As a record number of travelers are expected to hit the road and take to the skies during the Labor Day holiday weekend starting this weekend, road and airport users are urged to exercise extra caution.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), domestic flight bookings for this year's Labor Day holiday are surpassing last year's records, and the volume of residents traveling by car for road trips is also projected to increase significantly.
The burden of travel expenses has also grown heavier. The average price of a domestic round-trip airline ticket this year is about $750, up 2% from last year. In particular, airfares for major routes to popular vacation destinations have jumped by nearly 20% compared to the previous year. AAA added that due to gas price volatility, the cost of filling up at the pump could also increase during the holiday period.
Transportation data analytics company INRIX predicted the "worst times to drive" when road congestion will be at its peak during this holiday period as follows:
Thursday, September 3: 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Friday, September 4: 12:00 PM (Noon) – 8:00 PM
Saturday, September 5: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Monday, September 7 (Return trip): 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Experts advise travelers to avoid these peak hours when departing for and returning from their holiday trips.
Meanwhile, for a safe and pleasant holiday, AAA strongly recommended: ▲ checking real-time traffic conditions to bypass peak congestion times, ▲ reconfirming flight schedules before leaving for the airport, ▲ booking accommodations, rental cars, and major tourist attractions in advance, ▲ inspecting tires and batteries before long-distance drives, ▲ keeping an emergency kit (water, snacks, flashlight, jumper cables) in the vehicle, and ▲ checking the weather forecasts for both the departure point and destination in advance.