Driving remains most popular mode of travel for Thanksgiving. (Source: AAA)AIR TRAVEL TIPS
Planes are likely to be packed over the holiday, and bad weather or airline computer malfunctions can slow things to a crawl. If the unexpected happens, be ready to react quickly. Arrive early. At some airports, including Dallas-Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field, garages and other facilities are under construction, making matters worse. Pack smart. Don't put anything you really need - medicine, passport, other important papers - in your rollaboard bag; or remember to remove it if the airline orders you to gate-check your bag, which happens when flights are full and bins are overstuffed. Customer assistance. If your flight is canceled, get in line to talk to an airline customer rep but call the airline too. You might have better luck reaching an overseas number - look up the numbers before your trip.
AAA projects 48.7 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, an increase of 1 million travelers compared to last year and the most Thanksgiving travelers since 2007. (Source: AAA)DALLAS - The slowly improving economy could boost travel over the Thanksgiving holiday to levels not seen in nine years.
AAA forecasts 48.7 million Americans will travel, the busiest Thanksgiving period on U.S. roads and skies since 2007, the year before the global financial crisis plunged the U.S. economy into a deep recession.
The auto club AAA said Tuesday it expects 1 million more Americans to venture at least 50 miles from home, a 1.9 percent increase over last year.
This year's increase is spurred by improvements in the economy during the second half of the year, including rising wages, increased consumer spending and overall strength in consumer confidence, according to AAA. Despite incremental increases in the national average price of gasoline during the past couple of months, AAA estimates U.S. drivers have saved more than $28 billion so far at the pumps this year compared to the same period last year.
"This is the most traveled holiday of the year, and as usual, there is an emphasis on road trips," said Joseph J. Richardson Jr., president and CEO of AAA. "If you are one of the 43.5 million people on the road, we urge you to be patient in traffic and limit distractions while behind the wheel."
The forecast was assembled at research firm IHS, which said it considered jobs, household net worth, the stock market, prices for gasoline and airline tickets, and other factors.
The researchers did their number crunching in mid-October, about three weeks before the surprising outcome in the presidential election.
The AAA forecast predicts that from Wednesday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Nov. 27, about 43.5 million Americans will take long car trips, 1.9 percent more than last year. AAA expects 3.7 million will travel by air, a 1.6 percent increase. Bus and train trips will grow less than 1 percent, the auto group said.
In Tennessee, more than 1.1 million residents will travel for the holiday - 1 million by vehicle and more than 35,000 by airplane - an increase of nearly 4 percent over 2015.
The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.17, 12 cents more than the average price on Thanksgiving Day 2015 ($2.05). If prices dip below last year's levels, regular unleaded will be the cheapest since 2008, when the national average was $1.85. In Tennessee, the current average price of $2.01 is 13 cents more than last year's holiday ($1.88).
"Gas prices are now on a similar course as last year, due in large part to lower oil prices," said Stephanie Milani, Tennessee public affairs director for AAA. "Tennessee gas prices should fall below $2 a gallon this week. How much further they go will depend on which direction oil prices go from here."
An airline-industry trade group is a bit more bullish. Airlines for America predicts that air travel will rise 2.5 percent over last year's holiday, although the group considers Thanksgiving travel spanning a 12-day period that begins Nov. 18.