Weather 
Holiday airport delays are threatening to turn festive family reunions into travel nightmares.
Fierce winter weather sparked one in five flight delays at major US hubs during the holiday rush over the last five years, according to a stunning new analysis from Upgraded Points based on Bureau of Transportation Statistics data.
The study tracked 60 of the country’s busiest airports across nine major carriers from November 2021 through January 2026 — revealing San Francisco International and LaGuardia as the absolute worst winter offenders.
Severe weather accounted for 21.9% of all disruptions nationwide between November and January. San Francisco International Airport claimed the top spot for holiday gridlock, with weather blamed for 40.3% of its delays.
Big Apple travelers aren’t faring much better: LaGuardia grabbed second place with winter weather causing 38.9% of total delays, while Seattle-Tacoma rounded out the top three at 32.8%.
Some airports have better odds, as bad weather only triggered just 10.2% of delays at Los Angeles International Airport. Honolulu, Kahului, and Miami also ranked among the safest bets for clearer skies and smooth takeoffs.
10 most weather-delayed airports during the holiday months:
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO): 40.32%
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA): 38.91%
- Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA): 32.79%
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): 31.56%
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC): 29.64%
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH): 29.41%
- Logan International Airport (BOS): 28.35%
- Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP): 27.96%
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD): 27.43%
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): 25.80%
While historical trends don’t guarantee next month’s forecast, travelers can track real-time conditions via the FAA’s National Airspace System Status dashboard. But booking a December layover at SFO or LGA carries far more risk than catching a connection through sunny LAX or Miami.
Calendar-wise, December takes the crown for the worst delays with bad weather grounding or stalling nearly 24% of flights compared to January’s 22.6%. And the airline you choose can also make a difference.
Alaska Airlines had the highest share of winter-related delays among the nine carriers in the study, at 27.8%. United Airlines followed at 25.4%. The airlines with the least number of delays in the data were Hawaiian Airlines at 7.9% and Southwest Airlines at 17.2%.
Delays aren’t the only travel hindrance that comes during Holiday season – 2026 holiday airfare prices are expected to be the most expensive in ten years. Sunday, Nov 29 and Sunday, Dec 27 are peak return days, and are expected to have massive surcharges.
Thanksgiving airfare is averaging $402 for a domestic round-trip ticket – a massive 31% jump (roughly $95 more) compared to last year. And Christmas flights are averaging $452 for a round trip, marking a 23% increase over last year.
Last December, holiday travelers were left stranded at John F. Kennedy International Airport Friday night after hundreds of flights were canceled as a snowstorm slammed New York City and the tri-state area.
The storm caused 158 flight cancellations and 204 delays out of JFK — the highest totals of any US airport on Friday.
Newark International Airport also reported a staggering 107 cancellations, with LaGuardia International Airport following closely behind with 90 scrapped flights, data from last holiday season showed. Both travel hubs reported a combined 335 delayed flights.
