The American Automobile Association (AAA), an insurance and travel agency, forecasts record-breaking numbers of
"All of my roommates are traveling," said Merit Foote, a BYU-Idaho student.
However, BYU-Idaho students aren't the only people traveling during the holiday season.
AAA estimates that nearly half a million Idahoans will be traveling from Wednesday, Nov. 25, to Monday, Dec. 1.
“With 1 in 4 people nationwide and here in the Gem State making a turkey day trip, U.S. roads and skies may very well be the busiest they’ve ever been,” said Matthew Conde, AAA Idaho public affairs director.
The AAA travel agency acknowledges that these numbers have been on the climb for the last few years, so breaking records is somewhat expected.
On the topic of records, the Idaho Falls Regional Airport broke personal records earlier in November for the number of passengers who went through the airport. They expect that between Thanksgiving and Christmas travel, these numbers will well pass last year's numbers.
Ian Turner, the IDA director, said that last year, from Nov. 21 through Dec. 2, which is what they considered "Thanksgiving week," they sold over 13,000 outbound seats.
With updates this year to the available flights, the airport anticipates that this year's Thanksgiving week will process 14.5 thousand outbound seats.
AAA also gathered information on the top travel destinations for Thanksgiving week. According to their data, more Idahoans will be visiting Las Vegas than any other destination.
"The state's growing and people want to go travel when they can, and the holidays are a prime time to do that," Turner said.
With the influx this week in both the skies and the roads, AAA anticipates responding to more than 600,000 requests for emergency road service nationwide, including 1,000 in the Gem State. They recommend taking measures beforehand to ensure your car works well. This might mean checking oil, tire pressure or any suspicious engine lights on the dashboard.
Even with the increases in numbers, air travel is not for everyone. "I think we'll see a few more people try to drive than fly," Turner said.
Travel can get hectic with the influx of leisure travelers during holiday weeks. Turner's biggest piece of advice is to allow extra time in your schedule.
Turner also reminds travelers that because holiday travel is typically for leisure, people will pack more luggage. More luggage means more time for screening, more crowded spaces and more confusion.
"I always ask people to pack their patience," Turner said.
Another way to ensure safety in your travels is to stay connected. Make sure people know where you're headed and the route you'll be taking. Keep family and friends updated. Stay safe, and enjoy the holiday season.
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