The COVID-19 pandemic kept millions of people at home last fall, either out of fear of catching the virus or due to clampdowns on travel.

Now that many more people have been vaccinated and safety mandates have been lowered, experts predict millions more will fly and drive to Thanksgiving events with family and friends in the next week or more. So here's some answers to probably the most-asked Thanksgiving travel questions, other than "Are we there yet?"

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How busy will Jacksonville International Airport be this year?

Right now, the eight major airlines that serve Jacksonville International Airport indicate they have 60,889 seats filled on 398 outbound flights scheduled from Wednesday through Sunday of the traditional five-day Thanksgiving travel period.

The busiest days are Wednesday, with 95 outbound flights, as well as 95 on that Sunday, airport officials said. About 82 outbound flights are scheduled every day, with an average 125 people on each.

That's compared to JIA numbers for the seven major airlines that served the airport at the same time in 2020, showing 33,578 seats filled on 250 flights deep in COVID-19 restrictions. The busiest days in that 2020 holiday period were the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after, with 60 flights both days.

JIA has added multiple new nonstop flights over the past few months on many airlines since last year.

How can I check if my flight has been delayed?

All inbound and outbound flight information is available at Jacksonville International Airport's flight tracker at flyjacksonville.com/content2015.aspx?id=440.

Airport information on other subjects is at flyjacksonville.com/Home.aspx.

Which parking lots will be open at the airport?

Holiday air travel is expected to rebound to pre-pandemic levels this year, so the Jacksonville Aviation Authority advises travelers to arrive at JIA at least 90 minutes prior to departure to find parking, check bags and navigate through security.

Travelers may experience longer lines and wait times. Any capacity closures of parking facilities will be indicated on the JIA website at flyjacksonville.com/Home.aspx, its Twitter site @JAXairport and on Airport Road signage approaching the terminals.

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For airport parking, masks are required on all shuttle buses to and from the terminal. The hourly garage rate is $2 every half hour up to $20 daily. The daily garage rate is $2 every half hour up to $16 daily. The daily surface lot is $2 every half hour up to $11 daily. The economy lots are $6 daily, Lot No. 2 to open when Lot No. 1 reaches capacity. And valet parking service is now open: Questions can be directed to (904) 741-3900.

Any COVID-19 precautions mandated by the airport and airlines this year?

COVID-19 prevention protocols can be found at jaxairportcares.com. But federal law requires wearing a mask at all times while in the airport and on airplanes. Failure to comply may result in removal and denial of re-entry. Free masks are available at ticket counters, information booths and almost every airport business.

Staff continue to perform additional cleaning in high-touch areas, and stand-alone and wall-mounted hand sanitizing stations are located throughout the terminal. Social distancing is encouraged wherever possible.

How busy will roads be if traveling by car?

AAA forecasts a strong rebound in holiday travelers this Thanksgiving. The Auto Club Group predicts 53.4 million Americans will travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, up 13 percent from 2020. This brings travel volumes within 5 percent of pre-pandemic levels for the 2019 holiday.

Make sure vehicles are ready for the road, since AAA expects to respond to over 400,000 calls for help during the holiday weekend. The most common calls are for dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts. Before any long trip, AAA suggests getting an inspection to check key components like the battery, fuel system, tires, brakes and fluid levels.

As for COVID-19 concerns, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recent recommendations for holiday gatherings and related travel states the best way to minimize COVID-19 risk is to get vaccinated. Check requirements and recommendations based on vaccination status and travel destination.

AAA’s COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map at bit.ly/3Ful0ap will show closures, recommendations and requirements in each state.

Will gas prices be higher?

Florida gas prices drifted lower in the week before Thanksgiving as the price of crude took another step back, AAA said. But that followed October's 12 percent surge in the price of U.S. crude when Florida's average increased a total of 27 cents per gallon.

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As of mid-November, crude has mostly struggled to maintain strength, logging three consecutive weekly declines. So Florida gas prices averaged $3.32 per gallon last week versus an average $3.27 on Nov. 14. The state average declined a penny the week before and went down a total of 4 cents per gallon since the beginning of November.

Gas in Duval County last week averaged $3.27 per gallon.

Holiday weather outlook

News partner First Coast News' long-range weather forecast shows some chilly weather for Wednesday, with lows around 44 and a high of 64 under sunny skies.

Thanksgiving Thursday starts in the low 50s, then warms up to the low 70s with a few clouds and low chances of rain.

Friday shows a low of 52 and a high of 72 with a 21 percent chance of showers, then Saturday starts with a low of 46, a high of 68 and a 30 percent chance of precipitation.

dscanlan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4549

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville's Thanksgiving travel to be busy at airport and on roads