CLEVELAND, Ohio – Pack your patience – and your cranberry sauce – before heading out the door this holiday week, which is expected to be one of the busiest on record, according to AAA and the Transportation Security Administration.
Nearly 80 million travelers are expected to journey 50 miles or more from home this holiday, including 72 million via auto and 6 million via airplane, according to AAA. That’s a 2% increase over last year – which was also a record.
“We’re still showing unabating demand,” said Amir Eylon, president and CEO of Longwoods International, a Columbus-based travel consultancy.
And while higher prices at hotels and restaurants might impact where people go and how long they stay, it’s not causing travelers to stay home, he said.
“Travel has shifted from a want to a need,” said Eylon. “People are willing to make sacrifices to get that trip in.”
Despite record travel elsewhere, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is expecting the same volume of passengers as last year, or even a slight decrease, due in part to reductions by Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month.
Still, air travelers are advised to get to the airport two hours ahead of their flights, to negotiate busy airport roadways, crowded parking lots and long security lines.
Headed out of town in the coming days? Here’s what you need to know:
If you’re flying
The busiest days for air travel are expected to be Wednesday, Nov. 27, and Sunday, Dec. 1.
New this year at Hopkins: Travelers can now make a reservation for the Smart Parking Garage, with 3,810 spaces adjacent to the airport terminal. But act fast: A recent check online found fewer than 200 spots available over Thanksgiving weekend. (Reminder: You can also reserve spots at several off-site lots, including Park Place and the Parking Spot, both on Snow Road.)
On-site parking has become a scarce commodity in recent years during busy travel periods at Hopkins, thanks to the growing number of local travelers who use the airport. During the United Airlines hub days, a large percentage of travelers were simply traveling through the airport.
Expect the roadways to and from the airport to be busy, as well, filled with passengers getting dropped off and picked up at the facility.
Drivers who are picking up passengers are encouraged to wait at the Cell Phone Lot, located off Jackson Road just east of the airport.
TSA, meanwhile, is predicting record air travel in the coming days.
TSA set a screening record on July 7, with more than 3 million travelers passing through security checkpoints in the United States. That record could be broken in the coming days, according to the agency.
TSA Administrator David Pekoske said the organization will be ready. “Working alongside our airport and airline partners and the FAA, we have optimized staffing and will do our best to maintain our wait time standards: less than 10 minutes for TSA PreCheck lanes and less than 30 minutes for standard screening lanes,” he said.
In an effort to speed up the process, TSA recommends that travelers start packing with an empty suitcase to ensure no unintended items are brought to the airport.
Cooks who are traveling for Thanksgiving, take note: Food items that are considered liquids or gels must be packed in a checked bag if they exceed 3.4 ounces.
“If you can spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it or pour it, it is a liquid, aerosol or gel and must be packed in your checked bag,” according to TSA.
The prohibited list includes gravy, cranberry sauce and jam and preserves.
On the other hand, pumpkin pie and other baked goods are considered solids and can be carried aboard. (For the complete list: tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all-list)
If you’re driving
AAA, in partnership with INRIX, is again providing guidance to drivers regarding the best times to hit the road during the holiday period.
Here are their recommendations:
Monday, Nov. 25: Best, before 11 a.m.; worst, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26: Best, before 10 a.m.; worst, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 27: Best, before 10 a.m.; worst, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 28: Minimal traffic all day.
Friday, Nov. 29: Best, after 1 p.m.; worst, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 30: Best, before 1 p.m.; worst, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 1: Best, before 1 p.m.; worst, noon to 6 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 2: Best, before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m.; worst, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Gas prices, meanwhile, are below $3 per gallon this Thanksgiving for the first time since 2021. According to a recent AAA survey, the average gas price in Northeast Ohio was $2.92, down from $3.10 a year ago.