Planning to travel this Labor Day weekend (LDW)? You’ll be in good company. TripIt analyzed travel bookings in the TripIt app and based on users’ plans for August 29–September 5, 2024, flight bookings are up 26% over last year. In fact, all LDW bookings in TripIt will climb year over year: international flights are up 27%, accommodation reservations are up 26%, and rental car bookings are up 30%.
Many Americans are also planning to make the last unofficial weekend of summer more than a weekend: the average LDW trip length with a flight is 7.3 days; trips with an international flight average 13.4 days.
These findings align with survey data TripIt released earlier this summer. In a survey of nearly 1,500 U.S.-based TripIt users, 92% of respondents said they were planning a trip by the end of fall. Survey data also showed that domestic and international flight bookings for summer and fall are up year over year—with increases of 61% and 39%, respectively.
Here’s what else you should know if you’re traveling over Labor Day weekend 2024:
1. Friday, August 30, will be the busiest day to fly
According to TripIt data, Friday, August 30, will be the busiest day for flights over Labor Day weekend. This includes flights bound for domestic and international destinations.
While passenger volume will be up across the board from 2023, some airports will be busier than others. TripIt data shows SFO, LAX, and ORD will be the busiest airports over the holiday weekend.
2. New York, Chicago top list of Labor Day weekend destinations
Speaking of destinations, perennial favorites New York and Chicago once again top TripIt travelers’ list for Labor Day weekend. Las Vegas climbs one spot from last year to round out the top three.
Top destinations for flights are:
| Destination | YoY change |
|---|---|
| 1. New York | No change |
| 2. Chicago | No change |
| 3. Las Vegas | ⬆️ 1 spot |
| 4. Denver | ⬇️ 1 spot |
| 5. London | New to the top 10 |
| 6. Orlando | ⬇️ 1 spot |
| 7. Seattle | ⬆️ 1 spot |
| 8. Boston | ⬇️ 1 spot |
| 9. Los Angeles | ⬆️ 1 spot |
| 10. San Francisco | ⬇️ 1 spot |
Notably, London enters the top 10 this year. According to TripIt data, more than a third of travelers (34%) are taking more international trips now than they did in the past few years. Most (53%) said they’re traveling more now because they can better afford international trips; nearly half (43%) attribute it to more flexibility at work.
3. London leads international destinations
While London once again claims the top spot for international flights, other popular European cities hold steady, as well. Paris and Rome rank second and third, respectively. Meanwhile, Dublin climbs four spots to number four and Barcelona—new to the list this year—rounds out the top five.
Here’s the full list of top international flight destinations:
| Destination | YoY change |
|---|---|
| 1. London | No change |
| 2. Paris | No change |
| 3. Rome | No change |
| 4. Dublin | ⬆️ 4 spots |
| 5. Barcelona | New to the top 10 |
| 6. Cancun | ⬇️ 2 spots |
| 7. Tokyo | ⬇️ 1 spot |
| 8. Athens | ⬇️ 3 spots |
| 9. Amsterdam | ⬆️ 1 spot |
| 10. Toronto | New to the top 10 |
4. What to do if you need to pivot your travel plans
Travel disruptions happen. And the best way to keep your trip on track is to get ahead of potential problems and prepare with a plan b.
For starters, be among the first to know about potential impacts to your trip, like airport incidents, labor actions (e.g., strikes), and sudden weather events, with TripIt Pro Risk Alerts.
With Risk Alerts, you’ll receive timely notifications when there’s a potential airline or airport incident that may cause your plans to go awry—even before they result in a flight delay or cancellation. That way, you can make informed decisions and stay agile as unexpected situations arise.
Learn more: Get Ahead of Travel Disruptions With TripIt Pro Risk Alerts
And if you do experience travel disruptions, TripIt Pro’s Alternate Flights feature can help you figure out what your options are for getting on a different flight if yours is delayed or canceled.
Finally, know your passenger rights. In some cases, you might be eligible for compensation. TripIt’s partner AirHelp, a company that specializes in helping air passengers claim compensation for eligible delayed, canceled, and overbooked flights to/from/within the European Union (EU) and Brazil, can help streamline the process for you.
Methodology: TripIt looked at U.S. origin round-trip flight, lodging, and rental car reservations made on or before August 15, 2024, for travel during Labor Day weekend 2024 (August 29–September 5, 2024) and equivalent booking periods in 2023. Reservation data in TripIt is provided by users and is booking provider agnostic.
