Updated December 1, 2025
The holiday season causes lots of stress before the payoff of spending time with loved ones. Hosting a holiday party is never easy when considering the time and effort spent providing an excellent atmosphere for guests. But the larger headache may fall on the part of holiday travelers. Those planning for holiday travel should also prepare for “Murphy’s Law.” Anything that can go wrong usually does go wrong. Slow airport transportation, delayed flights, and last-minute work projects are just three of the potential obstacles.
Getting to and from New York’s airports is a notorious hassle. One significant travel risk during the busy holiday season is choosing a hail riding service or public transportation. These unreliable options increase the risk of missing an incredibly important flight. The latest JD Power Airport Satisfaction Study saw Newark Liberty International Airport propping up the list with the lowest rating of all the nation’s mega airports. LaGuardia was also below average in the large airports category. Specifically, passengers were frustrated by poor access and congestion at Newark, and the complicated ground transportation system in and around LaGuardia.
Choose a professional car service for holiday travel
Ditch unreliable airport transportation options. Instead, choose Delux Transportation’s Limo Service in NYC for dependable door-to-door transportation. Our chauffeurs regularly check for changes in flight times, which might cause delays, day and night. Our reservation staff also suggests early pickup times, so you can enjoy the ride and arrive far in advance of your scheduled flight.
A professional car service is also an excellent option for visitors you may have coming to town. Your guests won’t have to worry about flagging a cab or stressing over the train and subway schedules. Instead, they’ll arrive relaxed and ready to join the holiday activities. Call a Delux customer service representative to learn more about our premier transportation service. We also offer the mobile app for added convenience, or you can reserve a vehicle online.
With airport transportation covered, let’s discuss three more common holiday travel mistakes.
1. Procrastination: Failing to Book Holiday Flights in Advance
The idea of planning holiday travel in or out of New York is daunting and causes so many New Yorkers to procrastinate when booking flights. Travel expert Brian Kelly told ABC that the “goldilocks period” to get the best deal on flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas is around the first week of October. However, even if you have left it later, there are other ways to get a good price that are potentially even more effective. Kelly said “Timing is how you save money. It’s not the day you buy your ticket.” For example, he said that leaving in the morning on a less popular travel day such as Thursday and returning later on the Monday post-holiday can help people save “almost half” on airfare. So even if you don’t yet have your plans locked down for your December travel, have no fear. There could still be some good last-minute travel options for procrastinators.
But now it is an excellent time to arrange airport transportation. Visit Delux Transportation’s website to learn about our dependable limo service to all Tri-State airports. And click here to view our fleet for vehicle choices.
2. Employers Don’t Always Give Holiday Presents – Request Time Off in Advance
Poor planning can also hurt when seeking time off from work. Most businesses provide eight or nine paid holidays, but this year, Christmas and New Year’s both fall on Thursdays. This unhandy holiday schedule means you may need to request multiple days of vacation. And by waiting, you can open yourself to an awkward conversation with a supervisor.
Don’t count on your employer to gift the time off, either. Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson of The Financial Times described the US as “scandalously behind the rest of the world” when it comes to paid leave. So avoid the risk of being stuck in the office this holiday season by requesting time-off well in advance.
3. Expect the Unexpected
Remember “Murphy’s Law” that we discussed earlier? It can be a helpful benchmark to break through some of the holiday travel stress. It teaches us to accept chaos, like flight delays or cancellations. NBC recently reported New York City area passengers face some of the worst delays in the country. Both LaGuardia and Newark routinely see flight delays of three hours or more, while the check-in lines at JFK are becoming the stuff of legends.
Most cancellations and extreme delays are covered by the airline, but we recommend purchasing flight insurance for optimal protection. Winter storms and crowded airports make the holidays especially vulnerable to disruptions, so a $30 to $50 policy can provide peace of mind, as long as you read the fine print to understand what is covered. But for shorter distances, a backup plan like a train or car service can quickly become your first option in these cases, as well.
Airport security lines are also a notorious hassle in the holiday season. Even with the helpful range of security options, from TSA pre-check to the biometric ID company CLEAR, there always seems to be a long line for security. Plan and embrace the security hassle by laying out your travel documents the night before and arriving at security a minimum of 1.5 hours before a domestic flight.
Book your holiday car service with Delux for peace of mind
Spending the holidays with loved ones is too valuable to leave to chance. To afford yourself peace of mind, book flights well ahead of time, request time off from work in advance, and arrange all car service a few weeks before your trip.
Delux Transportation’s 50+ years of experience serving the Tri-State and Long Island will help make your holiday travel a less stressful one. Conveniently reserve online or call 516-883-1900. You can also download the mobile app for the added convenience of booking on the go.