Nearly 80 million travelers nationally will journey 50 miles or more over the Thanksgiving holiday this year, up by 1.7 million compared with 2023 with new records for travel on the roads and in the air, according to the annual forecast released by AAA.
The forecast for New England will be released later this week, but AAA spokesperson Tracy E. Noble said she expects “it is going to be a decent size increase because people just keep traveling.”
This year, AAA increased its holiday travel period to include the Tuesday before and the Monday after Thanksgiving Day to more accurately reflect when holiday travelers are headed to and returning from their destinations. All prior-year travel counts have been adjusted to come in line with the change.
This year’s national travel forecast also will far exceed the pre-pandemic levels in 2019 by 2 million, AAA said.
The largest share of travel is expected by car, at 71.7 million, and increase of 1.3 million, or nearly 2% from 2023 and 1.1 million, or more than 1.5%, in 2019.
Motorists will get a significant break on at the pump both nationally — and in Connecticut.
In Connecticut, a gallon of regular unleaded gas averaged $3.03, compared with $3.41 a year ago, according to AAA. Across the six metro areas in Connecticut tracked by AAA, the average for a gallon of unleaded were all within a few cents of each other on Monday. The highest was in lower Fairfield County, at $3.06 and the lowest in Norwich-New London, at $3.
Connecticut also was faring better than the nation as a whole, where the average was $3.07 Monday.
“Falling oil prices this autumn may help push the national average below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021, and that could happen before drivers hit the road for Thanksgiving,” AAA said, in a statement. “Regionally, drivers east of the Rockies will find gas between $2.25 to $2.50 a gallon in more than a dozen states.”
As holiday travelers hit the road next week, Connecticut’s Department of Transportation announced in a post on its website that “there will be no inspection, maintenance, or construction activities on major highways over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend from 6 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, to 6 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2. Only work of an emergency nature will be considered.”
Drivers can also visit CTroads.org to check for roadway crashes or other alerts that may affect travel times, the DOT said. In addition, state and local police will ramp up its presence under both the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” seatbelt safety initiatives, the DOT said.
The next most popular way to travel is by air, with AAA predicting a new record to be set for domestic flight bookings. According to AAA, 5.84 million people will fly to destinations in the United States, up 2% from 2023 and 19% from 2019.
The increase comes even as air travelers are spending 3% more for fares on domestic flights.
International flight bookings surged 23% for the Thanksgiving holiday thanks, in part, to a 5% decline in fare prices, AAA reported.
In addition, nearly 2.3 million people are expected to travel by buses, trains and cruises, and increase of 9% from 2023 and 18% in 2019. Domestic and international cruise bookings are up 20% compared with last Thanksgiving. In Connecticut, train riders will have extra options for the holiday, according to the DOT, with more trains scheduled for the Hartford Line and other lines. See more here: https://shorturl.at/Td2d4.
Here are some tips for travelers who expect to travel for the holiday through Bradley International Airport:
- Arrive with time to spare. It’s recommended that passengers arrive inside Bradley’s main terminal at least 90 minutes prior to their flight’s departure. Bradley’s peak hours are typically 4:00am to 7:30am when upwards of 25 flights depart in the span of just a few hours. The 3:00pm to 5:30pm timeframe is also another busy period of time.
- Stay connected with your airline. Download your airline’s app prior to travel so you can check in and also confirm the status of your flight before departure. Most airlines will also send updates and notifications through the app, letting travelers know about any potential schedule or gate changes.
- Know the TSA guidelines. Going through the Transportation Security Administrations security checkpoint is required before boarding your flight. Travelers are encouraged to visit the TSA website to learn what they can and cannot bring in their carry-on bag. Packing appropriately will help save time going through security since bags with prohibited items will need to be inspected or searched.
- Don’t forget about parking. Knowing exactly where to park your vehicle once you arrive at BDL can help save time. Bradley Airport’s parking program, BDL sPARK, offers travelers access to several nearby lots and the airport’s parking garage. Rates start as low as $7/day (includes taxes and fees). No reservation required. Visit the BDL sPARK website to see rates and availability.
- Need extra assistance through BDL? Bradley’s new concierge service, in partnership with Travelers Aid International, offers travelers a custom-tailored service during their journey through the airport. A concierge associate will meet travelers curbside, help with check in, getting through security and down to the gate. The service is beneficial for older adults traveling alone, families with children, or anyone with special travel needs. Visit Bradley’s Concierge Service website for additional details and pricing information.
Source: Bradley International Airport
Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at [email protected].
