidays last year.
While that figure would still be about 13% below 2019 holiday travel figures, Aldo Vazquez, spokesman for AAA Utah, says many travelers are willing to fly again, adding that COVID-19 vaccines have eased the minds of many travelers. That said, it's unclear how the sudden rise of the omicron variant will factor into travel plans this holiday season.
"With vaccines widely available, conditions are much different and many people feel a greater level of comfort traveling, but travelers will still be mindful of the pandemic and the new omicron variant," Vazquez said in a statement last week.
Omicron or not, officials at Salt Lake City International Airport say are gearing up for a busy few days ahead of Christmas this week. It's expected to be especially busy Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, when it's estimated that about 25,000 travelers will go through Transportation Security Administration lines every one of those days as they fly out of Salt Lake City.
Sunday, the day after Christmas, is also expected to be unusually busy. It's also anticipated that numbers will pick up again as many of those heading out will return on Jan. 2, making the airport busy for arriving passengers.
The passenger surge estimates are based on ticket data that airport officials collected from airlines, said Nancy Volmer, spokeswoman for the Salt Lake City International Airport.
"We have extra staff to help with the number of passengers that are coming through," she said. "But there are always things they can do to help ease their way, as well."
Both officials at the airport and experts from AAA say there are a few steps travelers can take this year to mitigate headaches at the airport.
Bring Your Mask
Federal public safety guidelines are still in place, meaning masks are required at all U.S. airports and on all U.S. flights. Volmer said it's also recommended that passengers practice good hygiene measures, such as washing their hands frequently. They are encouraged to physically distance themselves when possible, as well.
Plan ahead
They recommend travelers arrive at least two hours before the departure time for domestic flights and three hours for international flights to ensure that any hiccups between arriving at the airport and the boarding time don't cause you to miss your flight.
This is especially important for anyone going through the new Salt Lake airport for the first time, Volmer said. She said people who haven't flown out since the new airport opened last year should prepare for changes in parking, TSA lines and then going through the terminals.
With storms returning to Utah Thursday and weather also impacting most of the West either before or after that, Volmer adds that passengers should check for any travel delays, not just at Salt Lake City International Airport but at also their connecting or final destinations. Passengers can use their airline's website or app to know when there are changes to flight schedules.
Get your ticket early
One way to save time is to check in with your airline before you get to the airport. Passengers can have their boarding pass sent to their phone or they can print it out before they get to the airport.
"You can actually reserve parking at the airport, too. So, if you want to reserve in the parking garage or at the economy parking lot, you can do that in advance," Volmer said. "That just helps with the stress level and makes that a little easier for people who are coming to the airport."
Why not take transit?
If you're concerned about parking, your boarding pass also counts as a ticket on all Utah Transit Authority modes of transportation the day of the flight. That promotion launched in November as a way to celebrate the opening of the new airport TRAX station. It continues through the end of January 2022.
Contributing: Greg Anderson
