ORLANDO— Americans are expected to take to the skies in larger numbers this Thanksgiving period than they did a year ago with overall travel also projected to be up this holiday, according to the AAA. The AAA estimates that 35.9 million Americans will take a trip 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, 1.7% higher than the 35.3 million who traveled last year. A total of 30.8 million people plan to go by motor vehicle, a nearly 1% increase from a year ago when 30.6 million traveled by car. The AAA expects air travel to climb 6% as 5.1 million Americans plan to fly this holiday compared to 4.8 million last Thanksgiving. Overall, 86% of holiday travelers will go by motor vehicle, down slightly from the 87% a year ago, the highest percentage of auto travel ever recorded by the AAA. Motorists will find the nationwide average price of gasoline at $1.458 per gallon, up more than one penny from last month and about 25 cents higher than last years pre-Thanksgiving price, according to the AAA. The AAA said the higher gas prices should not alter travel plans since most Americans who expect to travel have already made their plans and will not cancel or postpone them because they have to spend more for fuel. A total of 59% of holiday travelers intend to stay overnight with relatives or friends while 26% expect to stay in a hotel or motel, according to the AAA. Other overnight plans include: cabin/condo, 6%; camper/trailer/RV or tent, 3%; and other, 2%. Four percent are undecided or dont expect to stay overnight. The AAAs holiday travel projections are based on a national survey of 1,300 U.S. adults by the Travel Industry Association.
