4th Of July 2017 Travel: O'Hare Is 2nd-Busiest Airport For Holiday Flights

Airline travel over the Fourth of July is expected to increase for the eighth straight year, according to the auto club AAA, and if history is an indication, travelers will face delays, cancellations and other disruptions. But where they’re flying to and from can mitigate some of the travel hassles.

Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows the best dates for travel, where travelers are most likely to encounter problems. RewardExpert, which offers free services to help travelers fly on the cheap, analyzed travel data from years 2011-2015 from the 11 days surrounding Independence Day — the holiday itself and the five days before and after.

The report examines the on-time performance of the top 10 domestic airlines and the 45 busiest airports during the travel period, and also looked at the best and worst days to travel before and after the holiday.

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Best And Worst Days To Fly

Though the day of the week Independence Day falls on differs each year, RewardExpert analyzed the on-time performance across July 4 each year, then compared the dates, not the day of the week, and applied it to this year’s holiday period.

The worst days this year are Friday and Saturday, June 30 and July 1, average travel days are July 2-3 and July 8, and the best travel days are July 4-6. Both July 7 and July 9 are considered “good.”

To catch fireworks without any issues, flying out on the morning of the Fourth of July is your best bet, according to the analysis, which noted fewer delays, cancellations and disruptions on July 4 than during the days before it. That’s partly because there are 15 percent fewer flights, meaning shorter security lines and less congestion at airports.

Friday and Saturday before the holiday are historically horrible days to fly with the most delays and cancellations, and the same is true for the Friday after the Fourth of July, according to the analysis.

The best return date is Thursday, July 6. If you want to stretch out the celebration another day, Friday isn’t a horrible day to travel, but if you push your return to the weekend, expect airport congestion.

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On-Time Performance: 10 Airlines Ranked

Hawaiian Airlines’ flights arrive on time 94.7 percent of the time, making it the top-ranked airport for on-time performance. Of the three major carriers, Delta leads the pack with 82 percent of flights arriving on time and American Airlines ranks in the middle with 79 percent of fights on time, but United Airlines is dead last, with three of four flights delayed or cancelled, and only 73 percent of flights arriving on time.

Busiest Airports For 4th Of July

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which has an average of 20,967 departures and arrivals during the 11-day period, making it the nation’s busiest for holiday travel, according to the analysis. Despite its congestion, the airport has a solid on-time performance rating during the Independence Day travel period, RewardExpert said.

If you’re flying to Chicago, consider flying in and out of Midway instead of O’Hare International Airport, the second-busiest airport during the travel period and the fourth most prone to delays and cancellations, according to the report.

If holiday travel takes you to Texas, be aware that Dallas/Fort Worth Airport is the third-busiest in the country over the period. DFW also scored well in terms of on-time performance, which make it a great option for Texans flying out as long as they don’t mind the crowds. Dallas is busier than George Bush Airport in Houston, but Houston is more prone to delays according to the study findings.

Best And Worst Airports: On-Time Performance

Honolulu International Airport in Hawaii is not only home to the top-performing airline during the holiday period, 88.5 percent of flights leave the airport are on time. Three New York airports — JFK, LaGuardia and Newark — all scored at the bottom of the ranking.

In particular, JFK has the greatest potential for holiday travel nightmares. Among 45 airports ranked, RewardExpert said it ranked fifth-worst for on-time performance.

Data Source: Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics analyzed by RewardExpert.com

Photo: United Airlines has the worst on-time performance of any of 10 domestic airlines ranked in RewardExpert.com analysis of Department of Transportation statistics. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images)

By Beth Dalbey (Patch National Staff)