March Madness 2026
It’s the most wonderful time of the year — unless you’re trying to nonrev through one of these cities.
March Madness is officially underway, and for the next few weeks, 13 cities across the country are hosting NCAA tournament games. That means packed hotels, packed bars, and yes — packed flights. If you’re planning to nonrev anytime between now and early April, you need to know where the games are being played.
Here’s the full breakdown straight from NCAA.com:
First Four — Already Played
- Dayton, OH → DAY — March 17 & 18
First & Second Rounds
- Buffalo, NY → BUF — March 19 & 21
- Greenville, SC → GSP — March 19 & 21
- Oklahoma City, OK → OKC — March 19 & 21
- Portland, OR → PDX — March 19 & 21
- Tampa, FL → TPA — March 20 & 22
- Philadelphia, PA → PHL — March 20 & 22
- San Diego, CA → SAN — March 20 & 22
- St. Louis, MO → STL — March 20 & 22
Sweet 16 & Elite Eight
- Houston, TX → IAH / HOU — March 26 & 28
- San Jose, CA → SJC — March 26 & 28
- Chicago, IL → ORD / MDW — March 27 & 29
- Washington, D.C. → DCA / IAD / BWI — March 27 & 29
Final Four
- Indianapolis, IN → IND — April 4 & 6
What This Means for You as a Nonrev
Game days are the obvious ones to watch — flights into these cities will fill up with fans, coaches, team staff, media, and everyone in between. But the day after a team gets eliminated is when things get really interesting. You can see a sudden surge of people all trying to leave the same city at the same time. Load factors that looked fine on Tuesday can look very different by Wednesday morning.
The flip side? If you’re departing from one of these cities right after an elimination, you might actually catch a break as loads stabilize. It goes both ways.
A few cities worth extra attention: GSP (Greenville-Spartanburg) is a smaller airport, so even moderate fan traffic can have an outsized effect on loads. PHL and ORD are major hubs where ripple effects can spread across connecting flights. And if you’re in Houston, the South Regional is at Toyota Center on March 26 and 28, so IAH and HOU will feel it.
Check FlightLoads before you head out. This is exactly the kind of situation where a load that looks open in the morning can flip to oversold by the afternoon.
Happy travels — and may your loads be favorable and your teams make it to the second round. 🏀
Frequently Asked Questions
Does March Madness really affect flight loads that much?
It can, especially on game days and the day after elimination games. You’re not just dealing with fans — team travel parties, coaches, media crews, and broadcast staff all move through the same airports. On smaller airports like GSP or OKC, the impact is more concentrated than you’d see at a major hub.
Which cities should I be most careful about?
Focus on the game day itself and the day after. For the first and second rounds, that’s March 19–22. For the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight it’s March 26–29. The Final Four in Indianapolis runs April 4 and 6, with the heaviest travel expected April 7 as everyone heads home after the championship game.
What about connecting through these cities — do I need to worry even if I’m not going there?
Yes, potentially. Major hubs like PHL, ORD, and IAD can see delays and oversells that ripple into connecting itineraries. If your routing takes you through one of these cities on a game day, keep a close eye on loads for both legs — not just the one you’re focused on.
Is it ever a good time to fly into or out of these cities during the tournament?
Actually yes — the morning before games tip off can be relatively calm since most fans traveled in the day prior. And if a local fan base’s team gets eliminated, loads can ease up quickly as fans clear out. Nonrev is all about timing, and this tournament gives you a roadmap to plan around.
How do I check loads for these cities?
Head over to FlightLoads on Passrider.com and see what other airline employees are reporting. It’s real-time, crowd-sourced load information from people in the same boat as you.
What rounds have already been played?
The First Four wrapped up in Dayton, Ohio on March 17 and 18. The First Round is underway March 19–20, with the Second Round on March 21–22. Everything from the Sweet 16 onward is still ahead.