So, what is the busiest travel day over the Thanksgiving holiday? NBC suggested that it could be the Monday after the holiday; we still say it’s the Sunday after. But regardless of the final tally, we all know we could be in for a record-setting week. See how the numbers break down, and see what you can expect when you get to the airport.

The TSA released the number of passengers screened on each day over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2006:

You can see that, according to these numbers, Sunday held onto the “busiest day” title. However, Monday edged out the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, a day that has been traditionally seen as the second busiest travel day of the year.

ATA sees things staying the same this year:

“Based on a sample of recent historical data, the three busiest travel days during the Thanksgiving travel period are expected to be Sunday, Nov. 25; Monday, Nov. 26; and Wednesday, Nov. 21, respectively.”

But remember, these are general numbers. Specific airports have their own “busiest days” to contend with. SFO (San Francisco) believes they saw their largest crowds on the Friday before Thanksgiving, with roughly 124,000 passengers heading out for the holiday early, and the folks in Sacramento still believe Wednesday will be their busiest day for travel. Even NBC’s “Monday prediction” could have simply applied to Chicago O’Hare.

Whether it’s Wednesday, Sunday, Monday, or even last Friday, airports are going to be spectacularly busy, as millions and millions of people set out on their travels. Hopefully, by now, you’ve secured your tickets and made plans to possibly spend some extra time at the airport. And remember all this when shopping for 2008 Thanksgiving travel. Shop early, and as I love to say, be prepared.