Officials offer advice for busy holiday travel season

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Nearly 100 million people in the United States will be traveling to their Thanksgiving destinations in 2024, with 79.9 million traveling on the roads and 18.3 million people expected to be screened by the Transportation Security Administration during the peak travel period.

In Alabama, officials are warning travelers to be prepared.

Montgomery Regional Airport Executive Director Wade Davis said more people are flying out of the capital city for Thanksgiving more than ever, so passengers should arrive to the airport early.

“Make sure you arrive ahead of time, two hours ahead of time. Make sure that you check what’s packed in your bag. Go to TSA’s site and make sure that you don’t have anything there that shouldn’t be in the bag,” Davis said

AAA Alabama recommends that drivers pack some extra time in their trip to their destination as congestion is expected on interstates, adding that it may be better to drive outside of peak travel periods.

“If you’re traveling somewhere that normally takes you two hours, you probably want to allow yourself at least three hours to get there. Maybe more than that,” said AAA Alabama spokesman Clay Ingram.

Ingram also suggests that motorists inspect their cars prior to traveling to avoid breakdowns and blowouts on their trips.

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