Which day of the week is typically the least busy at an airport?

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While searching flights, it seems like Tuesdays are typically cheaper. Got me thinking, should cheap prices be my omen that the airport will be crowded? Or maybe the other way around?



My real question is, prices aside, which day of the week is typically less busy at an airport?



I understand that each airport is different. But trends across airports do exist sometimes.










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    "Crowded" is not the same as "busy." The airport might process fewer passengers on a particular day (i.e. be less busy), but as a consequence the various entities within may staff fewer employees, leading to longer waits and longer lines; this is particularly noticeable with security and immigration checkpoints, which are usually the main pain points in traveling through an airport. At certain airports, cheap travel days/times mean lots of families and infrequent travelers, also contributing to crowds, especially at those checkpoints.
    – choster
    2 hours ago














up vote
4
down vote

favorite












While searching flights, it seems like Tuesdays are typically cheaper. Got me thinking, should cheap prices be my omen that the airport will be crowded? Or maybe the other way around?



My real question is, prices aside, which day of the week is typically less busy at an airport?



I understand that each airport is different. But trends across airports do exist sometimes.










share|improve this question







New contributor




user85350 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 1




    "Crowded" is not the same as "busy." The airport might process fewer passengers on a particular day (i.e. be less busy), but as a consequence the various entities within may staff fewer employees, leading to longer waits and longer lines; this is particularly noticeable with security and immigration checkpoints, which are usually the main pain points in traveling through an airport. At certain airports, cheap travel days/times mean lots of families and infrequent travelers, also contributing to crowds, especially at those checkpoints.
    – choster
    2 hours ago












up vote
4
down vote

favorite









up vote
4
down vote

favorite











While searching flights, it seems like Tuesdays are typically cheaper. Got me thinking, should cheap prices be my omen that the airport will be crowded? Or maybe the other way around?



My real question is, prices aside, which day of the week is typically less busy at an airport?



I understand that each airport is different. But trends across airports do exist sometimes.










share|improve this question







New contributor




user85350 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











While searching flights, it seems like Tuesdays are typically cheaper. Got me thinking, should cheap prices be my omen that the airport will be crowded? Or maybe the other way around?



My real question is, prices aside, which day of the week is typically less busy at an airport?



I understand that each airport is different. But trends across airports do exist sometimes.







airports






share|improve this question







New contributor




user85350 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question







New contributor




user85350 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









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user85350 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






user85350 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







  • 1




    "Crowded" is not the same as "busy." The airport might process fewer passengers on a particular day (i.e. be less busy), but as a consequence the various entities within may staff fewer employees, leading to longer waits and longer lines; this is particularly noticeable with security and immigration checkpoints, which are usually the main pain points in traveling through an airport. At certain airports, cheap travel days/times mean lots of families and infrequent travelers, also contributing to crowds, especially at those checkpoints.
    – choster
    2 hours ago












  • 1




    "Crowded" is not the same as "busy." The airport might process fewer passengers on a particular day (i.e. be less busy), but as a consequence the various entities within may staff fewer employees, leading to longer waits and longer lines; this is particularly noticeable with security and immigration checkpoints, which are usually the main pain points in traveling through an airport. At certain airports, cheap travel days/times mean lots of families and infrequent travelers, also contributing to crowds, especially at those checkpoints.
    – choster
    2 hours ago







1




1




"Crowded" is not the same as "busy." The airport might process fewer passengers on a particular day (i.e. be less busy), but as a consequence the various entities within may staff fewer employees, leading to longer waits and longer lines; this is particularly noticeable with security and immigration checkpoints, which are usually the main pain points in traveling through an airport. At certain airports, cheap travel days/times mean lots of families and infrequent travelers, also contributing to crowds, especially at those checkpoints.
– choster
2 hours ago




"Crowded" is not the same as "busy." The airport might process fewer passengers on a particular day (i.e. be less busy), but as a consequence the various entities within may staff fewer employees, leading to longer waits and longer lines; this is particularly noticeable with security and immigration checkpoints, which are usually the main pain points in traveling through an airport. At certain airports, cheap travel days/times mean lots of families and infrequent travelers, also contributing to crowds, especially at those checkpoints.
– choster
2 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
4
down vote



accepted










I just pulled the industry data for the month of October to check this out for you. Here are the world-wide totals for flights this month by day of week:



Monday: 108,578



Tuesday: 104,846



Wednesday: 105,977



Thursday: 107,926



Friday: 109,887



Saturday: 96,548



Sunday: 103,952



From this, you could conclude that Saturday is the least busy day at the airport, followed by Sunday and then Tuesday. Of course, the number of flights is not necessarily correlated with the busiest days at the airport because those flights may not be full. From my experience working at a major US airline, we expect, based on our historical data, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday to be our days with the lightest loads.



This explains why prices are cheaper those days. Airlines are trying to entice people to fly on Tuesday (for example) because our flights normally aren't as full that day. However, we still want to operate as close to a full schedule as possible because there is still enough demand. Finding the right balance is key to running a successful airline.






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    0
    down vote













    No, flights are cheaper because it is harder to fill them, because less people care to travel on middle-of-the-week days. So as a general pattern, airports are less busy during those days.



    Just think about why poeple fly - business = Mo-Fr, vacation = Fr/Sa/Su - Sa/Su.
    the remaing three days - Tu, We, Th - are used by people that fly for short business trips (which distribute about equal over the week), and people that are free to pick their days, which is the minority. Aside from holidays, the middle of the week is always the 'low season' for an airport.






