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Steve Martin and John Candy's nightmare journey home for the holidays in the 1987 film. Planes, trains and cars may seem too familiar at this time of year – perhaps a negative hit in the face by a taxi dispatcher.
The next few days are expected to be the busiest travel days 2025when crowds of people make their way through airports, train stations and snow-covered highways to visit family, return home or fly south to escape the winter.
Considering winter storm which just hit parts of the country, you might be wondering what kind of trip you're planning to take this year.
Typically, the holidays bring a variety of weather-related challenges, such as extreme cold, deep snow and freezing rain, to name a few, says David Phillips, climate scientist emeritus at Environment and Climate Change Canada.
But with the caveat that Canada is a huge country with varying climates, Christmas is still days away and “a week is like an eternity in the weather,” Phillips says he doesn't see anything too drastic this year.
“It won't cause us much grief,” he said.
Rain is expected in Vancouver, but storms and clear skies are expected across most of the Prairies, he said. By Tuesday, he said, he'll see sunshine in Winnipeg, mixed precipitation and showers across much of southern Ontario, showers in Halifax and St. John's, and clear, clear skies in Nunavut.
“When you look at next week, it's surprising how boring it is,” Phillips told CBC News.
“This is nature’s gift to us.”
It's the most wonderful time of the year for some, but it's also the busiest time of year for airport employees. Millions of passengers are expected to pass through Pearson Airport this holiday season, and to help keep things running smoothly, staff are reminding passengers of the important steps they need to take. CBC's Ali Chiasson reports.
“Holiday peak mode” at airports
Then the journey itself. If you're planning to fly, you're far from alone: airports are expecting an increase in passenger numbers over the next few days.
Ottawa Airport Authority says it expects December 21 to 23 to be its busiest travel days, with the majority of flights at or near capacity, according to a statement posted on its website. Vancouver International Airport said Thursday was the busiest day. Calgary airport says he's waiting 1.48 million travelers in December.
Toronto's Pearson Airport has entered “peak holiday mode” and is expecting about 171,000 passengers per day over the next few weeks, Sean Davidson, an airport spokesman, told CBC News.
“It will be very busy, but the airport is prepared for those busy times,” Davidson said.
The Toronto airport sees a lot of domestic traffic this time of year, with people heading to places like Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal to visit family and friends, he said. But they're also getting an influx of people heading to sunny destinations like Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Cancun in Mexico.
Travel trends are no different this year, Davidson added.
Just busier.
“We are seeing even more people coming to these destinations…the demand for travel is very high.”
Weather can always affect flights, he added, so it's important to check the forecast in the city you're flying from as well as your destination. Travelers should also allow plenty of time at the airport before departure — two hours for domestic flights and three for international flights, Davidson said.
Advice posted at other airports includes reminders to check what you are allowed to do. continue, Confirm your flight status before heading to the airport and reserve parking in advance.
With Christmas just a few days away, it's that time of year when travelers are trying to get home for the holidays. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) reports its busiest day of the season is Dec. 18, but as Jessica Cheung found, travelers said their experience went smoothly.
Check before you go
Winter weather is notoriously fickle, so Phillips says, “getting from one place to another is a real bonus at this time of year.”
Stephen Flisfeder, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, urges Canadians to check the forecast before traveling. While severe storms are not expected, significant systems are still moving through some areas, especially in the next 24 hours, he told CBC News.
Southern Ontario and Quebec are expected to see rain, snow, wind and rapidly dropping temperatures, which could cause icy roads and make travel difficult, Flisfeder said. The snow that blanketed the Prairies will reach the Maritimes, he added.
By next week, weather conditions will be “much less intense,” Fliesfeder said. However, he added, “these conditions have not yet been fixed.”
“Things can change,” Fliesfeder said. “It will be important, especially if you are traveling over the next week, to keep an eye on the forecast and any warnings that may be issued – not just about where you are, but where you are going.”
