Holiday travel: Weather in parts of the U.S. affected flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor

PHOENIX - Nearly 3 million people passed through TSA on Dec. 28, 2025 across the country following Christmas, exceeding predictions for holiday travel.

In Phoenix, despite some severe weather in other parts of the country, there were only four cancellations on Dec. 29 at Sky Harbor.

Local perspective:

Delays were another story, with nearly 150 reported, but the overall response was that flights were smooth and people were happy to land somewhere with some nice sunshine.

"It was freezing, we got some snow, snowstorm last night into today," said traveler Amari Myers. Myers says some serious winter weather in Iowa led to a bit of a long travel day.

"Finally, after some flight delays, we finally got in the air and, yeah, so much better to be here," Myers said.

Marques Brown was also happy to be here after leaving Seattle.

"The weather there, it's super cold now, it's icing over, but it's not black ice yet," Brown said. "We just got through some heavy rain, I have four-wheel drive so it wasn't fun."

Now the fun can begin—well, once he's lost some layers.

"I'm ready to take this off, it's that Seattle weather that I'm wearing," Brown said.

Candice Burning moved from Phoenix this past year, and says her holiday visit included a trip up north to Flagstaff for some winter fun.

"We went sledding at Flagstaff Snow Park, and we rented a little Vrbo up there and drove ATVs around, and we got a little bit of a storm, which was nice," Burning said.

Now she's heading home and managed to swing first-class upgrades with a travel hack she's willing to share.

"So I book on American and I book really early, and then I check in," Burning said. "If you check in exactly 24 hours before, then you get the same-day first class option for really cheap—so like $100. For each way for $100, I upgraded to first class!"

'You don't wanna get there last minute'

Paul George-Blazevich, who spent the Christmas holiday in Wisconsin, said the weather turned from rainy and 40 degrees to a full blizzard with wind chills dipping toward minus 20. The conditions resulted in an eight-hour delay for his flight out of Madison.

"We were supposed to leave at 7:30, and we left at about 3," George-Blazevich said. "But this morning we woke up to a blizzard and wind and snow."

To manage the stress of a long travel day, Myers recommends coming prepared with entertainment.

"I love listening to music, so I just make sure I have my AirPods. I love a good book," Myers said, noting she has finished an entire book during previous flight delays. "You just have to find something you enjoy doing; it makes the time go by a lot quicker."

For others, the stress begins before reaching the terminal. Janet Krummann said the hardest part of the trip is simply getting the suitcase ready.

"Once I get packed at home it's like, phew, okay," Krummann said.

Brown emphasized that preparation is the key to a smooth airport experience.

"You've gotta make sure you check in, make sure you have your parking situated," Brown said. "You don't wanna get there last minute and figure out where you gotta park."

Despite the headaches, George-Blazevich said there was a silver lining to his late departure.

"We were able to take advantage of more time to see family, see friends a little bit more, and just get some coffee," he said.