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AAA predicts record holiday travel. How to see if flights are delayed

AAA predicts record holiday travel. How to see if flights are delayed

Travelers make their way to either terminal Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, inside Indianapolis International Airport. (USA Today Network)

By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

December 18, 2025

AAA says more than 122 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day year-end holiday period that starts Saturday, Dec. 20, and continues through Jan. 1, and many of those people will be counting on flights to run on time as they rush to visit family.

This year’s travel forecast is a 2.2% increase over 2024, which would surpass last year’s record of 119.7 million travelers if it holds. The busy Christmas travel season, though, could be snarled by winter weather in Michigan, leading to flight delays just when travelers are rushing to make it to the airport.

“Year-end travel is a mix of family road trips, friend getaways, and tropical vacations” Vice President of AAA Travel Stacey Barber said in a Dec. 10 release. “Holiday celebrations look different for everyone, but a common thread is the desire to travel, whether it’s returning to your hometown or exploring new destinations.”

Although snow is expected regularly through the end of the year, early forecasts don’t show such significant disruptions to the holidays as experienced on Thanksgiving. Here’s what to expect, according to early forecasts from the Climate Prediction Center.

  • Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 22-23: High pressure dominates, keeping skies mostly clear and temperatures near or slightly above normal. Northern areas remain colder, while southern Michigan sees highs in the upper 30s to mid-40s. Lake-effect snow is minimal.
  • Wednesday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve): A weak shortwave may spark scattered snow showers across the Upper Peninsula and near Lake Michigan’s eastern shore. With the MJO no longer amplifying the pattern and the polar vortex strong, widespread lake-effect snow is unlikely in the Lower Peninsula.
  • Thursday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day): Conditions should be calm and dry for most of the state, with clouds increasing slightly in the north as a passing system brushes the Upper Peninsula. Temperatures remain near seasonal averages, with highs in the 30s in northern areas and 40s in the south. Most of Michigan will likely enjoy a snow-free Christmas.
  • Friday-Saturday, Dec. 26-27: Another shortwave nudges cold air into the north, with the potential for light flurries or minor accumulations in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula. Nothing approaching the heavy snow of Thanksgiving is expected.
  • Sunday, Dec. 28: High pressure returns, bringing calmer conditions and clearing skies. Temperatures rise slightly above normal in the south, while the north remains near seasonal averages. Lake-effect snow remains largely absent.
In the contiguous US, the Climate Prediction Center only forecasts the risk of “heavy snow” along the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Rockies mountain ranges.
Here’s a look at what you should know before heading to the airport.

How many people are expected to fly in December?

AAA projects a record 8.03 million travelers will take domestic flights this holiday season, a 2.3% increase compared to last year.
If the estimate holds, it will be the first time the number of domestic air travelers over the year-end holiday period exceeds 8 million, AAA said.

How to check your flight status, delays at Detroit Metro Airport

Travelers at Detroit Metro Airport can check their flight status online for both arrivals and departures at the airport’s official website.

How can I check flight status, delays at Gerald R. Ford International Airport?

You can check flight status for Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids online.

How can I check flight status, delays at Capital Regional International Airport?

Check flight status for Capital Region International Airport online.

How can I check flight status, delays at Cherry Capital Airport?

Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport offers flight status information online.

How can I check flight status, delays at MBS International Airport?

Saginaw’s MBS International Airport has flight status information on its website.

How can I check flight status, delays at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport?

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport flight status information is available on its website.

How to check TSA security, border wait times

The TSA and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provide information on wait times at airports and border crossings.
The TSA app allows travelers to check and post airport delays reported by travelers in real time.
Additionally, the CBP’s app has estimated wait times for border crossings between Canada and the US, between Mexico and the US, and other land borders.

Can I see which airports are experiencing delays?

FlightStats by Cirium provides real time airport delay information online.

Michigan airports on time arrival performance

According to the United States Department of Transportation, from January to June 2025, Michigan airports on-time percentages include:
  • Detroit: 79.58%
  • Grand Rapids: 75.44%
  • Lansing: 71.99%
  • Traverse City: 73.17%
  • Saginaw: 75%
  • Kalamazoo/Battle Creek: 77.32%

How many passengers do Michigan airports serve?

The Michigan Department of Transportation tracks passenger enplanements at airports in the state. Here are the figures for December 2024 at the state’s five busiest airports:
  • Detroit: 1.37 million
  • Grand Rapids: 182,000
  • Traverse City: 26,600
  • Flint: 31,000
  • Lansing: 10,100

Does the airline have to compensate me for a delayed flight?

The US Department of Transportation no longer requires airlines to pay passengers up to $775 in cash compensation for significant flight disruptions, USA TODAY reported.
The rule, which was never formalized was withdrawn by the Trump administration.

USA Today contributed reporting.

Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: AAA predicts record holiday travel. How to see if flights are delayed

Reporting by Brandi D. Addison and Jalen Williams, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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