Driving or flying? Millions expected to travel for 2024 Thanksgiving holiday
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- According to AAA, an estimated 2.2 million people in North Carolina will travel for the holiday.
TSA expects to screen nearly 18 million travelers during the holiday travel period which started Tuesday and ends Monday, December 2.
"We decided that this window of time between yesterday and today would be the best to come down," said Neal Harris en route to Holden Beach. "We're trying to stay out of the traffic as much as possible."
"I travel a lot for work and I thought today was going to be a nightmare. But it actually wasn't very crowded at all," said Sutton Fannon who flew in from Houston, Texas and is headed to Wilmington. Fannon, and his wife Shannon Knecht, are spending their first Thanksgiving together as husband and wife with both of their families. Should be about 25 people.
"My dad's family is coming from Tennessee. Her parents are actually flying in from Baton Rouge, Louisiana."
"My friend's been telling me for months that she wasn't coming home for Thanksgiving! But she completely hid it from me and surprised me. I thought my dad was coming to get me. I thought my dad was picking me up and then I saw her it was a prank," said Iliana Morgan Chevres, a freshman at the University of Michigan.
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Traffic's pretty messed up in Raleigh off 40. Otherwise, drive the speed limit. Wear ya seat belt," commented Allen Locklear from Yanceyville, NC.
Headed to the airport? Here are some holiday travel tips
- Allow extra driving time: Roads can be particularly busy during the late afternoon and early evening hours.
- Book parking online: Travelers can book parking here for guaranteed entry into the lot of their choice. Reservations can be made at least 24 hours in advance. If you don't book a spot ahead of time, check the homepage to see which parking decks and lots have availability.
- Get to the airport early: RDU recommends travelers arrive two hours early for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. This will allow plenty of time to park, check-in and go through security. Airlines begin boarding around 30 to 40 minutes before departure.
- Prepare for security: You can review what is allowed at the TSA checkpoint here.
- Use the cell lot: If you are picking up someone from the airport, you can use RDU's free cell lot at 1000 Trade Drive and wait for them to know their plane has landed. Allow 30 minutes for them to get off the plane and pick up their bags before meeting you at the curb. You can also pick up passengers at the arrivals or departures curb.
- Check delays and cancelations at RDU here
Here are foods you can bring through TSA checkpoints
- Baked goods. Homemade or store-bought pies, cakes, cookies, brownies and other sweet treats.
- Meats. Turkey, chicken, ham, steak. Frozen, cooked or uncooked.
- Stuffing. Cooked, uncooked, in a box or in a bag.
- Casseroles. Traditional green beans and onion straws or something more exotic.
- Mac 'n Cheese. Cooked in a pan or traveling with the ingredients to cook it at your destination.
- Fresh vegetables. Potatoes, yams, broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, beets, radishes, carrots, squash, greens.
- Fresh fruit. Apples, pears, pineapple, lemons, limes, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, kiwi.
- Candy.
- Spices.
Here are foods you must pack in your checked bag
- Cranberry sauce. Homemade or canned are spreadable, so check them.
- Gravy. Homemade or in a jar/can.
- Wine, champagne, sparking apple cider.
- Canned fruit or vegetables. It's got liquid in the can, so check them.
- Preserves, jams and jellies. They are spreadable, so best to check them.
- Maple syrup.
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