Charleston Intl., travel officials brace for high-volume of Thanksgiving travel

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – The American Automobile Association expects nearly 80 million people to travel nationwide over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Officials say this year’s number is nearly 2 million more than last year’s holiday as 71 million of expected travelers across the country will take off by car.

Drivers are urged to leave early before 10 a.m. on busy travel days such as Tuesday and Wednesday to avoid congested roads. Peak hours are expected to be from 1 p.m. to between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on busy days.

AAA officials say drivers can expect cheaper gas this year. The average prices in South Carolina are $2.74 a gallon in comparison to last year’s $2.89. AAA Director of Public Affairs Tiffany Wright says people will save dollars in gas prices because of low oil prices and demand.

“No matter where you’re traveling, you’re going to see anywhere from a 10 to 25 cent decrease per gallon versus this time last year,” Wright says. “Although it might cost you more to do some hotels, to fly, entertainment, it’s going to cost you less at the pumps.”

Charleston International Airport is bracing for the impact of more passengers being on board for the holiday. The airport saw nearly 65,000 passengers come through last year for the Thanksgiving holiday. Officials are expecting at least 11% more to travel through the airport in the upcoming days.

The expected increase aligns with AAA’s predictions of nearly six million people taking on the skies.

Passengers are urged to plan ahead and avoid busy times. Officials expect peak times for departures will run all day from 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on busy days such as Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Airport officials say they working to make the process as smooth as possible with increased police officers, airline and TSA staffing. Flyers going through security can expect about five minutes for pre-check and 15 minutes for standard security.

Deputy executive director and chief communications officer for Charleston International Airport Spencer Pryor recommends arriving at the airport early and check-in with airlines to avoid delays or cancellations.

“You want to have a plan,” Pryor says. “You want to at least get here two hours ahead of your departure time so you can plan for parking. Parking is at a premium during this time. You may have to use one of our remote parking lots and we’ll offer a free complimentary 24 hour shuttle.”

Pryor also recommends checking online for what can be brought through security checkpoints. He says this helps ensure smooth travel and quicker lines for passengers.

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