As the government shutdown looms, AAA predicts record leisure travel

Drivers and airline passengers sans reindeer and sleighs better get going, because it looks like there’s going to be another record for U.S. vacation travel Government shutdown Looms.

Auto club AAA predicts more than 119 million people will drive at least 50 miles from home between Saturday and New Year’s Day, which would surpass the previous holiday peak of 2019, some of the most crowded times on roads and at airports.

Trade group Airlines for America also expects record flight volumes and said U.S. airlines would carry 54 million passengers in a 19-day period that began Thursday and ended Monday, Jan. 6. This figure would represent a 6% increase over the previous year.

A Government shutdown This could start as soon as Saturday is too close to the holiday to immediately affect flights and airport operations. However, this could change if the closure drags on.

What will be the busiest travel days?

Airlines are expected to have their busiest days on Friday and Sunday and December 26, 27 and 29. Light traffic is expected on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. By far the slowest air travel day in the US this year was Thanksgiving Day.

The Transportation Security Administration expects 40 million passengers to be screened over the holidays and through Jan. 2.

According to AAA, about 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be traveling by car.

“Air travel is really popular right now, but most people are actually driving to their destinations, and that goes for any vacation,” said AAA spokeswoman Aixa Diaz.

Gasoline prices are similar to last year. According to AAA, the national average was $3.05 per gallon on Thursday, down from $3.08 a year ago. Charging an electric vehicle costs an average of just under 35 cents per kilowatt hour, but varies by state.

Traffic data firm INRIX expects travel times on the country’s highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with traffic expected to be heaviest on Sunday. According to the company, Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington, DC are the metropolitan areas experiencing the largest delays.

Weather and other wildcards

Because the holiday travel season lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have fewer peak days than during the Thanksgiving rush, but the hustle and bustle of one hectic day followed by another takes its toll on flight crews. And any incident – ​​a winter storm or a computer failure – can cause massive disruption.

That’s the way it is Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022. and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant collapse following a global technology outage in July caused by a incorrect software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike.

Many flights during the holidays are sold out, making cancellations even more disruptive than during quieter times. This is particularly true for smaller low-cost airlines, which offer fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have “interline agreements” that allow them to direct stranded customers to flights on another airline.

This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect requiring airlines to provide customers with an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but had to apply for them frequently.

Passengers can still request a rebooking, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel times. Even finding a last-minute flight with another airline is usually very expensive.

“If they rebook you, they pay the price difference. If my flight to see my grandma that I booked six months ago for $200 is canceled and I turn around and book a flight in four hours for $400, I have to pay.” “That difference,” said Sally French, a travel expert at consumer protection company Nerdwallet.

People traveling on low-cost airlines that offer fewer flights and do not partner with other airlines could face a difficult decision in the event of a canceled flight.

“They will put you on the next outbound Spirit or Frontier flight, but that may take a while. “Sometimes waiting three days for the next flight doesn’t work for you,” and paying more to rebook with a major airline might be worth it, French said.

Some airlines are taking advantage of a provision in the Transportation Department’s new rule that defines a significant delay at three hours for a domestic flight and six hours for an international flight. According to Brett Snyder, who runs the website Cranky Flyer, airlines that once gave refunds for shorter delays — Delta, United and JetBlue, for example — are now using the government standard.

Delayed flights increase the risk of luggage being lost. Passengers who are separated from their luggage should report this to the airline and ask what costs the airline will cover.

Would a government shutdown affect flights and airports?

There could be a government shutdown if Congress doesn’t pass a funding bill with a midnight Friday deadline. Most TSA airport workers, air traffic controllers and customs officers are considered essential and would have to work without pay in the event of a shutdown.

The longer a shutdown lasts, the more unpaid workers may call in sick, which can lead to longer security lines and other delays. This appeared to be the case several weeks after the government shutdown that began in December 2019.

About 59,000 of the TSA’s 62,000 employees are considered essential would continue to work without pay during a shutdownthe TSA said in an email to CBS News. But a closure could cause delays at airports over the holidays, the agency warned.

“While our staff has prepared to handle high volumes of travel and ensure safe travel, an extended closure could result in longer wait times at airports,” TSA spokesman Carter Langston said in a statement.

AAA advises travelers to “continue their vacation plans even if the shutdown occurs,” spokesman Diaz said. “Airport operations will continue as usual, but may be slightly slower than usual, so travelers should be aware of this.”

Planning ahead for 2025

According to the U.S. government, airfares rose 4.7% in November compared to a year ago. But early 2025 is a good time to start planning next year’s travel, including spring and summer breaks.

“Because travel is so popular, you won’t find anything that feels very trite, but January and February are great times to plan for March, April and May,” Laura Motta, editor at travel guide publisher Lonely Planet, said. “If you want to go to Paris in the spring, you need to think about it in January.”