AAA expects nearly 44 million people to take to the air and roads this Memorial Day weekend, kicking off the summer travel season. The vast majority of people (38 million) will drive a car. The Cost of Travel In terms of costs, prices are up and down compared to last year. According to AAA, gas prices are a little higher. Hotel rooms are a little cheaper, and airfares have increased by 2% to 4%. But even with inflation, many have found ways to make ends meet. Like the Simmons family from Indiana, the dad woke his kids up at 5 a.m. on Friday morning, sent them to the car, and told them the news of the trip. “And I said, 'Everybody, say cheese.' And then I said, 'Everybody, say Disney World.' And the kids said, 'Disney World!' Because that's where we're going,” he said. The kids were in total disbelief! Related article: Travel officials predict Orlando to be top domestic destination for Memorial Day weekend Airport congestion The Transportation Security Administration predicts Friday will be the busiest day of air travel over the long holiday weekend, with about 3 million people expected to pass through airport checkpoints. On Thursday, the TSA screened just under 2.9 million people, breaking the record set last year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving by about 11,000. “Airports will be the busiest we've seen in 20 years,” said Aixa Diaz, a spokeswoman for AAA. Kathy Larko of Fort Myers, Fla., used her frequent flyer program and flexible schedule to pay for her trip to Chicago. “I'm really conscious of the overall cost of my trip. “I'm going a little further out than I normally would to get a cheaper hotel,” she said. “I'm also flying back a day later because I can get cheaper miles.” More than 8,700 flights were delayed Thursday, causing major congestion in the New York City area, Charlotte, North Carolina, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Chicago's O'Hare Airport. The weather improved on Friday, and fewer than 2,000 flights were delayed nationwide by midday on the East Coast. >> The Associated Press contributed to this report.
AAA expects nearly 44 million people to take to the air and roads this Memorial Day weekend, kicking off the summer travel season.
The vast majority of people (38 million) drive a car.
Travel costs
Expense-wise, prices are up and down compared to last year. Gas prices are a little higher, according to AAA. Hotel rooms are a little cheaper, but airfares are up 2% to 4%. But even with inflation, many people have found ways to make ends meet.
Like the Simmons family in Indiana, the father woke his kids at 5 a.m. Friday morning, walked them to the car and told them the news.
“So I said, 'Everybody say cheese,' and then I said, 'Everybody say Disney World,' and they all said, 'Disney World!' Because that's where we're going,” he said.
The kids couldn't believe it at all.
Related: Travel officials predict Orlando will be the nation's top travel destination over Memorial Day weekend.
Airport congestion
The Transportation Security Administration predicted Friday would be the busiest day of air travel over the holiday weekend, with about 3 million people expected to pass through airport checkpoints.
On Thursday, the TSA screened just under 2.9 million people, coming close to breaking the record set the Sunday after Thanksgiving last year by about 11,000.
“The airport will be the most congested in 20 years,” said AAA spokeswoman Aisha Diaz.
Kathy Larko of Fort Myers, Florida, used her frequent flyer program and a flexible schedule to pay for her trip to Chicago.
“I'm watching the overall cost of my trip closely, staying a little further out than usual to keep hotel costs down,” she says, “and taking a return flight a day later so I can earn miles more cheaply.”
More than 8,700 flights were delayed on Thursday, with the biggest congestion in the New York City area, Charlotte, North Carolina, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Chicago's O'Hare Airport.
The figures improved as the weather improved on Friday, with fewer than 2,000 delays nationwide by midday on the East Coast.
>>The Associated Press contributed to this report
