Memorial Day weekend travel outlook and travel tips to kick off summer travel
If you think Memorial Day weekend might be a busy one for travel, you’re right. Before you pack a suitcase and hop in the car or take to the sky, here’s what to expect by the numbers.
Busy weekend in the air
Demand for flights this Memorial Day weekend is up nearly 15% compared to last year, according to recently released flight data from Expedia. Search preferences are split between city getaways and beach retreats to mark the onset of summer.
Las Vegas, New York, Orlando and Chicago are among the top domestic destinations. A few international destinations have seen a surge in popularity, according to Expedia’s search data. Searches for Tokyo are up 50% year over year, and searches for Turks and Caicos are up 45%. These destinations are followed by Punta Cana at 30%, Aruba at 25% and Cancun at 20%.
According to AAA, air travel will exceed pre-coronavirus pandemic levels for the same time frame. Nearly 3.51 million travelers are expected to fly to their destination this Memorial Day weekend — an increase of 4.8% over last year.
“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”
Airports haven’t seen this much Memorial Day weekend volume since 2005, when 3.64 million people flew for the holiday as the travel industry finally rebounded post-9/11, according to AAA numbers.
As TPG reported last week, United Airlines announced it’s forecasting its busiest Memorial Day weekend on record, with more than 3 million travelers expected to fly between May 23 and 28 — up 5% from the comparable period last year.
Meanwhile, air traffic control is still understaffed. This has led the Federal Aviation Administration to allow airlines to reduce flights without penalty in busy areas like New York City and thus lessen the burden on the agency.
On the plus side, the Transportation Security Administration continues to expand the usage of its facial recognition software at select airports in the U.S., though it’s yet to be seen if it will speed up the wait times.
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Related: 6 key tools and tips to find the cheapest airfare
More travelers are hitting the road
If you plan to drive this holiday weekend, prepare to share the road with 38.4 million other Americans with the same idea. AAA reports road trips are up 4% over last year — an increase of more than 1.5 million.
Travelers who plan on leaving on Thursday or Friday should aim to get on the road early to avoid mixing with commuters, according to the transportation analysts at Inrix. For return trips home on Sunday or Monday, try to avoid the afternoon hours when return trips peak.
If you need to drive on those days, the recommendation is to do so early in the morning or after 7 p.m. to avoid the most congested times. Major metro areas like Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Denver are projected to have some of the nation’s worst traffic, with travel times doubling compared to normal.
To avoid that rush, time your driving to take place on Saturday and Sunday of the long weekend, as those days are expected to have the lightest amount of road traffic.
Although it will be busy, there’s good news for those opting for a road trip: Average gas prices haven’t risen compared to last year. According to AAA, the current regular gas price average is $3.61 per gallon. However, AAA also warns that prices may creep higher as the summer driving season gets underway. The oil market remains the wild card, and unlike last year, there are now two wars — in the Middle East and Ukraine — that could roil the oil market.
We are also seeing that luxury hotel pricing in the U.S. has been easing; however, that may not play out specifically for this in-demand weekend.
Related: Top tips for how to save on gas
Travel tips from TPG
You can’t control that tens of millions of people will travel out of town this weekend, but there’s a lot within your control to make your trip a success. Here are some curated travel tips from the TPG team of travel experts.
- Pack your patience and get to airports early in case there are lines for checking bags or going through security.
- Get TSA PreCheck or Clear to expedite your security screening. If you have both, you can choose the shorter line or use one that layers in both.
- Travel with only a carry-on. It will save you money on baggage fees if you don’t carry a cobranded airline credit card or hold elite status. You also won’t have to worry about losing your luggage or facing challenges if irregular flight operations occur.
- Can’t bring just a carry-on? Use a tracking device like an Apple AirTag for your checked bag so you know where it is even if the airline doesn’t. It has saved many bags for TPG writers and readers.
- Consider taking the train instead of flying or driving. Fares might be cheaper, and the experience is more scenic and less hassle than the airport. Plus, there’s a better baggage allowance.
- Take the first flight of the day. Usually, this means your plane has arrived the night before, so it’s less likely you’ll deal with a delay. Flying nonstop is also a great way to try and avoid any unexpected layovers.
- Have a backup plan. Using points and miles to secure a backup flight if your original plan goes sideways might save your vacation if your travel plans are really tight. Just be sure to cancel before departure to get your miles redeposited in your account.
- Use a credit card that carries travel protections like trip interruption and cancellation insurance. Even if you are traveling on an award ticket, you are covered by paying the taxes on the ticket with one of these cards.
Read on for more travel tips:
