Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - This holiday season is, once again, expected be one of the busiest travel years for millions of Americans across the nation.
According to projections from AAA, 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home over the year-end holiday period from Saturday, Dec. 21 to Wednesday, Jan. 1.
"We're wrapping up a really busy year for travel with another record-breaking holiday," said Elizabeth Carey from AAA of Western and Central New York. "The roads are going to be very busy."
AAA expects an additional 3 million travelers this holiday season compared to last year.
When Carey breaks down the number of travelers by mode, 107 million people will be traveling by car this holiday season, which is actually down 1% compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Carey notes that 2019 has become the bar for which AAA compares travel trends to.
"How are things now compared to pre-pandemic? So down a tiny bit by car, however, air travel's up about 5%-to-7%," she said. "And then the other category's up about 15%, and that's people taking cruises. So what we're seeing is maybe a few less road trips, but a lot more bigger vacations and cruises."
However, the number of travelers this year nationally is expected to be back to 2019 levels, and then some.
"When you think about it, the number set in 2019, we're beating that by 64,000 travelers this year. It's just that little category that less people taking the road trips and more people flying and taking the cruises. But we're definitely setting new records this year, for sure," Carey detailed.
When it comes to the top destinations at airports this holiday season, there is one city in the U.S. that is right back on top of the charts.
"No matter the occasion, no matter the holiday, Orlando always seems to come out No. 1, and that's the case again for the year-end holidays," Carey noted. "People love to go to the theme parks, especially when they see them decorated for the holidays. Also, a lot of cruise ports in Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa. Some people going to Las Vegas, and New York City for the ball drop.
"Internationally, a lot of people going to beach vacations in the Caribbean, warm weather destinations, and then London came in No. 10 on the list, so some people traveling over across the pond too."
As you may get ready to head to the airport this holiday travel season, Carey says it's still important to get to the airport early.
"Many people are surprised when they walk into the Buffalo Airport at 4 in the morning, and it's packed. At 4 or 5 in the morning, busiest time at the Buffalo Airport, a lot of people take those 6 a.m. flights. You might think, 'Am I the only one getting up this early to do this?' No, it's very, very popular. So be prepared for that," Carey explained. "You don't want to be the one that causes the delay. You want to have plenty of time to get through security and get to your gate, and then hopefully things go off without a hitch and the flight's on time."
Carey further advises air travelers if they can pack lightly and just use a carry on bag, that may save you some potential headaches if there's any unexpected problems.
"There's a lot of luggage out there now that fits a lot into carry on size, that way you have your belongings with you in case your luggage does get lost," Carey noted. "If there's a mishap with your flight, you'll have all of your items with you. It makes for a lot of more convenient type of travel.
So what about those avoiding the airports and making their trips this holiday by car?
Especially in Western New York, Carey says expect the unexpected when it comes to the weather. That's why it's important to make sure your vehicle is road-trip ready by getting it checked over by a certified technician, and also having an winter emergency kit on-hand.
"Warm clothes, basic tools, cell phone charger, snacks, water, all the things that you need stay comfortable in case you do become stranded in your car," Carey said. "We just saw that over Thanksgiving, right on the I-90 heading down into Pennsylvania. A lot of cars were stuck there in gridlock with the snow coming down. So things that can keep you comfortable in that type of situation."
Carey also advises if there's any sort of weather advisory, pay attention and watch where you may be planning to go.
"And if they do put a driving ban into effect, please obey the driving ban. The less cars on the road, the better," Carey added. "You're just going to put yourself at risk, and put first responders at risk too. So all this has to be taken into consideration, and if you can stay home and stay safe, and it's snowing outside, maybe that's the best place for you to be."
And if your travel plans on the roadways take you through some areas known for congestion, it's a matter of finding the right timing to make your way through that area without getting caught up in traffic.
"Unbelievable when you see some of these big metro areas where it's always busy with traffic, and then we're seeing traffic up by 150% compared to a regular day. So go early, or go late," Carey said. "A lot of times it's midday into the evening where you're going to see the most traffic congestion, so trying to avoid those times and being flexible, just making sure that you're well rested behind the wheel, taking that into consideration."
And if you happen to find yourself in a predicament along your travels, Carey says AAA is ready for the busy season.
"The more people out on the roads, it leads to more situations," she said. "Dead batteries, keys locked in the car, flat tires and sometimes also running out of gas are the top calls. So be prepared for that, those are all things that can be prevented. Having the battery checked over before you head out on the road. Things like that can go a long way."
Carey adds if you're a AAA member, you can call for roadside assistance, or use the AAA mobile app or go online to aaa.com for further help.