The Thanksgiving holiday rush neared its full stride at U.S. airports Tuesday, putting travelers’ patience to the test.
The Transportation Security Administration expected to screen more than 2.8 million people on Tuesday and 2.9 million on Wednesday after handling more than 2.5 million people on Monday.
[ FORECAST: No rain for Wednesday but that will change for Thanksgiving ]
Things appeared to be going relatively smoothly at most airports. By midday Tuesday on the East Coast, about 60 U.S. flights had been canceled and around 1,700 others delayed — well below the average of about 4,500 flights canceled during the previous three days, according to tracking service FlightAware.
[ LINK: CLT delays and cancellations by FlightAware ]
In Charlotte, Chief Meteorologist John Ahrens said the weather will be nice on Wednesday for holiday travelers but be ready come turkey time.
Showers and even thunderstorms will spread into the Carolinas on Thanksgiving Day.
[ LINK: Cheapest gas in Charlotte area by GasBuddy ]
“After that, a major outbreak of cold arctic chill,” Ahrens said. “Find those winter coats. This will be the real deal.”
Eyes on the sky
An Arctic blast in the Midwest and wet weather in the Eastern U.S. could disrupt travel over the next several days.
A storm system that moved across the West Coast was forecast to bring heavy snow Wednesday to the Intermountain West, including the Rockies in Colorado, the Bitterroot Range in Idaho and Montana, and the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For Thanksgiving Day, forecasters expect clear weather over the western two-thirds of the country but a mix of rain and snow from Michigan and Ohio through New England.
Temperatures were in the high 30s in Chicago on Tuesday, but that was fine with Kristy Vincent of Houston, who landed at O’Hare Airport.
[ LINK: Book parking online at Charlotte Douglas ]
“I’m so excited. There’s no snow. I’m not going to freeze to death,” Vincent said, adding that she was “a little worried” about weekend forecasts calling for highs in the 20s.
Thanksgiving, by the numbers
Auto club and insurance company AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday. Most of them will travel by car.
[ >>WSOC Severe Weather Center 9 Forecast ]
Drivers should get a slight break on gas prices. The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon on Monday, down from $3.26 at this time last year.
Airfares, however, are about 4.1% higher than they were a year ago, according to government figures.
The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024.
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The TSA predicts that 3 million people will pass through airport security checkpoints on Sunday; more than that could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the next-busiest air travel days of Thanksgiving week.
FAA staffing shortage could create delays
TSA Administrator David Pekoske said his agency is ready, with its highest staffing ever, but an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration could cause flight delays.
FAA Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that his agency likely will use special measures to deal with shortages at some facilities.
“If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe,” he said.
In the last two years, similar measures have slowed down flights in New York City and Florida.
The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agency’s lofty hiring goals.
Strike at CLT
Charlotte Douglas International Airport workers voted to go on strike claiming unfair labor practices and poverty wages.
Service workers including cabin cleaners, wheelchair attendants, lavatory workers, trash truck drivers and ramp workers said they cannot afford rent or food. The workers are employed by American Airlines contractors, ABM and Prospect.
Roughly 1 million people are expected to travel through Charlotte Douglas for the Thanksgiving travel season.
Turkey on the plane
TSA says it’s OK to bring turkey, stuffing and other favorite holiday foods through airport checkpoints, although liquids such as gravy and cranberry sauce can’t exceed 3.4 ounces.
[ TSA LINK: What Can I bring? ]
Just because you can carry it on the plane doesn’t mean you should.
“Especially when it comes to gravy, I wouldn’t want that in my carry-on luggage, and I definitely wouldn’t want it in my checked baggage,” TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers said.
Thanksgiving brings out infrequent flyers, and they often have questions about what they can bring on the plane. The TSA app and website have lists of items that are banned or restricted.
VIDEO: Tuesday’s forecast
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Drive time
Drivers should know that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the worst times to travel by car, but it should be smooth sailing on freeways come Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX.
On the return home, the best travel times for motorists are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, the company said.
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In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, “traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day,” INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said.
The N.C. Department of Transportation kicked of Thanksgiving with “Click It or Ticket” in Iredell County this week. It is from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1. Law enforcement officers across the state’s 100 counties will increase patrols to keep everyone safe.
Last year, 495 people died in unbuckled crashes, the NCDOT stated.
According to AAA, the most common reasons for service calls are flat tires, dead batteries and lockouts.
The group shared these tips to keep your car running properly.
- Check your tires once a month and before taking a long trip. Pay special attention to tire pressure and tread depth. Be sure to inspect all four tires and the spare tire if your vehicle has one.
- Check your battery. If your engine is slow to start and/or your lights are dim, your battery may be nearing the end of its life.
- Listen to and feel the brakes. If you hear a grinding sound or feel a vibration when applying the brakes, take your vehicle to an auto repair shop for a brake inspection.
- Replace wiper blades and replenish windshield cleaner. If your wipers streak or fail to clear the windshield thoroughly, replace the blades.
- Check that engine oil, coolant and brake, transmission and power steering fluids are at the correct levels for safe vehicle operation.
North and South Carolina state laws require drivers who see emergency, service, and maintenance vehicles to slow down and move over.
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Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City, Melissa Perez Winder in Chicago and Mike Householder in Romulus, Michigan, contributed to this report.