48% of Americans planning to travel over the holidays
Nov 3, 2023, 5:00 PM | Updated: Nov 9, 2023, 11:50 am
FILE - People pass through Salt Lake City International Airport on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in Salt Lake City. Thirty percent of Americans don't identify with a religious group — but not all of them are atheists or agnostics. In fact, 43% of the group known as the "nones" say they believe in God, even if they largely dislike organized religion. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
SALT LAKE— Hoping to travel this holiday season? Be prepared to be joined by millions of other Americans because nearly half the nation is planning to travel.
48% of Americans are planning to travel this holiday season according to a recent Deloitte survey. That’s over 31% higher than it was last year.
Why are there more travelers
In Deloitte’s key findings, researchers say this sharp increase in travelers may be due to a decrease in traveler’s “health worries or concerns about delays and cancellations.”
Travel Agent Joy Sanders with Morris Columbus Travel says Christmas is always a busy time for travel.
“That’s when kids have time off from school, teachers have time off. It’s just a time when people have time off which is a huge thing for families,” she said.
This increase in passengers also means an increase in prices.
“Everything’s more expensive,” said Sanders. “Because people used to think that nobody traveled over Christmas, but now everybody travels over Christmas.”
Sanders said the best times to get flights for the holidays was 8 months ago, when flight tickets were originally released. Tickets can still be found, but they will be expensive.
“Just expect that it will cost more than what you’re expecting,” she said. “These days, everything is going to be higher than what you’re expecting because inflation.”
Best times to fly
The best times to avoid crowded airports will be earlier in the month or on the holidays themselves, according to Sanders.
“The earlier in December you can go the better. The worst days are right about that week right before Christmas and the week after Christmas,” she said.
Best times
- First weeks of December (Approx. Dec. 1 – 10)
- Christmas Day (Dec. 25)
- New Years Eve (Dec. 31)
Worst times
- Weekend before Christmas (Dec. 21 – 24)
- Week after Christmas (Dec. 26 – 30)
No matter when you travel, Sanders says it’s best to prepare early, be flexible, and have a back-up plan in case something goes wrong.
