AAA: Thanksgiving Travel to Increase
AAA projects approximately 1.18 million Pennsylvanians will travel at least 50 miles from home for their turkey and pumpkin pie this year; an 11.4 percent increase over 2009 when 1.06 million traveled. The automobile is the preferred method of transportation as 1.11 million plan to drive to their destination. Approximately 54,000 are expected to fly (up 3.5 percent) and 16,500 will travel by an alternative method of travel.
“Many Americans are in a better financial position than they were last year, although high unemployment and lingering economic uncertainly are still lingering concerns,” said Jim Lehman, executive vice president, AAA East Central. “Thanksgiving has always been a special time for families to visit their friends and loved ones. The trip will be even more special since some travelers elected to postpone their Thanksgiving celebrations last year.”
Nationally, AAA projected 42.2 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more away from home over the holiday weekend; an 11.4 percent increase over last year when 37.9 million traveled.
The number of travelers by automobile is expected to be 39.7 million in 2009 compared to 35.5 million last year; an increase of 12 percent. With nearly 40 million travelers expected on the roads this Thanksgiving, there is an increased risk of roadside breakdowns or other automotive problems. To help avoid trouble and unnecessary delays, AAA recommends that travelers perform several key car care tasks at least one week prior to hitting the road to allow time to address any issues that may be discovered. Basic items most travelers can check include tire tread, tire pressure, wiper blades and battery connections.
The number of travelers by air is expected be 1.62 million compared to 1.57 million in 2009; a 3.5 percent increase. The number of those traveling by “other” means, including, trains, watercraft, buses and multiple-modes of transportation, is expected to be 2 percent, AAA said.
The forecasted double-digit increase in Thanksgiving holiday travel would signify an important upturn in travel volume for the holiday after a year of negligible growth in 2009 (0.2 percent) and two years after a historic 25.2 percent decline in travel in 2008. While the forecast for 11.4 percent increase is significant, the increase in number of travelers by 4.3 million is less than half of the volume lost from 2007 through 2009. Moreover, this year’s expected 42.2 million travelers remain almost 30 percent below the 2005 peak of 58.6 million travelers.
Median spending will be $495 and average distance traveled will be 816 miles
Median spending is expected to be $495, roughly the same as last year when median spending was $494. Thanksgiving travel tends to be less expensive than other travel holidays because of the emphasis on the Thanksgiving meal and the gathering of friends and family. A majority of survey respondents (82 percent) reported that the main purpose of their upcoming trip was a visit with friends or family.
Thanksgiving travelers will journey an average of 816 miles roundtrip this upcoming holiday weekend.
Airfares & Lodging costs will all be higher
According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index – airfares over Thanksgiving are expected to increase 4 percent from last year with the average lowest round-trip rate of $176. Rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to be up 6 percent with travelers spending an average of $136 per night. Travelers planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond lodgings will pay 4 percent more this year; an average of $96 per night.
The 2010 Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, November 24 to Sunday, November 28.
AAA’s projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. The Lexington, Mass.-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA earlier this year as part of an agreement to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA / IHS Global Insight 2010 Thanksgiving holiday forecast can be found at AAA.com/news.
AAA East Central is a not-for-profit organization with 80 local offices in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and New York, servicing 2.6 million members.
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“Many Americans are in a better financial position than they were last year, although high unemployment and lingering economic uncertainly are still lingering concerns,” said Jim Lehman, executive vice president, AAA East Central. “Thanksgiving has always been a special time for families to visit their friends and loved ones. The trip will be even more special since some travelers elected to postpone their Thanksgiving celebrations last year.”
Nationally, AAA projected 42.2 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more away from home over the holiday weekend; an 11.4 percent increase over last year when 37.9 million traveled.
The number of travelers by automobile is expected to be 39.7 million in 2009 compared to 35.5 million last year; an increase of 12 percent. With nearly 40 million travelers expected on the roads this Thanksgiving, there is an increased risk of roadside breakdowns or other automotive problems. To help avoid trouble and unnecessary delays, AAA recommends that travelers perform several key car care tasks at least one week prior to hitting the road to allow time to address any issues that may be discovered. Basic items most travelers can check include tire tread, tire pressure, wiper blades and battery connections.
The number of travelers by air is expected be 1.62 million compared to 1.57 million in 2009; a 3.5 percent increase. The number of those traveling by “other” means, including, trains, watercraft, buses and multiple-modes of transportation, is expected to be 2 percent, AAA said.
The forecasted double-digit increase in Thanksgiving holiday travel would signify an important upturn in travel volume for the holiday after a year of negligible growth in 2009 (0.2 percent) and two years after a historic 25.2 percent decline in travel in 2008. While the forecast for 11.4 percent increase is significant, the increase in number of travelers by 4.3 million is less than half of the volume lost from 2007 through 2009. Moreover, this year’s expected 42.2 million travelers remain almost 30 percent below the 2005 peak of 58.6 million travelers.
Median spending will be $495 and average distance traveled will be 816 miles
Median spending is expected to be $495, roughly the same as last year when median spending was $494. Thanksgiving travel tends to be less expensive than other travel holidays because of the emphasis on the Thanksgiving meal and the gathering of friends and family. A majority of survey respondents (82 percent) reported that the main purpose of their upcoming trip was a visit with friends or family.
Thanksgiving travelers will journey an average of 816 miles roundtrip this upcoming holiday weekend.
Airfares & Lodging costs will all be higher
According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index – airfares over Thanksgiving are expected to increase 4 percent from last year with the average lowest round-trip rate of $176. Rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to be up 6 percent with travelers spending an average of $136 per night. Travelers planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond lodgings will pay 4 percent more this year; an average of $96 per night.
The 2010 Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, November 24 to Sunday, November 28.
AAA’s projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. The Lexington, Mass.-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA earlier this year as part of an agreement to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA / IHS Global Insight 2010 Thanksgiving holiday forecast can be found at AAA.com/news.
AAA East Central is a not-for-profit organization with 80 local offices in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and New York, servicing 2.6 million members.
e-mail from AAA
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