‘Tis the season for family, travel and flight delays. Frequent fliers know the sinking feeling of abandonment as a voice echoes over the intercom, announcing your slightly delayed flight is now much, much more delayed. Somehow those announcements only come after you’ve already closed your tab at the airport bar and walked to the boarding gate.
Fret no longer (well, other than fretting over your missed connection). We looked into the airport hubs that experienced the most Thanksgiving delays from 2010 to 2015, according to the travel information website WanderBat. VinePair found you the best places to keep the tab running.
St. Louis
Just over 17 percent of Thanksgiving related flights out of the Lambert airport in St. Louis were delayed. Granted, the delays averaged out to only around nine and a half minutes, but if you happen to be on a plane that’s bringing that average up, you’re going to need a drink. If you’re stuck in Terminal 1, head over to Beers of the World. You’ll see a lot of bad reviews for Beers of the World online, but it’s mostly people complaining about the food. Why are you ordering food at a place called Beers of the World? There’s a decent beer menu (although it’s run by Budweiser, so don’t expect anything too crazy) and that’s all that matters. Go to the St. Louis Brewmasters Tap Room where you can get a taste of the local craft beer scene.
Baltimore/Washington International
Don’t get your hopes up if you’re trying to escape Washington, D.C. or Baltimore on Thanksgiving. The Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall airport had 17.7 percent of Thanksgiving flights delayed between 2010 and 2015. Hit up the Vino Volo Wine Bar in Concourse A for some wine before you get up in the air and the altitude makes your wine taste weird. In the main terminal, hit up Sky Azure for craft cocktails and craft beer.
New York City’s LaGuardia
If you find yourself stuck in LaGuardia, which you might considering almost 18 percent of Thanksgiving flights were delayed from 2010 to 2015, pray that you’re in Terminal C. The Biergarten in the Delta terminal is filled with craft beer picked by Brooklyn Brewery’s own Garrett Oliver. If wine is more your speed, Terminal D’s Wibar has 101 wines served by the glass.
Chicago O’Hare
Good luck getting out of the Windy City. A total of 18.3 percent of Thanksgiving flights were delayed from 2010 to 2015 for an average of more than 10 minutes. Luckily, there is alcohol. Publican Tavern in Terminal 3 has a healthy draft and bottle list with a focus on local beer (of which Chicago has plenty of good options). There’s also the Beaudevin in Terminal 1, a wine bar with more than 20 wines available as well as small plates.
Newark Liberty International
Brace yourself, people flying through New Jersey: A whopping 20.69 percent of Thanksgiving flights were delayed an average of 12.3 minutes from 2010 to 2015. Once New Jersey grabs you, it never, ever wants you to leave. And once it has you in its airport, you might as well submit yourself to subpar drinking. The only saving grace in Newark International is the Caps Beer Garden, which has a long list of international beers and Asian cuisine.
