‘Travel is back’: over 80 million Americans expected to travel for Thanksgiving weekend

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Nicholas Olsen is just one of the 72 million people who are set to hit the road this week for Thanksgiving. The busiest travel week of the year is projected to set records.

“Hopefully no traffic, good weather fingers crossed, but who knows how that’ll go,” Olsen said. “It’s gonna be long and so we’re heading through Kansas on the trip to Missouri.”

Skyler McKinley with AAA says while the majority of people will be on the roads for their travel they have seen a 10% increase over last year in people booking flights.

“Travel is back from the pandemic travel demand jump back right away. Folks said what was called revenge traveling they want to get up and go,” McKinley said.

Glenn Merchant tells 11 News he is hosting this Thanksgiving with multiple family members flying in from across the country and says he pays close attention to their flights.

“Just making sure they get here smoothly because if there’s any glitches, it’s gonna be really hard for ‘em to make it,” Merchant said.

McKinley says he thinks the economy is in an interesting place right now, and not everyone is in a position to make it to see loved ones this season.

“If you are lucky enough to be able to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday that something to be grateful for on it of its own knowing that many Americans can’t,” McKinley said.

AAA projects the best times to travel are in the mornings Monday through Wednesday and the worst times are any time in the afternoon and between seven and ten a.m. on Friday.

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