Thanksgiving in US to see three busiest travel days as thousands expected to fly. Check tips that might come to your rescue

Million of travellers are expected to take to the skies for Thanksgiving in the United States leading to record-breaking numbers and busy airports. In all, 5.84 million people are forecast to fly domestically over the Thanksgiving holiday period from Tuesday, November 26, to Monday, December 2, according to AAA. That’s 2 percent more than last year and nearly 11 percent more than 2019.“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” Stacey Barber, the vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement. “Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that. AAA continues to see travel demand soar post-pandemic with our members looking for new adventures and memorable vacations.”

While people are flying in record numbers, they’re also paying more. In fact, AAA said travelers are paying three percent more for domestic Thanksgiving flights this year.

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Thanksgiving in US: Check busiest travel days

The Transportation Security Administration is expecting to screen 18.3 million airline passengers from Tuesday to Dec. 2, up approximately 6% from the same period in 2023, and a record number. It projects the three busiest travel days will be the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday.

Most travelers, however, will be on the roads. Nearly 72 million motorists are expected to travel 50 or more miles from home between Tuesday and Monday, according to AAA. Nearly 2.3 million people will be on buses, trains or cruise ships.ALSO READ: When is Thanksgiving 2024 in the U.S? Traditions, history, holidays and all you need to know

How to tackle busiest travel days in Thanksgiving

In view of the busiest travel days in Thanksgiving, AAA has laid out suggestions for drivers, including recommended departure days and times depending on where one lives and how long one can expect to spend in transit at the height of holiday traffic, reports New York Times.

In case, you are flying, so travelling to the airport can be a big challenge due to heavy traffic. Want to save costs? You can try Uber as it is bringing back its shared-ride feature, now called UberX Share, which matches passengers from airports with a co-rider at up to a 25% discount for each rider, available at eight airports around the country. In New York, the company has also started a shuttle service between two Manhattan locations and LaGuardia Airport. Also, no checked bag means no airline losing your bag.

What if airline loses your baggage?

If it has been a while and your bag hasn’t come around the carousel, start by checking your airline’s app for real-time bag-tracking details, like when it was loaded onto or unloaded from the plane. Then file a missing-bag report ASAP. Airlines will generally reimburse a per-day amount for the cost of immediate-needs items (like clothing and toiletries) that went missing with your bag, but annoyingly, not all airlines publicly disclose how much they reimburse.

If your bag has been missing for more than 12 hours for a domestic flight, you can request a refund for your checked-bag fees.

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What if your flight is delayed or cancelled?

Download your airline’s app, which often shows updates on a flight’s status or gate changes before anywhere else.

Know your rights: If your flight is canceled, significantly delayed or substantially changed, airlines will try to rebook you on another flight. A significant delay is three hours or more for domestic flights. If you decide not to fly, you are owed an automatic refund in your original form of payment within 20 days.

When a delay or cancellation is caused by the airline, passengers — in most cases — are entitled to a handful of services (like meal vouchers) after three hours. Most airlines will cover the costs of a hotel stay and associated transport if it comes to that, too.

But getting what you’re entitled to can be a challenge when hundreds of other passengers are seeking assistance. Try asking for help at the airline’s service desk instead of at the gate, or if you have access to it, at the airline’s lounge.

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Watch out for extra fees on car rental counter

Be careful not to pay for insurance twice. If you already have auto insurance, often that coverage extends to a rental. Check if the credit
card you book with also provides coverage against theft and damage (many do).

“Credit card insurance is only collision, not liability,” said Jonathan Weinberg, the founder of AutoSlash, a car rental platform — so you may want to add liability insurance (unless its covered by your auto insurance).

Also be wary of the sly upsell. When the car you’ve reserved is not available when you arrive, it’s a common practice for rental agencies give you the next-best available car at no extra charge. This may not always be made clear, and agencies have been known to ask if you want to upgrade for a fee. Before accepting, request your original class of car.

If it is not available, you are entitled to a free upgrade. When you return the vehicle, take a picture of the fuel gauge showing a full tank. Companies have been known to tack on extra gas charges, and photographic proof usually wipes those charges away.

Once you’re on the road, avoid using the rental company’s transponder, which can rack up hefty charges. Depending on which state you’re driving in, some apps let you pay toll charges from your phone. You could also buy a toll pass for your region ahead of time, or sign up for a pay-by-mail option.

(With NYT inputs)