HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – It’s the start of Memorial Day weekend. Many of you are probably packing your bags right now for the holiday weekend.
This year is predicted to be the busiest year for travel.
AAA’s Clay Ingram said 44 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more this Memorial Day weekend. That’s a 4% increase from last year.
“Four percent doesn’t seem like a lot,” Ingram said. “But when you’re talking about vacation travel, that’s a lot. We typically see an increase of about 1% from one year to the next. So to have four times that amount is quite significant.”
Due to the large number of people traveling, he said it is best to hit the road early in the morning or in the evening when there is less traffic.
The state average for gas is $3.20 a gallon for regular unleaded gas.
That dropped five cents last month.
Ingram encourages travelers to check their cars before hitting the road.
“Check your tires, tire pressure, fluid levels, all turn signals and headlights, and even your wiper blades,” Ingram said. “Also check your belts and hoses. This is something that tends to deteriorate from the inside out. It looks perfectly fine on the outside, but it could be about to tear you apart.
Ingram said planning your travel plans in advance makes a big difference.
“You need to plan your route to stay away from some of the more metropolitan areas if possible,” Ingram said. “And, for example, if you don’t need to go through Atlanta, then don’t do it, because it will be busy and crowded. And you will probably see a lot of traffic jams there. So choose your route carefully. Planning all your travel plans really makes a big difference.
Huntsville International Airport said it expects a very busy holiday weekend.
AAA said more than 3.5 million people will fly somewhere over the holiday weekend.
There are a few things you can do to ensure you reach your intended destination.
The airport said you should arrive 90 minutes to two hours before your flight departs.
You can track any flight delays by downloading your airline’s app.
It’s also important to remember that you cannot bring large liquids through TSA.
Mary Swanstrom of Huntsville International Airport said people should expect full flights to and from their destination.
“We have capacity for about 14.7% more seats and more passengers than last year,” Swanstrom said. “And one thing we know is that Monday is expected to be the busiest Memorial Day, with about 5,700 seats available. We don’t know if all these vacancies will be filled. But if there’s any indication from the last few flights I’ve been on, it’s going to be a full flight.”
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