Forget rising gas prices, inflation, and a looming pilot strike – according to a recent study, 47% of Americans plan on travel this holiday and nearly 70% by way of the car.
What exactly does this mean for you, though?
After a 2019 holiday season where there were 20.5 billion total trips (all forms of transportation), according to the Bureau of Transporation Statistics, there were just 15 billion in 2020.
The obvious – COVID-19 – was the culprit in reduced travel rates in 2020 and again in 2021, but that won’t stop Americans this year as they plan to hit the road and airlines in droves for some holiday travel.
Here is what to know if you plan on traveling this holiday season.
Holiday Travel Trends to Know!
Holiday travelers must be prepared with so many expected to travel this holiday season. We recently published two articles, one on the busiest day to travel each year and the other on travel safety.
When you are taking your holiday trips, you always want to consider a few factors:
- Safety
- Travel plans
- Travel costs
Let’s start with safety and planning.
Travel safety isn’t always at the forefront of your mind when making travel arrangements, but you want to consider all angles, from traffic jams to flight cancelations.
With an estimated 1 in 2 Americans planning to travel this holiday season and 69% of those by car, this could mean heavier traffic around the holidays. Typically, the day before Thanksgiving and Sunday after are peak travel windows, followed by the times around Christmas and New Year.
Always have a plan to give yourself enough time to make it to your destination without rushing. That alone keeps you and others safe. If you live in a large city, there might be traffic technology that helps ease traffic, but prepare for lots of it depending on when you depart.
If you are flying, you must be aware of flight cancellations and a potential pilot strike. While the news has trended in the favor or flyers (the strike hasn’t occurred yet), the busier-than-usual travel season could mean canceled flights.
Always consider travel insurance and make sure you have a route for domestic trips on the road!
Travel Costs
Whether the plan is leisure travel or travels to see family, a few things that could get in the way are rising gas prices and the looming potential of a pilot strike.
International flights are always going to be steep when it comes to the price tag, but according to the same PriceWaterhouseCooper study, those traveling are expecting to spend an average of $2,441 on travel costs this holiday season.
These costs are high with rising inflation and economic uncertainty, from gas prices to rental cars and hotels. But nothing can stop the demand for travel after many didn’t travel for two years.
While you can’t put a price on family time, nearly half the country traveling means the travel industry will be sure to capitalize. To help save, be strategic with how you travel and consider using loyalty programs.
More money will be required to travel, but that shouldn’t stop you from your holiday travel plans. Just be sure to have a safe trip and prepare for the possibility of heavy traffic and long lines at the security checks!
Note: This blog post is part of our on-the-road series, designed to help motorists, traffic managers, and everyone in between with common road safety tips & transportation information. Got a question or topic you would like to know more about? Reach out to us and let us know!
