Millions of travelers experienced smoother journeys this Christmas compared to last year, with relatively few disruptions reported. However, Southwest Airlines faced some challenges over the holiday period, causing delays and cancellations for passengers. According to FlightAware, only 138 flights within, into, or out of the United States were canceled by midday Monday, with 1,366 flights delayed. This year, U.S. airlines made extensive preparations to avoid the travel chaos witnessed in 2022, including hiring additional pilots, flight attendants, and staff. Southwest Airlines, in particular, aimed to rectify its previous debacle, which left over 2 million passengers stranded. Despite their efforts, Southwest still encountered difficulties over the weekend, although they hoped to resolve the situation by Monday. FlightAware reported that only 2% of Southwest's flights were canceled on Monday, although 12% experienced delays, totaling 524 flights. Over the weekend, Southwest canceled 426 flights and delayed 2,689 flights. A spokesperson for the airline attributed the issues to dense fog in Chicago, which hindered landings. The spokesperson also warned that additional cancellations may be necessary on Monday, but the airline expected a full recovery by Tuesday.

AAA, the auto club, predicted that approximately 115 million people in the U.S. would travel at least 50 miles from home by air or car between Saturday and New Year's Day, marking a 2% increase from the previous year. On Thursday alone, the Transportation Security Administration screened over 2.6 million individuals, with data from the entire weekend yet to be released. During Thanksgiving, U.S. airports experienced a record-breaking number of travelers, surpassing pre-COVID levels observed in 2019. The TSA recorded a single-day high of 2.9 million people screened on Sunday, November 26.

Despite the favorable weather conditions for air travel, road conditions on Christmas Day posed hazards in certain regions, particularly the Midwest and Great Plains, where snow and ice accumulations were reported. The National Weather Service highlighted blizzard conditions in most of Nebraska and South Dakota, as well as ice storms in parts of eastern North and South Dakota. INRIX, a transportation data provider, predicted that Saturday, December 23, and Thursday, December 28, would be the busiest days on the road.

Overall, this Christmas season offered improved travel experiences for many, with fewer disruptions in the air compared to previous years. While Southwest Airlines dealt with some challenges, other airlines managed to navigate the holiday period relatively smoothly. However, road conditions in certain areas were treacherous due to wintry weather, emphasizing the importance of caution for those traveling by car.