AAA expects record-breaking travel numbers over the holiday period.
NORFOLK, Va. — AAA expects record-breaking travel numbers this weekend and the weekend after Christmas.
Christmas falls on a Wednesday this year, which can be overwhelming for passengers and first-time flyers.
“I guess if you don’t do it a whole lot, then it can probably be very stressful, especially if you have family members or people that you’re traveling with who need extra help and time,” said passenger Jeff Palmer.
Passengers at Norfolk International Airport told 13News Now why they chose to leave today.
“We’re leaving today just because it’s Friday. We know that the holiday is Tuesday and Wednesday next week so we figure we’re going to beat the rush and get going on the first day of the weekend to kick off the holiday,” said one passenger.
“We just like to travel and get to our destination a little early and spend time with the family,” added another traveler, Brian Day.
“I got off work today so it was easy for me to kind of just come later today. Earlier in the morning would kind of be more of a hassle because I feel like everybody is trying to do the same thing,” said Logan Baker.
AAA expects over 7.8 million passengers to travel during the holiday period by air. However, travel by car will be the most popular form of travel as AAA expects 90% of holiday travelers to drive.
“The earlier the better just because there’s traffic. If you’re getting a plane ticket around this time it’s a lot more expensive,” said David Kernazitskas.
“We leave at least three days in advance. We drive to Florida. We make sure that the vehicle is in condition – fluids, change of oil, rotation of tires, and make sure it’s gassed,” said Suheil Lopez.
AAA said the best time for drivers to hit the road varies by day but typically you should leave before 2 p.m. as traffic is heaviest between 3 and 8 p.m.
This post was originally published on here
