Fun facts about Thanksgiving 2:23
(CNN) --
Thanksgiving travel is expected to reach nearly 98% of pre-pandemic volume, according to auto and travel club AAA.
With 54.6 million people expected to travel over the holidays — an increase of 1.5% from 2021 — this Thanksgiving is expected to be the third busiest since AAA began tracking the volume of trips in 2000 (the number peaked in 2005 and had the second highest before the pandemic in 2019).
While inflation cooled more than expected in October, to 7.7% yoy, Americans are feeling pretty bad about the economy.
But that doesn't appear to be affecting travel demand, according to AAA.
“It seems counterintuitive, given inflation and higher gasoline prices.
But considering how separated and isolated we were during the first 2 years of the pandemic, now that the restrictions have been lifted, the demand for travel is high," Aixa Díaz, a spokeswoman for the AAA, told CNN via email. .
While gasoline is expensive (the national average per gallon was $3.77 on Monday), gasoline prices are lower than they were a month ago and well below the peak of $5 a gallon, midle June.
advertising
Your Thanksgiving dinner will be more expensive this year 1:12
Diaz said Americans are comfortable returning to public transportation, including planes and trains, and have a travel budget.
“They are cutting back on other areas of their lives, going out to dinner at less expensive restaurants or shopping less, and also reducing their trips to the grocery store to save gas,” Diaz said.
"But AAA hasn't seen a cutback in leisure travel. In fact, quite the opposite!"
Air travel increases 8%
The number of Americans traveling by air is expected to increase nearly 8% over 2021. The 4.5 million Americans who fly during the five-day holiday period, which runs from Wednesday, November 23, through Sunday November 27, is almost 99% of the volume of 2019.
“Airport parking spaces fill up fast, so reserve a spot early and arrive early,” Paula Twidale, AAA's senior vice president of travel, said in a statement.
"Be ahead of long lines at TSA checkpoints. If possible, avoid checking your bag to allow for more flexibility if flights are delayed or you need to reschedule."
And while just about everything seems more expensive these days, airfare is actually leveling off, according to Scott Keyes, founder of Scott's Cheap Flights.
The airfare "bottomed out" for about two years, from March 2020 to March 2022, Keyes said.
Then it "really went up" in the spring.
"Since then, it's collapsed again and now, if you look closely, it looks essentially normal. It looks like pre-pandemic value," Keyes said.
Several NGOs and celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger help families for Thanksgiving
That's not to say it isn't more expensive than last year.
"Even adjusting for inflation, airfare today is 34% higher than it was 12 months ago," Keyes said.
With demand as high as it is this holiday season, many air travelers are bracing for trouble after cancellations and delays that plagued the summer season.
The airlines "have done everything they can to try to prepare," Nick Calio, president and chief executive officer of industry group Airlines for America, told CNN's Pete Muntean.
"They've adjusted their schedules, they've been overhiring, putting people in the right places at the right time," he said.
Calio's biggest concern?
"I'm worried about the weather. I always worry about the weather because it's the first thing that can ruin a flight or a flight pattern, but again I think we're flexible enough now and if there are cancellations or delays, we'll be able to get people Where do you want to go".
Most travelers will choose to drive
Most travelers will drive to their destinations, as has historically happened.
This year, almost 49 million people are expected to travel by car.
That's 2.5% below 2019 levels, but 0.4% more than last year.
The AAA forecast looks at trips that are 50 miles (about 800 kilometers) or more from home.
Roads are expected to be congested, particularly in major metropolitan areas.
Mobility analysis firm INRIX suggests traveling early Wednesday morning or before 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving to avoid the rush of the holiday weekend.
And try to avoid Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 4 pm and 8 pm
Travel by other modes of transportation is also approaching pre-pandemic levels.
More than 1.4 million travelers are expected to travel by bus, train or cruise during the Thanksgiving holiday, 96% of the volume for 2019.
Thanksgiving Day