Public boarding planes, trains, automobiles
AAA: Thanksgiving will be among most traveled in decades
After the pandemic dashed travel plans for Thanksgiving in 2020 and new COVID variants wrinkled holiday plans in 2021, travelers appear to be returning to roads and airports this year ahead of Thanksgiving.
Nearly 55 million people plan to travel during the holiday this year, according to the AAA, which tracks national travel habits. The organization’s predictions indicate travel for the holiday will return to 98 percent of its prepandemic level. That’s up about 1.5 percent from last year and represents the third-highest year since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2000. The only years that had more
Thanksgiving travelers were 2005 and 2019, AAA said.
Connecticut State Police said the agency plans to supplement its normal patrol ranks with additional troopers starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. The additional troopers will be patrolling the state roads through Sunday night.
“We ask that all drivers remember and follow traffic laws. Please be our extra set of eyes on the highways and call 911 if you spot an emergency,” Col. Stavros Mellekas, the commanding officer of the state police, said in a statement. “During this very busy long holiday weekend, please take the time to arrive at your destination safely. Check traffic and weather reports before you leave home and be patient as the roads will be filled with other drivers.”
State police said troopers will be stationed at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks.
“It is always recommended that you check with the airlines to see if flights are on time to avoid waiting around the terminal. The active pick-up and drop-off of passengers is permitted at curbside in front of the terminals,” state police said in a news release. “Please remember that no waiting is allowed and leaving a vehicle unattended is prohibited and may result in a fine.”
About 90,000 people were expected to depart Bradley between last Friday and this coming Sunday, according to the Connecticut Airport Authority. The agency is expecting numbers of passengers “nearing pre-pandemic levels at times.”
Airport authorities said passengers should plan to confirm their flight with their airline before arriving. They said passengers should arrive early, have credentials ready and their baggage packed correctly to speed up screening through TSA.
AAA statistics show about 4.5 million of the expected 54.6 million travelers plan to fly this year, up about 8 percent from last year. About 1.4 million plan to travel by train, bus or cruise ship — up 23 percent from last year.
Fran Mayko, a spokesperson for AAA Northeast, pointed to pandemic restrictions rolling back and travelers feeling more comfortable with taking public transportation for the sharp increase this year.
“It’s no surprise, travel by trains, buses and cruises are returning in a big way this year,” she said.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said it plans to add extra trains and buses in its service areas. That includes the Metro-North transit lines, which serve Connecticut and parts of
New York. Metro-North railroad will have its normal weekday service increased by 10 additional “early getaway” trains, the agency said, including five more trains on the New Haven Line.
The weather forecast appears favorable for travelers, although some unsettled conditions could dampen plans to get out on Black Friday and those returning to Connecticut on Sunday, according to the
National Weather Service.
Temperatures will reach around 50 degrees Wednesday with sunny skies. Thanksgiving Day should be relatively mild and cool, with sunny skies and highs around 50 and 40s farther inland. Rain will then develop heading into Friday before the sun returns on Saturday and more rain is expected on Sunday, the weather service said.