Despite more travelers flying, Memorial Day weekend flights 26% cheaper than last year

Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal
·4 min read

If you’ve booked a Memorial Day weekend flight, you might want to leave for the airport a bit earlier than you’re used to. AAA expects 42.3 million Americans to travel at least 50 million miles this holiday weekend, and an estimated 3.4 million are flying.

AAA released its travel forecast last week and expects the summer travel season to be one for the books.

“This is expected to be the third busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000, when AAA started tracking holiday travel,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a news release. “More Americans are planning trips and booking them earlier, despite inflation. This summer travel season could be one for the record books, especially at airports.”

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The total number of people expected to travel over Memorial Day weekend is up 7% from last year, which is an increase of about 2.7 million people. Air travel out-paced that number and is expected to increase by 11 % compared to last year. According to AAA, this Memorial Day weekend could be the busiest at airports since 2005.

What to expect at airports on Memorial Day weekend

AAA expects nearly 3.4 million travelers to fly to their destinations on Memorial Day weekend, indicating an 11% increase over last year. Those levels surpass pre-pandemic levels, showing an increase of 5.4% compared to 2019, which is about 170,000 more passengers.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Friday before Memorial Day was the third-busiest day at U.S. airports, sitting just below the Sunday after Thanksgiving and the Sunday of Fourth of July weekend, according to Nerdwallet.com

With travel volumes expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels, travelers should expect to see longer check-in and security lines.

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Travel time to the airport shouldn’t be underestimated either. AAA expects two million more drivers on the road this weekend, which could increase congestion during popular travel times. Ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft allow travelers to schedule rides in advance.

Hopper, a popular travel booking app, published its Memorial weekend outlook Monday and said that Atlanta, Dallas, Denver and Los Angeles will be the busiest departing airports for Memorial Day weekenders, most airports will be busiest in the morning or early evening.

Is it more expensive to fly on Memorial Day Weekend?

Flights during public holidays are typically more expensive due to the increased volume of travelers.

Hopper’s outlook shared an optimistic look at airfare. Fares for domestic travel average around $273 per ticket, a 26% drop from last year, or about $100. That price is 6% cheaper than in 2019.

However, AAA's booking data showed a 40% increase in airfares to top destinations, such as Orlando, New York City and Las Vegas over last year.

Likewise, international travelers are looking at the most expensive prices in five years, with fares to Europe up over 50% from last year.

Anyone looking to still book a last-minute flight should look for Saturday flights when airports will be less busy, and look to fly back on Tuesday.

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Rusty traveler? Here’s what not to bring on an airplane.

The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) has an exhaustive list of very specific items travelers are allowed to travel with, whether it’s in a carry-on bag or a checked bag. For items not found in the list, the AskTSA team is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT every day with live assistance.

Check the full list here.

Here are some of the highlights:

  • Liquids, gels and aerosols packed in carry-on must follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule:

    • 3.4 ounces or less per container

    • 1 quart-size, clear, plastic, zip-top bag (all liquids must fit in the bag)

    • 1 bag per passenger

  • Firearms are only allowed in checked baggage and must be unloaded, placed in a locked, hard-sided container and declared to your airline.

  • All fireworks contain explosive materials and are not permitted in checked or carry-on baggage.

  • Do not pack items such as box cutters, utility knives and razors in carry-on luggage. Razor blades intended for shaving that are enclosed in a safety cartridge in which the blade cannot be removed are permitted.

  • Pack large electronics on the top layer of the carry-on for screening accessibility.

  • Powder-based substances in carry-on baggage greater than 350mL or 12 oz. may require additional screening at the central checkpoint. Powder-like substances over 12 oz. or 350mL in a carry-on that cannot be resolved at the central checkpoint will not be allowed onto the cabin of the aircraft and will be disposed of.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Memorial Day weekend flights cheaper than 2022 despite record numbers