Creekland’s Son here: Reslife’s policy is that you should leave your dorm within 48 hours of completing your last final. This is mainly to encourage students to leave the dorms at a manageable pace (instead of a mad dash at the end). However, no one is actually checking to see if you are gone in accordance with this policy. You will let your RA know when you plan to leave, and that time is when we check your room (once all of the room’s inhabitants are gone). This past winter break, the RAs (and our residents) had to be out of our “non-break” dorms by 9AM the day after finals were over… so I wouldn’t rely on a noon kickout time, but you are more than welcome to wait for your taxi/plane elsewhere if you have a later flight.
As for any students wishing to stay on campus during the winter break, certain buildings are left open (Sue B., Southside, Riverview, and Brooke’s Crossing… this may be subject to change each year). You would have to find a friend to stay with in one of these buildings (or use the room of such a friend if they are gone) during winter break, and then sign-up with Reslife to let them know you’ll be around. Then your ID card won’t be deactivated, allowing you into the buildings. Otherwise, the rest of the “non-break” dorms are closed off during break. My suggestion would be to wait until you get your exam schedules from your professors (handed out the first day of classes). You can then buy your ticket and still be early enough to get a good deal.