What's it like flying Christmas morning?

September 11, 2018 4:15 PM

For Reasons I may need to fly Christmas morning - Sydney to LA, and a short domestic connecting flight. Due to time zones we'd leave at 11am and arrive at our final destination at 11:15. What are airports like Christmas morning?
posted by jrobin276 to Travel & Transportation (22 answers total)

I have a friend who intentionally flies (US domestic) with her small kids Christmas morning because the airports aren't crowded.
posted by momus_window at 4:21 PM on September 11, 2018 [4 favorites]

I flew domestically in the US on Christmas, 2016. We were super delayed, but I think that was general winter weather, rather than anything Christmas-related. I ended up spending a lot of time in two airports. Airports are maybe a little quieter than normal, but not that different. I tried to be nice to the airline and airport staff, because that was probably not how they wanted to be spending their Christmas. I think that food places in the airport were open as usual.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 4:22 PM on September 11, 2018

Unless there's a winter weather issue, I find that flying on Christmas Day is quite pleasant. Fewer crowds, and everyone you see has a "we're all in this together" mentality that feels like a throwback to a more civilized era.
posted by juniperesque at 4:37 PM on September 11, 2018 [5 favorites]

In my experience (flying from a major US airport [Logan] to a small one about 600 miles away), flying on Christmas Day is wonderful. The airports are nearly empty, the airline and airport staff are cheery, and your fellow passengers are far less obnoxious than usual. Highly recommend.
posted by schroedingersgirl at 4:47 PM on September 11, 2018 [4 favorites]

I've flown trans-Atlantic flights twice on Christmas day. Both times were absolutely relaxed, quiet, and unhurried. Most everyone is in a good mood. Shhhh. Keep this on the down low.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 4:53 PM on September 11, 2018 [2 favorites]

I've flown out of Sydney on Christmas Day (domestic flight) and it wasn't busy and everyone was super cheerful. Would recommend.
posted by kitten magic at 4:54 PM on September 11, 2018

Oh gosh, my experience on Christmas Day a couple of years ago was that not only was the airport uncrowded, but the airplane was blissfully uncrowded too. So mellow. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:56 PM on September 11, 2018 [1 favorite]

It's niiiice.
posted by bq at 5:00 PM on September 11, 2018 [1 favorite]

I once spent Christmas in the air flying from LA to Melbourne. I remember being the only person on the plane, but that can't be right, it was so uncrowded though that I definitely remember having multiple rows of seats to chose from to lay down in.
It was wonderful.
posted by newpotato at 5:02 PM on September 11, 2018 [1 favorite]

I love it. Nthing everyone else: it's much less crowded, the gate staff tends to be cheery, and everything is just so much easier.
posted by TwoStride at 5:10 PM on September 11, 2018

Quiet and lovely. +1, would do again. But hopefully without the breakup that instigated it the first time.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 5:17 PM on September 11, 2018 [3 favorites]

It's so nice. And fun! It's like you're in a movie and get to be extra silly on Christmas somehow.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 5:18 PM on September 11, 2018

Nthing the wonderfulness of flying on Christmas day.
posted by Automocar at 5:27 PM on September 11, 2018

My sister has from Alabama to Toronto, changing in Chicago on Christmas Day. Everyone was happy, O'Hare was civilized and she was early for dinner.
posted by TORunner at 5:28 PM on September 11, 2018

I always used to fly on Christmas Day and New Years because the tickets were cheaper; it’s usualy pretty peaceful.
posted by Comrade_robot at 5:38 PM on September 11, 2018

I love it!
posted by jgirl at 6:53 PM on September 11, 2018

I flew Christchurch - Auckland, Auckland - LAX, then LAX to Albuquerque on Christmas day a few years back. At that time I actually worked at the airport too, so I worked a Christmas morning shift, went home and got my stuff together then went back to check in. The whole experience was really great (including my extra-chill shift at work). LAX was so much quieter than usual, took about half the time to get through all the checking-in/security stuff and the staff weren't quite as harried so were a lot more pleasant to deal with. The flights themselves were about the same, the main difference is that everyone is just so much more chipper than usual.
posted by BeeJiddy at 7:04 PM on September 11, 2018

When I used to fly during the Christmas holidays, traveling on Christmas Day was my favourite. It’s so pleasant! Best day of the year to fly, in my experience.
posted by bighappyhairydog at 7:11 PM on September 11, 2018

I’m in agreement with all these folks. It’s the most pleasant flying gets. We routinely fly from Orlando to Minneapolis on Christmas Day.
posted by advicepig at 7:15 PM on September 11, 2018

Blissful. I used to get delayed for days going home to Colorado in college and grad school. Flying Christmas morning is the best. I'd have booked my tickets for the actual day if my mom had let me.
posted by Fuego at 9:01 PM on September 11, 2018 [1 favorite]

I make flying *on Christmas* one of the requirements I need to fly across the country to see my family. Nthing yes.
posted by bendy at 10:19 PM on September 11, 2018

Response by poster: Thanks everyone - I was hoping this was the case.
posted by jrobin276 at 12:08 AM on September 12, 2018 [2 favorites]