(The Associated Press circulated the following article on November 23.)
NEW YORK — Millions of Americans are hitting the road, heading to airports and taking to train stations today to get home in time for Thanksgiving turkey on what’s traditionally the biggest travel day of the year.
One airline analyst says “Americans just won’t stay home” despite air fares that have risen roughly 40 dollars a ticket since February.
And a spokesman for AAA says more than 37 million people will be traveling over the holiday weekend, undeterred by more expensive gasoline, rental cars and hotel rooms.
Amtrak says today is the peak day for rail travel, with an 80 percent increase in ridership over an average Wednesday. A spokesman says 60 extra trains are running this week in Amtrak’s busy Northeast corridor.
Infrequent fliers take note: There are new rules, and unless you’re aware of them you could miss your flight this week.
Airlines predicts nearly 22 million people will fly on U.S. airlines over the Thanksgiving travel season. That’s slightly more than the record number that took to the air a year ago. Peak travel time starts tonight.
The Transportation Security Administration no longer allows passengers to bring cigarette lighters, scissors or small knives on board.
Security screening requires shoes be removed. Loafers are recommended.
Self-service ticket machines save time. So does printing boarding passes at home. But security lines are unavoidable.
At some airports, passengers will miss their flight if they aren’t at the gate 30 minutes beforehand.