Anticipated Increase in Travel Methods, Air Travel, and Traffic Congestion During Thanksgiving Vacation

Anticipated Increase in Travel Methods, Air Travel, and Traffic Congestion During Thanksgiving Vacation

The holiday season is fast approaching, and according to AAA's travel forecast, Thanksgiving 2024 is set to break records.

Metro areas like Boston, New York, LA, Seattle, and DC are expected to experience doubled congestion during peak times. This increase in travel is not limited to public transportation, as AAA predicts nearly 80 million Americans will hit the road for Thanksgiving, marking a 1.7 million increase from 2023 and 2 million more than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, New York City, Las Vegas, and Hawaii are among the most popular destinations for Thanksgiving 2024, according to AAA's forecast. These warm-weather cities, along with domestic favourites like California and Hawaii, are popular choices for their beaches, theme parks, and entertainment options.

Hertz predicts high demand for rental cars, with Atlanta, Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu (Hawaii), Orlando, and Phoenix being the top pickup spots. Wednesday pre-Thanksgiving and the Monday-Tuesday post-holiday will be the busiest rental days.

Air travel is forecasted to set a new Thanksgiving record in 2024, with 5.84 million people expected to fly, a 2% uptick over last year and an 11% leap from 2019. Domestic airfares are expected to increase by 3%, while international travel is seeing a surge, partly driven by a 5% drop in overseas ticket prices and increased demand.

The holiday forecast is developed with S&P Global Market Intelligence, relying on macroeconomic data, travel trends, and surveys to project travel volumes. Traffic data from INRIX suggests avoiding Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons for travel, while Thanksgiving Day itself is ideal. For post-holiday returns, hitting the road early Sunday or Monday morning is best.

Cruise travel has rebounded with a 20% spike in bookings for Thanksgiving 2024. Internationally, Europe and the Caribbean hold strong appeal for travelers seeking sandy shores and cultural exploration.

Lower gas prices are expected to help, with national averages potentially dipping below $3/gallon for the first time since 2021, and some states seeing prices between $2.25-$2.50 per gallon. Bus travel is expected to see a nearly 9% increase compared to 2023 and an 18% increase compared to 2019.

In summary, AAA's holiday forecast for Thanksgiving 2024 now spans from November 26 to December 2 to capture extended travel patterns. Stacey Barber, VP of AAA Travel, stated that Thanksgiving is their busiest holiday for travel and that they are predicting record numbers across all modes of transportation. So, whether you're planning a road trip, a flight, or a cruise, it's time to start making your travel arrangements for Thanksgiving 2024.

[1] AAA. (2024). AAA's Thanksgiving Travel Forecast. Retrieved from https://www.aaa.com/newsroom/press-releases/aaas-thanksgiving-travel-forecast

[2] S&P Global Market Intelligence. (2024). AAA's Thanksgiving Travel Forecast Developed with S&P Global Market Intelligence. Retrieved from https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/aaas-thanksgiving-travel-forecast-developed-with-sp-global-market-intelligence-63726507

The surge in travel during Thanksgiving 2024 is expected to influence lifestyle choices, with many Americans opting for road trips in Metro areas and popular destinations such as Orlando, Miami, or Hawaii. The rise in travel is not limited to road trips, as air travel, cruise, and bus travel are also projected to hit record highs.

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