attention passengers...

Where Texas' major airports land among best and worst for holiday delays

George Bush Intercontinental Terminal IAH

Bush Intercontinental is not where you want to be during a holiday delay.

Photo courtesy of Houston Airport System

If your holiday travels have you stopping at a major Texas airport, you're better off flying through Dallas-Fort Worth than Houston.

Examining the 15 busiest airports in the country, travel website Orbitz ranked DFW Airport as the seventh best airport to be stuck at if your flight’s delayed during the holiday rush. By comparison, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport appeared at No. 13 on the Orbitz list — two spots from the bottom.

The website used these categories for its ranking: shopping, dining, Wi-Fi, on-time departures, flight cancellations, member lounges, and public lounges. At DFW, 82.41 percent of flights leave on time, and 1.54 percent are canceled. At Bush Intercontinental, 83.22 percent of flights depart on time, however, almost 3 percent never take off.

A study released earlier this year by market research company J.D. Power rated DFW Airport as the fifth best major airport in North America, based on input from more than 40,000 North American travelers. Bush Intercontinental showed up at No. 7 in the major-airport category. Among large airports, Dallas Love Field landed at No. 2, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport ranked No. 9, and Houston’s Hobby Airport came in at No. 10.

Cynthia Vega, a spokeswoman for DFW Airport, says the airport works year-round to ensure travelers enjoy a high-flying experience. It does that by, among other things, providing such amenities as yoga studios and a walking path, online booking for parking, food ordering via the airport's mobile app, and "world-class" dining and shopping.

And, during the holidays, “customers should also be on the lookout for special treats as they journey through DFW, with surprises planned that include everything from holiday performances to special gifts,” Vega says.

While Houston’s two airports didn’t fare as well as DFW and Love Field in the Orbitz and J.D. Power rankings, they did shine in this year’s ratings from Skytrax, which produces airline and airport reviews and rankings.

Houston is just the third city in the world and the only city in the U.S. with two airports that have earned a four- or five-star rating from Skytrax. In Skytrax’s 2018 ratings, Bush Intercontinental and Hobby both received four stars.

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Drive to Deals

Fredericksburg restaurants join two-week festival with big discounts

Cabernet Grill/Instagram

Cabernet Grill is one of the Fredericksburg restaurants that will be participating.

A tradition that has taken hold in Austin and San Antonio has moved into one of the most popular destinations in the Hill Country. Restaurant Weeks, an initiative restaurants can join to offer deals, is coming to Fredericksburg for the first time in 2025.

Fredericksburg locals and travelers might as well think of this as a new initiative, but it's technically an expansion of San Antonio Restaurant Weeks, which are run by the nonprofit Culinaria. The concept is nearly universal in big cities; it exists in Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City, where it started in 1992, plus many others.

San Antonio's Restaurant Weeks are biannual — in the winter and summer — so Fredericksburg will be included in both. The winter 2025 season runs from January 18 to February 1. The release does not share when the second installment for 2025 will be, but last year San Antonio's summer weeks were in August.

Culinaria started its Restaurant Weeks in 2010, but this is the first time it reaches into Fredericksburg. Thanks to all the participants, the initiative feels big to people choosing where to dine, but the concept is very simple. Restaurants create standardized three-course menus and set the prices very accessibly, encouraging diners to head out and try restaurants or dishes they haven't gotten around to yet.

Beyond that, there's no obligation to create a certain menu item or otherwise alter the service. It's just a discount that lots of restaurants offer at once. There is some flexibility in pricing, but all brunches will be $25; lunch will be $20 or $30; and dinner will be $35, $45, or $55. Additionally, some restaurants will offer to-go items, extra courses, or beverage pairings, so check the website carefully while deciding where to go.

A release only names two Fredericksburg restaurants participating so far: Ocotillo Wine Bar, an earthy, small space that serves "Texas tapas," grilled cheese, and desserts alongside its many wines; and Cabernet Grill, a rustic restaurant with a steakhouse-like menu in a cool stone house that's part of the Cotton Gin Village.

“Culinaria Restaurant Weeks is a longstanding tradition that pays homage to our city’s culinary talent,” Culinaria president and CEO Suzanne Taranto-Etheredge in the release. “Culinaria Restaurant Weeks provides the chance to sample the cuisine of some of the Alamo city’s top eateries, bistros and local favorites while enjoying specially curated tasting menus and pairings at an amazing price.”

Although reservations are not required, they're a good idea. This popular event draws crowds and if you've found a great deal, someone else probably has, too!

Austin's Restaurant Weeks are scheduled once a year — in 2024 it was August 30 to September 15 — and benefit the Central Texas Food Bank. There were 112 participants in 2024.

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