Without the reindeer and sleds, drivers and airline passengers had better be striving for this: It’s starting to look like another record for holiday travel in America.
Auto club AAA estimates more than 119 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between Saturday and New Year’s Day, well above the previous holiday season high in 2019.
The two weekends either side of Christmas are among the most congested times on roads and airports.
Trade group Airlines for America also expects record travel, saying it expects U.S. airlines to carry 54 million passengers during the 19-day period starting Thursday and ending Monday, Jan. 6.
This number represents an increase of 6% over the previous year.
A government shutdown that could begin as early as Saturday would likely occur too close to the holidays. Flights and airport operations will be immediately affectedBut that could change if the shutdown lasts longer.
What will be the busiest travel days?
Airlines expect Friday and Sunday and December 26, December 27 and December 29 to be their busiest days. Flight traffic is expected to be low on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
The slowest US air travel day this year – by a wide margin – was Thanksgiving Day.
The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers over the holidays and through Jan. 2.
According to AAA, nearly 90% of Americans traveling away from home for the holidays will be in cars.
“Air travel is very high right now, but most people drive to their destinations, and that’s true for every vacation,” said AAA spokeswoman Aixa Diaz.
Gasoline prices are the same as last year.
The nationwide average was $3.05 a gallon Thursday, down from $3.08 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages less than 35 cents per kilowatt hour, but varies by state.
Transportation data firm INRIX says travel times on the country’s highways could be 30% longer than normal during the holidays, with traffic expected to be heaviest on Sunday.
According to the company, Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington, DC are the major metropolitan areas with the most delays.
Weather and other wildcards
Because the holiday travel period lasts for weeks, airports and airlines typically have less off-peak days during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the hassle of one busy day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews.
And any disruption — a winter storm or a computer glitch — could cause widespread disruption.
That’s how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million passengers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a small but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike.
Many flights sell out during holidays, making cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods.
This is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for passengers to rebook.
Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have “interline agreements” that let them move stranded customers to another carrier’s flights.
This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers automatic cash refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights. Most air travelers were already eligible for a refund, but they often had to request it.
Passengers can still ask to rebook, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods.
that’s because finding last minute flights On any other airline you find yourself very expensive.
“When they rebook you, they will pay the difference in fare. If a flight to visit my grandmother, which I booked six months ago for $200, is canceled, and I book one four hours from now for $400, I have to pay the difference,” Consumer. said travel expert Sally French. Affairs company NerdWallet.
People traveling on budget airlines with fewer flights and no partnerships with other carriers may face a difficult choice in the event of a canceled flight.
“They will put you on the next outgoing Spirit or Frontier flight, but it may still be a while. Sometimes waiting three days for the next flight won’t work for you, and it may be worth paying more to rebook on a larger airline, French said.
Some airlines are taking advantage of a provision of a new Transportation Department rule that defines significant delays as three hours for domestic flight And six hours for international flights.
According to Brett Snyder, who runs the website Cranky Flyer, airlines that previously issued refunds for short delays — Delta, United and JetBlue, for example — are now using the government standard.
Delays in flights increase the risk of losing bags. Passengers whose bag gets separated should inform the airline and ask what the airline will cover.
Below are links to customer-service plans from major US airlines this page,
Will flights and airports be affected by the government shutdown?
A government shutdown could occur if Congress does not pass a funding bill by the Friday midnight deadline.
Most TSA employees at airports, air traffic controllers and customs agents are considered essential and would have to work without pay in the event of a shutdown.
The longer the shutdown lasts, the more workers without compensation could call in sick, leading to long security lines and other delays.
That appeared to be the case several weeks after the government shutdown began in December 2019.
“While our personnel have prepared to handle the large number of travelers and ensure safe travel, the extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports,” TSA spokesperson Carter Langston said in a statement. “
AAA advises travelers to “continue with their vacation plans even if the shutdown occurs,” said Diaz, the spokeswoman. “Airport operations will continue as normal, but perhaps a little slower than normal, so passengers should be aware of that.”
Planning ahead to 2025
Airline fares increased by 4.7% in November, compared with a year earlier, according to US government data. But the beginning of 2025 is a good time to start planning next year’s trips, including spring break and summer vacations.
“Since travel is so popular, you won’t find anything that looks too shabby, but January and February are great times to plan for March, April and May,” says Laura Motta, editor of the travel-guide publisher. Lonely Planet said. “If you want to go to Paris in the spring, you have to think about it in January.”
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