Planes, trains, highways, they’re all going to be packed over the Thanksgiving holiday, traditionally one of the busiest periods for travel.
The Transportation Security Administration is expecting to screen 18.3 million airline passengers from Tuesday, Nov. 26, to Monday, Dec. 2, up approximately 6 percent 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, the automobile organization. (Nearly 2.3 million people will be on buses, trains or cruise ships.)
For drivers, AAA has suggestions, including recommended departure days and times depending on where you live and how long you can expect to spend in transit at the height of holiday traffic.
If you’re flying, even getting to the airport can be a challenge. For those looking to cut costs, Uber 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 percent 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.
In advance of the crush, we’ve pulled together some of our best travel advice for those who are flying or renting cars.
Avoid baggage claim purgatory by traveling light
A minimalist mind-set makes the airport experience smoother, allowing you to bypass baggage check and the claim carousel of doom during the year’s busiest travel week.
“Pack colors that coordinate so you can bring fewer items yet still have options,” Stephanie Rosenbloom writes in her guide to packing a carry-on. Several commenters on the article also recommend packing cubes, which organize and compress items.
Also, no checked bag means no airline losing your bag.
If the airline loses your checked bag
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.
The dreaded delayed or canceled flight
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 (thanks to a new Transportation Department rule that came into effect last month).
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.
Watch for extra fees at the car rental counter …
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.
… And on toll roads
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.
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