The busiest travel day is expected to be Friday 20 December for many modes of transport – and travellers are being urged to prepare for their journey in advance.
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Read MoreIn response, a spokesperson for the airport told The i Paper: “We have seen some intermittent queues for airport security in the North Terminal. The queues are moving and we are not aware of anyone missing flights.”
Meanwhile, Heathrow Airport is expecting its busiest December on record, with the number of passengers travelling through the hub on Christmas Day 21 per cent higher than in 2023. Last month, more than 6.5m passengers travelled through the London hub, with Friday 20 December expected to be the busiest day this month.
Across the country, airports are expecting high passenger numbers from Friday 20 December until 2 January, with half a million set to depart from Stansted and Manchester, 400,000 from Luton, 200,000 from Birmingham and 175,000 from Bristol, according to Abta, the Travel Association.
On 21 December last year, about 25,000 Eurostar passengers saw their trains cancelled after the England to France tunnel was closed due to a walk-out by French staff. However, no industrial action is planned this year.
On Christmas Eve, trains stop running earlier than usual, with the last leaving London Kings Cross for Edinburgh at 5.30pm and London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly at 5.55pm. Check the National Rail website for the last departure times. Services will not resume until Boxing Day, when many timetables will be severely reduced.
From 27 December, there will be disruption and scheduled engineering works across the country’s rail networks, including Thameslink, South Western Railway and several operators travelling through Crewe. Avanti West Coast will be affected by RMT industrial action on 31 December and 2 January, with engineering works taking place on 1 January. Check here for updates.
How to handle delays and cancellations at Christmas
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is urging travellers to be aware of their consumer rights in the event of festive disruptions.
If staff can’t help, passengers should keep receipts for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and submit a claim to their airline.
Kelly Cookes, chief commercial officer of The Advantage Travel Partnership, also urges passengers to plan at this busy time of year: “With airports getting busier, pre-book taxi transfers as the availability will decrease nearer to the time of travel.
“If you’re relying on public transport, stay flexible and have a backup plan in case of delays,” she added.
She also suggests considering “pre-booking fast-track services and airport lounges for a more relaxed experience before departure”, as well as wrapping Christmas presents when you arrive at your destination “as security may ask you to unwrap them” at the airport.
She also suggests allowing extra time for the journey to the airport, as well as factoring in the time it will take to get through check-in and security. Real time information on security times is available on some airport websites.
Weather events can be one reason for disruption over the Christmas period (Photo: Adrian Dennis/Getty)
If your flight is fully cancelled, the airline must provide you with a refund within seven days or offer you an alternative service on the same route, which can be made with a rival carrier. Alternatively, you can book a replacement flight and claim back the cost from the airline.
If the delay is due to an “extraordinary circumstance” – such as adverse weather conditions or industrial action by Border Force – it may be harder to get payment, so check the circumstances before claiming.
Don’t arrive at the airport too late – or too early
Some UK airports’ websites show an estimated security waiting time, and others on their social media feeds, too.
Keep up to date
Many airlines keep passengers informed about disruptions via text, email or their app. Turning app notifications on can help keep you informed of last-minute changes.
Flightradar24 suggests checking for potential disruptions a few days before departure, using the flight number and viewing past flight history to see if a flight is consistently delayed or generally arrives on time.
While Christmas can be a stressful time for travelling, Kelly Cookes believes it can be one of the most rewarding: “Our top tip is, if you can, travel on Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve, as it is often much quieter and sometimes cheaper.”
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