and travel. lots of travel.
According to AAA, nearly 55 million people will travel more than 50 miles from their homes during this Thanksgiving travel period (five days from Wednesday, November 23 through Sunday, November 27).
In a sign of social normalization in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, that total will increase by 1.5% compared to 2021, equivalent to 98% of its pre-pandemic amount.
In fact, 2022 will be the third busiest Thanksgiving year since the AAA began tracking the stats in 2000.
Nearly 49 million Americans will drive to their destinations this year, an increase of 0.4% from 2021.
However, due to higher gasoline prices, car travel in 2019 is expected to be 2.5% below pre-pandemic levels.
Meanwhile, air travel has rebounded significantly this year, with 4.5 million Americans flying to their Thanksgiving dinner destinations.
“Whether you’re driving or flying, plan ahead and be patient,” said Paula Twydale, senior vice president of travel at AAA.
Return of Americans to the skies
Air travel over the Thanksgiving holiday is expected to increase by nearly 8% over 2021 levels this year. There will be another 330,000 flyers this year, representing almost 99% of 2019 volume.
AAA’s projections are in line with a JD Power report that says global air passenger levels are almost back to 91% of pre-pandemic levels.
The nightmarish airport scene earlier this year may seem like a distant memory, but for passengers caught in the middle of the storm, AAA has some advice.
“Airport parking spaces fill up quickly, so book a spot in advance and arrive early,” suggests Twidale. “Expect long lines at TSA. If possible, avoid checking bags so you have flexibility in case your flight is delayed or you need to reschedule.”
Busiest Road/Worst Travel Time
Of course, road traffic is not evenly distributed, with certain corridors seeing more traffic than others.
AAA says the highways in and around Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles will be the busiest. The busiest time to drive is early Wednesday morning or before 11:00 am on Thanksgiving.
It is also recommended to avoid traveling between 4:00pm and 8:00pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
“Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays on road trips, and this year is no different,” says INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishwe. Knowing when and where traffic jams occur can help drivers avoid the stress of being stuck in traffic. ”
