Now begins one of the busiest weekends of the year, both on the roads, tracks and in the air.
Here are the best tips for coping with the traffic chaos this Christmas.
Over 69.3 million people will be in the air sometime between December 21 and 25 worldwide. 466,897 flights are scheduled to take off from 3,654 airports around our planet.
The biggest travel day is December 23rd.
These are staggering figures for most people, and even though there aren't as many flights in the air in Sweden then, Christmas is one of the biggest travel days of the year. But the airports are prepared for the onslaught.
– We already saw an increased influx of travelers at the beginning of the week. The biggest travel days will be Thursday to Sunday, and Friday will probably be the biggest, says Robert Pletzin, press manager at Swedavia Airports.
Be out in good time
His best tip for the weekend is to make sure you pack properly at home and to be out in good time because there are more travelers and luggage at the airports than usual. With the help of the new chatbot Svea, which is accessible via web, Facebook and Messenger, passengers can get answers to questions about flights, arrival times for luggage, current waiting times at security checkpoints and what is available at the airport around the clock.
– Another tip is our new service on the web and on mobile where you can see the waiting time at the security checkpoint – which can also make it easier on these travel days, says Robert Pletzin.
Some flights will inevitably be delayed over Christmas. Last year, 25 percent of flights were delayed or cancelled at 23 of Sweden's busiest airports between December 22 and 31. At Arlanda, nearly one in three flights (29.4 percent) were delayed over the Christmas and New Year holidays last year. At Landvetter, one in four flights was delayed over the same period. This is according to statistics from the flight compensation company Airhelp.
The airport that avoided delays the best last year was Jönköping Airport, followed by the airports in Linköping and Kalmar.
Be careful on the roads
It is important to be careful on the roads. The Christmas and New Year's weekend is an accident-prone weekend and on average 13-14 people die annually according to the Swedish Transport Agency's statistics. Last year, 9 people died during the period 20 December - 12 January.
The best advice is to take it easy and make sure you have plenty of time when driving.
– We are expecting colder weather this weekend and rain will turn to snow, so you have to take that into account. You have to be aware that there are different climates in the north and south. Even on short distances, the road conditions can differ. A few kilometers inland or north can make a big difference, says Joanna Ljunggren, press communicator at the Swedish Transport Administration.
The authority is ready to both plow and sand when required this weekend. Salting is done in some areas as a preventative measure.
Keep your distance from other cars this Christmas.
– The big rush is Friday and Saturday when many people are out on the roads. It starts as early as 10–11 on Friday morning and lasts until the evening. On Saturday we expect traffic to be intense until seven in the evening, says Joanna Ljunggren.
Her most important advice for avoiding traffic chaos is to keep your distance from other cars, adhere to speed limits, and choose roads prepared for traffic jams.
– Take breaks, drink and eat. Fatigue and dehydration greatly affect driving ability. Don't just pack Christmas presents in your luggage, also bring a snow shovel, flashlight and one or two warning triangles, says Joanna Ljunggren.
Train traffic preparedness
Last year, an SJ train broke down on Christmas Eve between Umeå and Stockholm. There were 150 passengers on the train and they were delayed by around four hours. Of course, such events cannot be predicted, but SJ is nevertheless prepared for all eventualities.
– We are well prepared when it comes to workshop and maintenance capacity. We have plenty of staff and see no imminent risks of delays at the moment. We hope that all our passengers have pleasant journeys and nice weekends, says Tobbe Lundell, acting press manager at SJ.
SJ has introduced double trains on the most popular departures between Stockholm and Gothenburg and between Stockholm and Sundsvall.
– Therefore, there are still some tickets left for those who have not had time to book yet, but it is important to be quick and perhaps also look at other departures than the one you first thought of. For those who want to travel in the middle of the day, it looks really good on most routes, says Tobbe Lundell.
8 tips from Swedavia
Check your passport – make sure it hasn't expired. Some countries require your passport to be valid for a certain period of time after entry.
Find out which terminal you are traveling from well in advance.
Find out how big your hand luggage can be by contacting your airline.
Check in from home – save your boarding pass on your phone or print it when you get to the airport
Are you taking your car to Arlanda? Pre-book parking for a guaranteed spot.
You can get real-time updates about your departure via Messenger.
Download Swedavia's app - here you can save your flight and quickly see if there are any changes.
Arrive well in advance – contact your airline to see what they recommend.
7 tips from the Swedish Transport Administration
Keep your distance from other vehicles
Keep to the speed limits
Choose meeting-prepared routes
Take breaks, drink and eat. Being tired and dehydrated affects your driving ability.
Bring a snow shovel, flashlight and warning triangle.
If you have to stop on the road – do not stay in the car. It is easy to do because it is warm inside the car, but it can be dangerous if you are hit from behind. Get out and call for help on the side of the road.
Keep in mind that many drivers who are out on the roads this weekend are not used to driving long distances.
5 smart tips at the airport
It goes much faster if you are prepared at the security check. Everything made of metal should be removed and placed in the plastic boxes. Computers, tablets, mobile phones and cameras should be taken out of the bag. Sometimes shoes are required to be taken off.
It is allowed to carry food in your hand luggage, see here what is okay to bring.
Valuable Christmas gifts should be placed in your hand luggage, provided they are items that are allowed to be taken on the plane. Gifts with liquid contents in quantities greater than 100 ml should be checked in.
Passengers using self-service check-in must ensure that there are no straps or cords hanging from their bags. They can cause a blockage on the baggage conveyor belt if they get caught.
Travel in the middle of the day or after ten o'clock at night if you have the opportunity, then it's a little quieter at the airport.
You have the right if your flight is delayed.
Provided you are flying within the EU, out of the EU or into the EU with a European airline (registered in the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland) you are entitled to a flat rate compensation if your flight arrives at least 3 hours late. The flat rate amount has three different levels.
If the flight distance is no more than 1,500 kilometers, you are entitled to compensation of 250 euros.
If the flight distance is between 1,500-3,500 kilometers, you are entitled to compensation of 400 euros.
If the flight distance is 3500 kilometers or more, you are entitled to compensation of 600 euros..
With Consumer Europe's Flight Calculator you can easily calculate your compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight.
