Labor Day will cap a record-breaking summer travel season, according to AAA
MIAMI - The TSA says roughly 17 million people will be screened through airport security from August 29 to September 4. That's 8.5 percent more than this time last year.
Lonnie Harper Prefers to fly in the afternoon. He flew from from Miami International Airport up to Providence, Rhode Island.
"Early morning is more congestion. Those 5 6 o'clock flights. Everyone trying to get through TSA is I'd say a lot more stressful," Harper said.
And down in baggage claim, many early morning flights arrived in a bunch. Some prefer getting the flight out of the way.
"If the flight is delayed, I can always take the next flight. So it's always better and it's often cheaper, said Araceli Tinajero, who is traveling from New Jersey.
Levi Shrebes was flying back home to West Virginia from Miami over the holiday.
"It was pretty busy but this is only my second time flying," Shrebes said.
Auto club AAA predicts that Labor Day travel will be up 9% compared to last year while the cost to travel will be down 2%.
Top Labor Day destinations include Orlando, New York, Boston, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, and San Francisco.
At South Beach, the crowds were manageable and visitor John Grello said he'd swing through after seeing Disney World.
"They told us it was gonna be congested but we had plenty of time and weren't worried about it," Grello said.
Those traveling by car will get some relief at the pump. AAA says Florida has its lowest gas prices in Labor Day in three years.
"Americans see the extended Labor Day weekend as an opportunity to say farewell to summer with one final trip," said AAA Vice President for Travel Debbie Haas. "Since many kids are already back in school, regional road trips tend to be the most popular option for families."
Those hitting the road will find a break at the gas pump. Florida gas prices are the lowest for the Labor Day weekend in three years. On Friday, gas prices in the state averaged $3.34 per gallon. In recent years, Labor Day drivers paid $3.68 in 2023 and $3.52 in 2022.
Nationwide, AAA expects to rescue more than 300,000 stranded motorists during the Labor Day holiday weekend.
"The top 3 reasons for those calls tend to be a flat tire, dead battery or a lockout. So we're certainly encouraging people to make sure their vehicle is road trip ready. We're also urging drivers to make sure they're watching the shoulders of the roads where our workers are gonna be, making sure they give them extra space. So slow down, move over when you're approaching anybody on the roadside," said AAA's Mark Jenkins.
Florida law requires drivers to slow down and move over for first responders, emergency workers and stranded motorists with their hazard lights on. Although that law doesn't go into effect until January, AAA urges drivers to begin following the law now.