Labor Day is one of the busiest travel periods of the year. According to AirHelp, 16 million people flew during last year’s Labor Day travel window, with the peak travel days falling on August 31 and September 1.
Air travel continued to grow in 2018. Between January and June 2018, U.S. passengers were owed an estimated $292 million in airline compensation for cancellations and other disruptions — nearly 60% more than the same period in 2017. That rise highlights how common delays and cancellations became as passenger volumes increased.
AirHelp’s data for 2017 identified several frequently disrupted routes. Among the most affected were:
- Los Angeles International (LAX) ↔ San Francisco International (SFO)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL) ↔ Houston William P. Hobby (HOU)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA) → Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
- Chicago O’Hare (ORD) → New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA) → Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)
- Las Vegas McCarran (LAS) → Los Angeles International (LAX)
- Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) ↔ Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
When planning Labor Day travel, take a few simple precautions to reduce stress: review your airline’s refund and rebooking policies ahead of time, pack as lightly as practical, and build flexibility into your schedule. Being prepared makes it easier to handle delays, cancellations, or other unexpected disruptions while you’re on the move.