HOUSTON, Texas – The Thanksgiving travel rush isn’t over just yet.
Monday marks the final return day of the holiday window, and airports across the country, including here in Houston, are seeing steady crowds as millions of travelers head home.
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Terminal E was busy before sunrise. While flight boards showed no major delays tied to the weather in the Midwest, lines were slowly growing as travelers funneled into the security checkpoints.
AAA projected packed flights and longer wait times for the last day of Thanksgiving travel, and many passengers chose to hold off on flying home until today.
Some travelers told KPRC 2 they were surprised by the crowds, including those who weren’t returning from a holiday gathering at all.
One business traveler, Chance Merrikh, said he wasn’t expecting long lines when he arrived this morning.
“I’d rather spend my time relaxing instead of fighting TSA lines,” Merrikh said.
Just weeks ago, the same terminals looked very different during the federal government shutdown. Video from that period shows sparse hallways and nearly empty ticket counters. Today, it’s a stark contrast — rolling suitcases, families rushing to gates, and lines that continue to build by the minute.
Airport officials recommend travelers stay alert and check with their airlines for any last-minute delays or cancellations. Doing so could save passengers from a stressful sprint through the terminals.
How to check wait times before you go
Travelers can check real-time security wait times and flight information using the following resources:
- Bush Intercontinental (IAH): fly2houston.com/iah
- Hobby Airport (HOU): fly2houston.com/hou
- TSA Wait Times (nationwide): tsa.gov/travel/wait-times
- Flight status and delays: flightaware.com