Live updates as travelers head to Newark Airport for Thanksgiving trips
It's one of the busiest travel days in the most hectic travel season of the year.
Tuesday figures to be a busy day for Thanksgiving travel with much of it taking place at Newark Liberty International Airport.
We'll be at the airport for the day to give you updates on travel conditions and hear from the people hustling through the gates to reach their holiday destinations. Here's the latest from Newark!
Wednesday travel conditions at Newark Airport
Tuesday travel went pretty smoothly at Newark Airport and at least in the early going, Wednesday appears to be following suit. There have only been two cancellations in the last 24 hours as of 7:45 a.m.
The rain that fell Tuesday night also stopped by Wednesday morning, removing one more obstacle.
Wednesday weather at Newark Airport
Tuesday was a relatively calm day at Newark Airport and hopes to remain that way Wednesday, but the National Weather Service is predicting heavy rains into the evening so be on the lookout for potential flight delays.
Winds gusts could reach up to 41 mph. Precipitation is at 100% for Tuesday evening. Significantly less rain is on the forecast for Wednesday, with about a 60% chance of participation in the morning. Reports predict 1 to 2 inches of rain for Tuesday evening and between a quarter and a half of an inch on Wednesday morning. A relatively busy day is ahead as United plans for a three percent increase in demand for travel compared to last year's Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Flight cancellations and delays at Newark Airport
It's a relatively smooth start for the early travelers Tuesday morning. As of 3:30 p.m., the flight tracking website FlightAware shows five cancellations in the last 24 hours at Newark. As of 10 p.m., there was only one cancellation in the prior 24 hours.
A quiet afternoon at Newark Airport
Some may think traveling during the holiday season could be chaotic with people cramped all over the airport waiting for their relatives to arrive after several delays. But at Newark Tuesday morning and early afternoon the atmosphere was the complete opposite.
The airport's baggage claim area was almost empty (you might expect a tumbleweed to pass by in the eerie silence). Many passengers said they wanted to catch early flights to avoid the hassle that might come later in the afternoon or evening. They seem to have made the right decision. When you went upstairs, the line to TSA was nonexistent. You could walk right to the front and wait by the gate for a flight.
Scott Johnston of Wayne had a smooth flight with no delays. Johnston said he has been to EWR a few times for work as an employee for a shipping company that transports oil across the United States and overseas. He arrived at the baggage claim area at around 2:30 p.m. after his flight from Corpus Christie, Texas.
Johnston says his flights are normally calm, and he has rarely experienced problems. Passengers in the evening might not receive the same luck although that is yet to be seen.
Travel stories from people at the airport
Frank and Sharon Mento from Demarest were waiting by baggage claim to pick up their daughter Lauren from college. Frank Mento says their daughter experienced pretty smooth travels coming from Purdue University. The lifelong resident from Bergen County attributes the relaxing airport visit to going early in the morning on Tuesday.
"Things are probably going so smooth because it is early in the morning rather than if we arrived in the afternoon or on Wednesday," Frank Mento said.
Dean Broadbent, director of the band at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, arrived at Newark with the students all dressed in varsity jackets. Broadbent said they made the trip with no travel issues.
Lifelong Bergen county resident Gene Benzenberg sat on a bench next to baggage claim as he awaited his daughter and grandchildren coming from Florida. Benzenberg said his daughter's flight was supposed to arrive at 1:30 p.m., but ran late and until 1:50 p.m.
Benzenberg, who has lived in Saddle River for about 30 years, was excited to see his family for the holidays. He says his two children live in Florida and sometimes he is even jealous that he lives in cold New Jersey instead of the Sunshine State.
Clinton Jefferson traveled to New York to spend time with family, but not before some baggage complications. Jefferson came to EWR from Toronto after visiting some family members who reside in the north. He says he had to wait hours for his luggage when traveling at United in Canada.
Jefferson, who resides in Ireland, was waiting for his bags at EWR hoping for a less complicated transition.
Will weather affect Thanksgiving travel?
Rain could start around Newark by 5 or 6 p.m. and last into Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service predicted about 1.92 inches of rain in Newark by the time the storm is done.
Speaking at Newark Airport on Monday, officials said they do not expect any weather delays. Make sure to check your flight status ahead of time to be sure.
🌧️A steady rain develops this afternoon, continuing into early Wednesday. Locally heavy downpours may cause nuisance flooding in spots.
🌬️Winds increase this evening, with gusts 30 to 40 mph possible near the coast. This could lead to a few downed trees or power lines. pic.twitter.com/tNGxKpx5ZB— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) November 21, 2023
What should you do if your flight is canceled or delayed?
It's important to be proactive. You can help stave off issues from delays by arriving early and checking into your flight ahead of time. Travel insurance (which you can choose to add when you book your flight) can help you get your money back if there are disruptions.
If your flight is canceled, get in touch with customer service. If you're at the airport you can try to talk to someone in person but sometimes lines can be excessively long. Afterward you can make an appeal for a refund or voucher with customer service, though success rates can vary.
How many people are traveling for Thanksgiving?
The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening an astounding 30 million passengers from Nov. 17 to Nov. 27, averaging about 2.7 million passengers per day. This reflects a 10% increase from the same period last year. AAA projects that 4.7 million travelers will take to the skies for Thanksgiving, marking a 6.6% surge from the previous year and the highest number since 2005.
Check back for updates.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Newark Liberty Airport Thanksgiving travel: Live updates
