Busiest travel days for the holidays: What to know

Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read

Heading home for the holidays? Before leaving for your destination, check out these key tips to navigate a travel season that's expected to be busier than last year's. From prices to traffic, here's everything you need to know to make your holiday travels as hassle-free as possible.

Planes ...

If you haven't booked your flights yet, don't wait any longer. Airfare costs are expected to reach record highs and flight availabilities are limited amid a nationwide pilot shortage and rising jet fuel costs. Almost 7.2 million air travelers are expected this year, a 14% increase from 2021 and just slightly lower than pre-pandemic holiday travel in 2019 when 7.3 million Americans took to the skies.

Expect long lines in the days leading up to and just after Christmas, as travelers pack airports. Experts recommend traveling on Christmas Day if you are looking for the least crowded day to travel. Book morning flights to avoid delays or cancellations. And pack plenty of patience: This year, Hanukkah, which is Dec. 18-26, and Christmas celebrations coincide, which could send holiday season air traffic numbers even higher.

Trains ...

An Amtrak train waits at a platform prior to its departure at Union Station on Nov. 22, 2017, in Washington, D.C.
An Amtrak train waits at a platform prior to its departure at Union Station on Nov. 22, 2017, in Washington, D.C.

Catching a train ride this holiday season? Riders will likely see high fare prices, even more so than the usual holiday season fares. Tickets are expected to cost 51% more in the week before Christmas compared with year-ago prices, according to the travel website/app Wanderu. To get the best price, book tickets as early as possible as train fares typically increase closer to the departure date. Are you flexible with your travel dates? If so, experts recommend booking your arrival trip for the Tuesday before Christmas and your return trip for the Thursday or Saturday after Christmas.

... and automobiles

Close to 102 million Americans — about 2 million more than last year and on par with pre-pandemic levels — are expected to hit the roads this holiday season, according to AAA. For those planning a road trip, experts advise leaving early to account for traffic delays, and load up on smartphone apps for maps, fuel prices and more before you go. With roadwork ongoing across the state, keep an eye out for construction areas when calculating travel time.

The good news for drivers this year: Gas prices are continuing their monthslong slide, according to AAA. As of Thursday, the national average cost for a gallon of regular gas was $3.19 — a far cry from $4.89 per gallon on July 4.

Traffic moves on the Hollywood Freeway in Los Angeles. Nearly two dozen states and several cities are challenging the Trump administration's rollback of Obama-era mileage standards, saying science backed up the old regulations developed with the help of the nation's car makers. They asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, to review the actions of government agencies that led to the new rule being issued in March.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How to prepare your holiday travel plans