If holiday travel causes you stress, you are certainly not alone.

A recent survey conducted by KAYAK revealed that 84% of American travelers feel that holiday flights are more likely to be delayed or canceled compared to other times of the year, with 81% believing that disruptions are increasing. (Does anyone else recall the chaos at Southwest Airlines during the 2022 holiday season?)

The travel specialists at KAYAK looked into whether there’s any truth to these beliefs. “The discussion began informally as we approached the holiday travel period,” explained Kayla DeLoache, a travel trends expert at KAYAK and Cheapflights. “While many expected delays and cancellations during this time, some felt that things were improving. So, we decided to analyze the data.”

To refute some common beliefs about holiday air travel, the experts examined data from 50 busy airports on KAYAK, alongside flight disruption data from Aviation Edge and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics for 2023.

There’s good news: holiday travel might not be as troublesome as we think. “Holiday flying can indeed be hectic, but it’s not always as chaotic as people claim,” said DeLoache. “The rush of travelers during this season often leads to expected chaos. Plus, social media tends to amplify any minor issues, focusing on negative experiences instead of positive ones.”

Let’s clear up some of the most prevalent myths about holiday travel.

Myth 1: There are more delays during the winter holidays than any other time of year, and it’s getting worse.

Last year, less than 1% of flights were canceled during the holiday season, with only 5% of flights delayed for over an hour during Thanksgiving and 6% during December holidays. In fact, summertime saw more delays, with 28.6% of flights delayed in July and August.

Disruptions are improving, not worsening. In 2023, only 0.33% of flights were delayed, a significant decrease from 28% in 2022. “If you recall, there were substantial delays in 2022 that attracted a lot of media coverage, along with frustrated travelers,” noted DeLoache. Airlines have since improved operations by enhancing weather forecasting, streamlining systems, and bettering crew scheduling.

Myth 2: Bad weather causes the majority of flight delays during the holidays.

While it may appear that winter storms are the main adversary for holiday travelers, fewer than 27% of flights were delayed due to weather last winter. The predominant causes were carrier-related delays, such as maintenance issues and late arrivals of aircraft.

(Not a) myth 3: Flights that depart later in the day usually face more delays.

This statement is indeed accurate. KAYAK determined that travelers flying before 10 a.m. during Thanksgiving or Christmas in 2023 experienced 12% fewer delays than those flying post-5 p.m., thanks to lower air traffic and added time buffers. During the Christmas and New Year’s period, 31% of flights departing at 6 p.m. were delayed.

Myth 4: Flying on the actual holiday is usually better.

If your schedule allows, consider traveling on the holiday itself. You’ll likely benefit from lower fares and a reduced chance of delays. Last Thanksgiving Day, 9% of flights were delayed, compared to 20% the day prior. Similarly, on Christmas Day, 17% of flights experienced delays, versus 33% the following day.

(Kind of) a myth 5: Larger airports tend to have more delays.

It varies. Major hubs like John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and Denver International (DEN) saw considerable delays last Thanksgiving and Christmas. Nonetheless, the airport with the highest rate of delays was actually the smaller Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL), where 34% of flights were delayed during the holiday travel span. In general, however, smaller airports tend to have smoother operations, with places like San Jose International Airport (SJC) and San Antonio International Airport (SAT) being the most punctual during last year’s holiday season.