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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes








      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes








      up vote
      4
      down vote



      accepted










      I just pulled the industry data for the month of October to check this out for you. Here are the world-wide totals for flights this month by day of week:



      Monday: 108,578



      Tuesday: 104,846



      Wednesday: 105,977



      Thursday: 107,926



      Friday: 109,887



      Saturday: 96,548



      Sunday: 103,952



      From this, you could conclude that Saturday is the least busy day at the airport, followed by Sunday and then Tuesday. Of course, the number of flights is not necessarily correlated with the busiest days at the airport because those flights may not be full. From my experience working at a major US airline, we expect, based on our historical data, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday to be our days with the lightest loads.



      This explains why prices are cheaper those days. Airlines are trying to entice people to fly on Tuesday (for example) because our flights normally aren't as full that day. However, we still want to operate as close to a full schedule as possible because there is still enough demand. Finding the right balance is key to running a successful airline.






      share|improve this answer
























        up vote
        4
        down vote



        accepted










        I just pulled the industry data for the month of October to check this out for you. Here are the world-wide totals for flights this month by day of week:



        Monday: 108,578



        Tuesday: 104,846



        Wednesday: 105,977



        Thursday: 107,926



        Friday: 109,887



        Saturday: 96,548



        Sunday: 103,952



        From this, you could conclude that Saturday is the least busy day at the airport, followed by Sunday and then Tuesday. Of course, the number of flights is not necessarily correlated with the busiest days at the airport because those flights may not be full. From my experience working at a major US airline, we expect, based on our historical data, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday to be our days with the lightest loads.



        This explains why prices are cheaper those days. Airlines are trying to entice people to fly on Tuesday (for example) because our flights normally aren't as full that day. However, we still want to operate as close to a full schedule as possible because there is still enough demand. Finding the right balance is key to running a successful airline.






        share|improve this answer






















          up vote
          4
          down vote



          accepted







          up vote
          4
          down vote



          accepted






          I just pulled the industry data for the month of October to check this out for you. Here are the world-wide totals for flights this month by day of week:



          Monday: 108,578



          Tuesday: 104,846



          Wednesday: 105,977



          Thursday: 107,926



          Friday: 109,887



          Saturday: 96,548



          Sunday: 103,952



          From this, you could conclude that Saturday is the least busy day at the airport, followed by Sunday and then Tuesday. Of course, the number of flights is not necessarily correlated with the busiest days at the airport because those flights may not be full. From my experience working at a major US airline, we expect, based on our historical data, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday to be our days with the lightest loads.



          This explains why prices are cheaper those days. Airlines are trying to entice people to fly on Tuesday (for example) because our flights normally aren't as full that day. However, we still want to operate as close to a full schedule as possible because there is still enough demand. Finding the right balance is key to running a successful airline.






          share|improve this answer












          I just pulled the industry data for the month of October to check this out for you. Here are the world-wide totals for flights this month by day of week:



          Monday: 108,578



          Tuesday: 104,846



          Wednesday: 105,977



          Thursday: 107,926



          Friday: 109,887



          Saturday: 96,548



          Sunday: 103,952



          From this, you could conclude that Saturday is the least busy day at the airport, followed by Sunday and then Tuesday. Of course, the number of flights is not necessarily correlated with the busiest days at the airport because those flights may not be full. From my experience working at a major US airline, we expect, based on our historical data, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday to be our days with the lightest loads.



          This explains why prices are cheaper those days. Airlines are trying to entice people to fly on Tuesday (for example) because our flights normally aren't as full that day. However, we still want to operate as close to a full schedule as possible because there is still enough demand. Finding the right balance is key to running a successful airline.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



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          answered 2 hours ago









          cbw

          2,2411511




          2,2411511






















              up vote
              0
              down vote













              No, flights are cheaper because it is harder to fill them, because less people care to travel on middle-of-the-week days. So as a general pattern, airports are less busy during those days.



              Just think about why poeple fly - business = Mo-Fr, vacation = Fr/Sa/Su - Sa/Su.
              the remaing three days - Tu, We, Th - are used by people that fly for short business trips (which distribute about equal over the week), and people that are free to pick their days, which is the minority. Aside from holidays, the middle of the week is always the 'low season' for an airport.






              share|improve this answer
























                up vote
                0
                down vote













                No, flights are cheaper because it is harder to fill them, because less people care to travel on middle-of-the-week days. So as a general pattern, airports are less busy during those days.



                Just think about why poeple fly - business = Mo-Fr, vacation = Fr/Sa/Su - Sa/Su.
                the remaing three days - Tu, We, Th - are used by people that fly for short business trips (which distribute about equal over the week), and people that are free to pick their days, which is the minority. Aside from holidays, the middle of the week is always the 'low season' for an airport.






                share|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote









                  No, flights are cheaper because it is harder to fill them, because less people care to travel on middle-of-the-week days. So as a general pattern, airports are less busy during those days.



                  Just think about why poeple fly - business = Mo-Fr, vacation = Fr/Sa/Su - Sa/Su.
                  the remaing three days - Tu, We, Th - are used by people that fly for short business trips (which distribute about equal over the week), and people that are free to pick their days, which is the minority. Aside from holidays, the middle of the week is always the 'low season' for an airport.






                  share|improve this answer












                  No, flights are cheaper because it is harder to fill them, because less people care to travel on middle-of-the-week days. So as a general pattern, airports are less busy during those days.



                  Just think about why poeple fly - business = Mo-Fr, vacation = Fr/Sa/Su - Sa/Su.
                  the remaing three days - Tu, We, Th - are used by people that fly for short business trips (which distribute about equal over the week), and people that are free to pick their days, which is the minority. Aside from holidays, the middle of the week is always the 'low season' for an airport.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 2 hours ago









                  Aganju

                  16.8k53666




                  16.8k53666




















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