Thanksgiving Travel Expected Above Pre-9/11 Levels for First Time

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 16, 2004 -- Traditionally, Thanksgiving marks the start of winter holiday travel, and increases in both air and auto travel are expected to make this a strong beginning to the season. AAA projects that 37.2 million Americans will take a trip of 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This is a 3.1 percent increase above the 36.1 million who traveled last year.

Approximately 30.6 million travelers (82 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle, a 2.9 percent increase from the 29.8 million who drove a year ago. Another 4.6 million (12 percent) plan to go by airplane, up almost 4 percent from last Thanksgiving. A projected 2 million vacationers (five percent) will go by train, bus or other mode of transportation.

"Increased confidence in both the economy and in airline security are major reasons for the growth in travel," said Dawn Duffy, AAA spokesperson. "Despite increased airfares, hotel rates and gas prices, Thanksgiving travel is expected to surpass 2000 levels for the first time."

Thanksgiving holiday travelers will find airfares up 2.6 percent from last year, reflecting increases in demand that, on many routes, have exceeded airline capacity growth. Holiday hotel rates are up 5.7 percent, in keeping with the recent up tick in occupancy across the country. Gas prices currently averaging $1.97 nationwide, down six cents during the last two weeks, but about 47 cents higher than a year ago.

The one savings for travelers will be on rental cars, with rates down 2.7 percent from last Thanksgiving.

The greatest number of Thanksgiving auto travelers will originate in the Southeast with 8.8 million; followed by the West, 6.8 million; Midwest, 6.6 million; Great Lakes, 6.0 million; and Northeast, 2.4 million.

The West and Southeast are expected to produce the largest number of air travelers, each with 1.3 million, followed by the Northeast and Midwest with 700,000 each; and Great Lakes, 600,000.

Small towns and rural areas top the list of preferred destinations, with 40 percent of the travel volume. Cities are the destination for 36 percent of travelers, followed by oceans and beaches, 9 percent; mountains, 5 percent; lakes, 2 percent; theme/amusement parks, 2 percent; and state/national parks, 2 percent. Another 3 percent responded with other and 1 percent said they didn't know.

Of the total Thanksgiving travelers, 63 percent will stay with friends or relatives and another 23 percent expect to stay at a hotel/motel. Other overnight plans include cabin/condo, 3 percent; camper/trailer/RV/tent, 2 percent; bed and breakfast, 1 percent, other, 1 percent; no overnight stay, 3 percent; and didn't know, 4 percent.

Thanksgiving travel figures are based on a national telephone survey of 1,300 adults by the Travel Industry Association of America.

AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 45 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, which has 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states. AAA Minneapolis serves more than 173,000 members in Hennepin County.