If you think Memorial Day weekend might be busy when it comes to travel, you're right. Before you pack your suitcase and hop in the car or take off, here's what to expect in numbers.
Busy weekend in the air
Demand for flights this Memorial Day weekend is up nearly 15% from last year, according to recently released flight data from Expedia. Search preferences are split between city breaks and beach retreats to mark the start of summer.
Las Vegas, New York, Orlando and Chicago are among the top domestic destinations. A few international destinations have seen a surge in popularity, according to Expedia search data. Searches for Tokyo increased by 50% year over year, and searches for the Turks and Caicos Islands increased by 45%. These destinations are followed by Punta Cana at 30%, Aruba at 25% and Cancun at 20%.
According to AAA, air travel will exceed pre-coronavirus pandemic levels during the same period. Nearly 3.51 million travelers are expected to travel to their destination this Memorial Day weekend, an increase of 4.8% from last year.
“We haven't seen this amount of travel on Memorial Day weekend in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “We are expecting one million more travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we are surpassing pre-pandemic levels, but also heralds a very busy summer season ahead.”
Airports haven't seen this much volume on Memorial Day weekend since 2005, when 3.64 million people flew for the holiday as the travel industry finally rebounded after 9/11, according to AAA figures.
As TPG reported last weekUnited Airlines announced that it is planning its busiest Memorial Day weekend on record, with more than 3 million travelers expected between May 23 and 28, an increase of 5% from the comparable period of Last year.
Meanwhile, air traffic control remains understaffed. This led the Federal Aviation Administration allow airlines to reduce flights without penalty in busy areas like New York and thus ease the burden on the agency.
On the positive side, the Transportation Security Administration continues to expand the use of its facial recognition software in some airports in the United Statesalthough it remains to be seen whether this will speed up wait times.
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More and more travelers are hitting the road
If you plan to drive this holiday weekend, prepare to share the road with 38.4 million other like-minded Americans. AAA reports that road trips are up 4% from last year, an increase of more than 1.5 million.
Travelers planning to leave Thursday or Friday should aim to hit the road early to avoid mixing with commuters, according to transportation analysts at Inrix. For trips home on Sunday or Monday, try to avoid the afternoon hours when return trips are at their peak.
If you must drive on these days, it is recommended to do so early in the morning or after 7 p.m. to avoid the most congested times. Major metropolitan areas like Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Denver are expected to see some of the worst traffic in the country, with commute times doubling from normal.
To avoid this rush, plan your driving on the Saturday and Sunday of the long weekend, as these days should have the least traffic.
Although it will be busy, there is good news for those opting for a road trip: average gas prices have not increased compared to last year. According to AAA, the current average price of regular gasoline is $3.61 per gallon. However, AAA also warns that prices could rise as the summer driving season gets underway. The oil market remains a wild card and, unlike last year, two wars – in the Middle East and Ukraine – could shake up the oil market.
We also note that Prices for luxury hotels in the United States have fallen; however, this might not happen specifically for this highly demanded weekend.
Related: Best Tips for Saving Gas
TPG Travel Tips
You can't control that tens of millions of people are leaving town this weekend, but you have a lot of control to make your trip a success. Here are some travel tips from the TPG team of travel experts.
- Be patient and arrive at the airport early in case there are lines to check bags or go through security.
- Get TSA PreCheck or Clear to speed up your security check. If you have both, you can choose the shorter line or use one that overlaps both.
- Traveling with only hand luggage. This will save you money on baggage fees if you don't have a co-branded airline credit card or hold elite status. You will also not have to worry about losing your luggage or facing difficulties in case of irregular flight operations.
- Can't bring just a hand bag? Use a tracking device like an Apple AirTag for your checked baggage so you know where it is even if the airline doesn't. It has saved many bags for TPG writers and readers.
- Consider take the train instead of flying or driving. Fares can be cheaper and the experience is more scenic and less complicated than at the airport. Additionally, there is a better baggage allowance.
- Take the first flight of the day. Usually this means your plane arrived the evening before, so you are less likely to have a delay. Flying nonstop is also a great way to avoid any unexpected layovers.
- Have a backup plan. Using points and miles to secure a backup flight if your original plan goes awry can be a lifesaver if your travel plans are really tight. Just be sure to cancel before departure to have your miles redeposited into your account.
- Use a credit card with travel protections such as trip interruption and cancellation insurance. Even if you're traveling on an award ticket, you're covered by paying the taxes on the ticket with one of these cards.
Read on for more travel tips:
