Here are the busiest travel days at Columbus airports this holiday

More than 200,000 people are expected to depart Columbus airports between Wednesday, Dec. 20, and Jan. 2 — part of what the AAA estimates will be a total of more than 115 million Americans traveling over the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

The Columbus Regional Airport Authority says that the more than 200,000 seats that have been booked for departures on airlines from John Glenn Columbus International Airport and aboard Allegiant from Rickenbacker International Airport's passenger terminal during that period represent an 11% increase from 2022.

Thursday, Dec. 21, is expected to be the busiest travel day at Columbus airports with some 17,000 people having booked seats on departing flights. Other busy days:

Some United Airlines passengers departing John Glenn Wednesday did experience flight delays because of a technical problem that prevented them from checking in for their flights, according to the airline.

United said 56 flights across its network were delayed to make sure customers could get on their flights.

The airline advised the problem was resolved by 5:30 a.m., and United departures from John Glenn for later Wednesday were shown as being on time.

“Our dedicated team is committed to delivering a seamless airport experience filled with the spirit of the season,” Joseph R. Nardone, president & CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, said in a prepared release. “We invite passengers to let the festivities start here by arriving early to enjoy shops, restaurants and plenty of time to relax before boarding.”

Travelers and visitors at John Glenn Columbus International can enjoy musical performances throughout the terminal, a 16-foot-tall holiday tree, and find Paw Force One therapy dogs spreading holiday cheer.

Airport authority officials are encouraging those flying this holiday season to plan ahead and follow these tips to ensure a good travel experience:

• Be aware of your parking options before arriving at the airport, which include short- and long-term parking options as well as a 24/7 valet service. The airport also offers shuttle services with various pricing.

• Arrive at least 90 minutes prior to your departure for domestic flights and two hours prior for international flights.

• Limit your wait time at the pickup and drop-off curbs.

• Keep tabs on the weather forecast for your destination to be prepared for possible delays.

AAA: More than 115 million Americans to travel for holidays

The American Automobile Association (AAA) estimates that a total of more than 115 million Americans will be traveling over Christmas and New Year's. While that represents a modest 2.2% increase from last year, the second-highest year-end travel forecast since 2000.

“This year-end holiday forecast, with an additional 2.5 million travelers compared to last year, mirrors what AAA Travel has been observing throughout 2023,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “More Americans are investing in travel, despite the cost, to make memories with loved ones and experience new places."

About 104 million of those more than 115 million traveling for the holidays will drive, the AAA estimates, which is a 1.8% increase from 2022.

The cost of fuel on that trip will be the lowest it's been all year, according to AAA.

The average price in Ohio and Franklin County for a gallon of gasoline was $2.70 on Wednesday, down 42 cents from a month ago. Gasoline in some counties in western Ohio was around $2.50 a gallon, AAA said.

The more than 200,000 people with booked departure seats from Columbus airports will be among approximately 7.5 million Americans flying to their destinations this holiday — an increase from the record 7.3 million fliers, according to the AAA.

More than 4 million other people will travel by other means, including buses, trains and cruise shops, which the AAA says represents a jump from the 3.66 million in 2022.

@ShahidMeighan

smeighan@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Over 200,000 Columbus fliers among 115M American holiday travelers