PANAMA CITY — More than 46 million Americans will be hitting the road this Thanksgiving weekend, the most holiday travelers reported since 2007.
According to a survey by the American Automobile Association (AAA), an estimated 46.3 million Americans will travel 50-plus miles from home this week, a 4.2 percent increase from last year.
“During the Thanksgiving holiday period, roads and airports will be packed as more Americans will travel than any year since 2007,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins, who attributed the rise in travelers to increasing economic optimism. “Falling gas prices and improvements in several key economic factors, including employment, GDP and disposable income, are boosting consumer confidence and the desire to travel.”
The majority of American travelers, about 41.3 million, will travel by automobile and enjoy the cheapest price of gasoline over the Thanksgiving holiday in the last five years. The national average price for a gallon of gas was $2.81 Monday, compared with a national average of $3.28 per gallon last year.
The average price of gas in the Panama City area Monday was $2.67 per gallon, and AAA says prices should keep falling.
“Travelers are thankful to have more money in their pockets due to falling gas prices,” Jenkins said. “The good news is gas should continue falling through the rest of the year.”
With 3.6 million Americans expected to travel by air this week, airport officials are encouraging passengers to “pack their patience” as they head out to navigate security checkpoints, terminals and baggage claims at facilities across the country.
“It’s very important this time of year because there’s a lot of people traveling and a lot of them don’t travel very often,” said Parker McClellan, executive director of the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. “It’s a very short holiday, so there’s going to be more people in the parking lots and more people in the terminal. ... It’s important to pack your patience.”
McClellan said travelers should arrive at the airport with more time to spare than usual during busy holiday weekends and check with their airline to confirm the status of the flight.
He also suggested travelers be prepared to go through security checkpoints by having pockets empty and carry-on luggage ready, and wait to wrap any gifts until air travel is complete.
“Thanksgiving is historically a very busy travel time,” McClellan said. “You want to plan ahead, so always check with your airline online or on the phone to make sure you’re flight is on time.”
