AAA: 2.9 Million Floridians To Travel For Thanksgiving; Rebounding To Near Pre-Pandemic Levels
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- AAA forecasts a strong rebound in holiday travelers this Thanksgiving.
The Auto Club Group predicts 53.4 million Americans will travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, up 13% from 2020. This brings travel volumes within 5% of pre-pandemic levels for the 2019 holiday. View the full report here.
The gap is closing even faster in Florida, as total travel figures are only 2% below pre-pandemic levels. AAA predicts nearly 2.9 million Floridians will travel for Thanksgiving, a 13% rebound from the total number of travelers during the 2020 holiday.
"It's beginning to look more like a normal holiday travel season, compared to what we saw last year," said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. "Now that U.S. borders are open, vaccinations are readily available, and new health and safety guidelines are in place, travel is once again high on the list for Americans who are ready to reunite with their loved ones for the holidays."
Busier Roads and Airports
With 6.4 million more Americans traveling this Thanksgiving (321,000 more Floridians), people should prepare for the roads and airports to be noticeably more crowded than last year's holiday. AAA predicts road travel to increase 8%.
Lymas Cowling is traveling by car.
"If I travel, I'll stay within 4-5 hours traveling distance so I can go back home", he said.
And he'll be paying for that travel. Gas is about $1.30 a gallon more than last year.
"Gas prices for Thanksgiving will likely be the most expensive we've seen in 8 years," said Mark Jenkins with AAA.
He said travelers should be strategic when planning that road trip.
"If you drive on Wednesday night at four in the afternoon, you're gonna find a lot of congestion. Whereas, if you hit the road in the morning time or Thanksgiving Day, there's going to be a lot fewer people on the roadway," said Jenkins.
Yet the most notable improvement this year's holiday is domestic air travel, which has almost completely recovered from its dramatic drop-off during the pandemic and is up 80% from last year.
At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport they're expecting more than 600,000 people to pass through the airport during the 7 day period. At Miami International, they're planning for a record-setting holiday period.
"The re-opening of the U.S. borders to international travelers means airports will be even busier than we've recently seen, so travelers must plan for longer lines and extra time for TSA checks," Haas said. "With flight delays and cancellations becoming a problem recently, air travelers are encouraged to consider travel insurance. If your flight is canceled, there are various policies that would help offset unexpected expenses like a hotel, transportation, and food. You may also receive compensation for lost luggage, or if your flight is delayed for as little as 3 hours."
Travel Pricing
Air: Even with air travel seeing a boost this year, AAA finds that the average lowest airfare is 27.3% less than last year coming in at $132. Tuesday and Wednesday are still the most expensive and heaviest travel days, while Monday and Thursday are generally the lightest and least expensive. Those wanting to book last-minute travel will find the best fares about two weeks before Thanksgiving, but keep in mind availability may be limited.
Hotels: Mid-range hotel rates have increased about 39%, with average nightly rates ranging between $137 and $172 for AAA Approved Hotels.
Car Rentals: Daily car rental rates have increased 4% compared to last Thanksgiving at $98. Over the summer, consumers experienced high costs and limited availability of rental cars in some markets due to the semi-conductor chip shortage impacting automakers. As the number of travelers continues to grow, it's important to reserve rental cars as early as possible.
Gas Prices: Gas prices surged in October and are likely to remain elevated through the holiday season. The average price for gasoline in Florida was $3.28 per gallon on Monday, November 8th. Thanksgiving gas prices haven't been that high since 2013. The state average was $2.03 per gallon during last year's holiday (November 26), and $2.44 on Thanksgiving Day in 2019 (November 28).
"Since many Floridians were unable to travel last year, it's unlikely that higher gas prices will keep them from hitting the holiday road in 2021," said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. "Gas prices do not typically make the difference of whether Floridians will or will not travel. However, they could impact how far some are willing to drive, while others may need to reallocate more of their travel budget to gasoline, and spend less on meals, shopping, and dining out."
Roads Will Be Bustling
INRIX, in collaboration with AAA, predicts drivers will experience the worst congestion heading into the holiday weekend as commuters leave work early and mix with holiday travelers. Major metro areas across the U.S. could see more than double the delays versus typical drive times.
"Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays for road trips and this year will be no different even during the pandemic," says Bob Pishue, Transportation Analyst, INRIX. "Drivers around major metros must be prepared for significant delays, especially Wednesday afternoon. Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic."
Tips and Resources for Navigating the Travel Landscape
This year's forecast marks the highest single-year increase in Thanksgiving travelers since 2005, bringing travel volumes close to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Despite gasoline costing over a dollar more per gallon than this time last year, 90% of people plan to travel by car as their preferred mode of transportation. Although the car is still the most popular choice for travelers, a greater share will opt to travel by air and other modes such as bus, train, or cruise this year. Whether you plan to do so by car or plane, it's important to know how to navigate the new travel landscape to avoid unnecessary stress and challenges on the way to your Thanksgiving destination.
Be Proactive. Book flights, car rentals, accommodations, and other activities as early as possible. Prices are not going down and are still somewhat impacted by the limited capacity of flights and staffing challenges faced by many industries. Consider working with a travel advisor who can make any last-minute changes to travel plans, explore travel insurance options and help plan a trip that meets your needs and comfort level this holiday season.
Xach Griff from the travel website The Points Guy suggests trying to book the first morning flight,he said there is less of a chance of delay or cancelation. He also tells travelers if you can book with an airline that has more than one flight to your destination, that's usually a good idea. If there's a cancelation, they possibly could get you on a flight the same day. Griff recommends that travelers sign up for TSA Pre-Check of Clear to get through security more quickly.
Be Patient. The roads and airports will be busy so plan ahead.
- Arrive at the airport early so you'll have plenty of time to get through longer TSA lines and other travel checkpoints. For domestic travel, arrive 2 hours ahead of departure and 3 hours for international.
- Consider booking a flight during non-peak travel periods to cut down on wait times.
- Hit the road when there's less traffic and allow for extra time when traveling to your destination.
Be Prepared for the Road: For the 48.3 million Americans hitting the road, make sure you and your vehicle are ready for the trip ahead. AAA expects to respond to over 400,000 calls for help over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The most common calls are for dead batteries, flat tires, and lockouts.
Before any long trip, AAA suggests getting an inspection to check key components like the battery, fuel system, tires, brakes and fluid levels. However, if your vehicle has been sitting idle these systems are particularly vulnerable to deteriorating especially without proper care or maintenance.
Be Protected: If you plan to travel during the holidays, it's essential to do so safely and understand how to protect yourself, your loved ones and your investment while traveling.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released its recommendations for holiday gatherings and related travel, saying that the best way to minimize COVID-19 risk is to get vaccinated if you're eligible. AAA urges anyone considering gathering or traveling for Thanksgiving to consult CDC guidance before finalizing holiday plans.
Travelers Headed to Big Cities and Beaches This Thanksgiving
AAA Travel continues to see a strong recovery that began over the summer and will last into the holiday season. Booking data reveals that big cities and tropical destinations are topping travelers' list this Thanksgiving both domestically and abroad.
Expected Number May Change
The actual number of holiday travelers could fluctuate as we approach Thanksgiving. If there is an increase in reported COVID-19 cases, some people may decide to stay home, while others may note the progress in vaccinations and make last-minute decisions to travel.
