Thanksgiving Travelers Take to Road, Air
Nov. 22 -- Thanksgiving is a time to share special moments with family — if you can get there, that is.
A record 38.9 million Americans — 4 percent more than last year — planned to travel at least 100 miles from home for the holiday, according to the American Automobile Association. Of those, 31.6million will go by car, and another 7.3 million will travel by airplane, train or bus, based on a survey of 1,300 people.
“We’ve got all these people out here traveling, trying to get home to friends and relatives, it’s gonna be incredibly busy, said Pam Fischer of the American Automobile Association. “Also anywhere where there is normal congestion, expect it to be much worse over the next 12 to 15 hours.”
At Chicago’s Midway Airport, long lines formed at ticket counters, bathrooms and security checkpoints when the sun was barely up. For Matt and Sarah Niess, a trip to see family in Bostonwas quickly becoming a disaster.
The Niesses’ flight from San Francisco was an hour late taking off, which made them miss their connection at Midway to Boston. They had to take an hour shuttle-bus ride to O’Hare International Airport for another connection — but first they had to find their luggage.
“Everyone’s taking a trip for Thanksgiving,” said Ron Wilson a spokesman for the San Francisco International Airport. “The day before the holiday is usually the single busiest travel day of the year.”
Wilson said that at the San Francisco airport, extra plain-clothes police and traffic officers will be patrolling the premises.
Travel By Land
Some travelers opted to stay away from airports altogether and go by car or train, which didn’t guarantee an easier trip.
Andrea and Alfred Armstrong were taking Amtrak from Philadelphia to Stafford, Va., struggling with their 7-year-old daughter,6-month-old son, four suitcases and a stroller.
“It is going to be very difficult for us, but it’s worse for myhusband because he has to carry everything,” said AndreaArmstrong, who is three months pregnant. “I will have to take thekids and get on the train as fast as possible to find us seats.”
