Rising Costs, Inflation Dampening Some Thanksgiving Travel Plans

A jet flies in to land at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Thanksgiving eve, traditionally the busiest travel day of the year, on Nov. 22, 2006, in Los Angeles, California. David McNew/Getty Images

Brace for one of the busiest holiday travel seasons in two decades, experts warn.

As Americans answer the clarion call to Thanksgiving feasts on Nov. 24, it marks the first time in two years that pandemic-related concerns haven’t been top-of-mind.

Those have been replaced with worries over inflation and rising travel costs.

The travel site, Hopper.com, reports that airfares cost 22 percent more this year than in 2019.

Travelers stand in line at a ticket counter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Nov. 23, 2005, in Arlington, Va. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Feeling the financial pinch, some travelers have shifted their plans. They are traveling shorter distances, curtailing their visits and lodging with friends or family instead of renting hotel rooms, the U.S. Travel Association reports.

AAA predicts 54.6 million people will travel at least 50 miles to celebrate this Turkey Day season. It could be the third-busiest Thanksgiving travel period since AAA started tracking in 2000, but experts forecast that both car and air travel will remain just shy of pre-pandemic levels set in 2019.

In a news release, Paula Twidale, AAA’s senior vice president of travel, said: “Plan ahead and pack your patience, whether you’re driving or flying.”

Most travelers will drive to their destinations, AAA says. Nearly 49 million people are expected to travel by car. In addition, “buses, trains, and cruises are coming back in a big way,” Twidale said.

“Regardless of the mode of transportation you have chosen, expect crowds during your trip and at your destination,” she said.

Airlines Are Better-Staffed

Jay Ratliff, an Ohio-based aviation expert, told The Epoch Times that airline staffing has rebounded, even above pre-pandemic levels.

However, the airlines still have a shortage of pilots, so they’re operating fewer flights. “So that means the flights that exist, those aircraft that exist are going to be more packed than ever,” he said.

He said if inclement weather affects a significant airline hub, “it could take two or three days, or longer, to get all the affected or inconvenienced passengers to their destinations, or close by.”

In addition, many experienced airline employees were laid off or left the industry during the pandemic. Bouncing back from snafus is more difficult for less-experienced employees.

“When things start to fall apart, that’s when the lack of experience rears its ugly head,” Ratliff said.

Delta Airlines and an American Airlines planes taxi away from their gate ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday at Logan International Airport in Boston, Mass., on Nov. 22, 2021. Brian Snyder/Reuters

Tips for Air Travelers

If things go wrong, Ratliff advises people not to call the airline.

“It’s impossible to get through to somebody” when multiple flights have been delayed or canceled, he said.

Instead, Ratliff advises: Wait in line to talk to a live agent. But, in the meantime, get on social media such as Twitter or Facebook and send a concise message to the airline. Provide your six-digit confirmation number, explain the flight was delayed or canceled, and ask what options they can give you. Don’t rant.

When speaking in-person to an agent, be flexible with possible options at airports near your original intended destination—but make sure you'll have a rental car or someone to pick you up at the alternate site, he notes.

A passenger looks for his luggage among a pile of unclaimed baggage at Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport in Montreal on June 29, 2022. Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press

“I cannot tell you how important it is for you to give that agent options,” he said. “If they’ve got four or five different places to try to get you home, that'll make all the difference in the world.”

He also reminds air travelers: If a flight is canceled because of weather, an airline isn’t required to provide meal or hotel vouchers.

“It’s an act of God. It’s a weather event,” he said. Compensation is necessary if a flight is delayed or canceled because of a mechanical problem or another issue under the airline’s control.

Other helpful advice from Ratliff: If you’re checking luggage, place a copy of your itinerary inside your bag right before you close it, thus increasing the chances that your belongings will be returned to you if they’re lost.

And make sure the airlines can get hold of you through a cell number or email to alert you to a problem with your flight.