Travelocity evaluated how some of the busiest airports performed over Thanksgiving and analyzed the latest booking and airfare data for December.
With average ticket prices 10 percent higher than the 2006 holiday and most travelers having booked two and a half months in advance, travel insiders are expecting this December to be busier than ever despite high airfares.
“While a number of factors played a part in the success of the Thanksgiving travel season, we shouldn’t let our guards down just yet, as winter storms are still a possibility,” says Amy Ziff, Travelocity's editor-at-large. “Agreeable weather, changes by the federal government, new policies from individual airlines, and savvy travelers all worked together to make for a relatively hassle-free weekend.”
More December Stats
In contrast to Thanksgiving data, December travelers finally seem to be taking high fares and the weak dollar into account when they plan their vacations. Travel to Western Europe is down 4.4 percent and to Canada down almost 9 percent. With share up to Mexico, Central America and Eastern Europe, it does indicate that the unfavorable exchange rates are finally influencing where people are going.
Top Booked DOMESTIC Destinations:
Top Booked INTERNATIONAL Destinations:
As a rule, fares are up worldwide. Two notable exceptions where fares are even with last year – Mexico and the Caribbean – reveal that sunny spots may be the best bargains this season. For travelers looking to save, Ziff strongly recommends being flexible about the destination and shopping by theme instead - such as beach, ski or romance – to get ideas and prices on packages.
Thanksgiving Airport Summary
Travelocity experts also factored Thanksgiving successes and challenges into the equation when making predictions for the holidays ahead. Stationed at 10 of the nation’s busiest airports on two of the most popular travel days of the year (Nov. 20 and 21, 2007), Travelocity representatives monitored everything from security and check-in lines to travel delays and parking.
Following are key highlights from Thanksgiving week:
Holiday Airlines Policies
It remains to be seen whether or not the “Holiday Express Lane” that gave commercial airlines access to military airspace over Thanksgiving will be used again in December. However, individual airlines have announced steps to make air travel as smooth as possible. A few examples are listed below, but please visit individual airline Web sites for complete details.
United Airlines
Has added 140 kiosks inside the gates at busy airports so travelers who have been rebooked because of delays can print new boarding passes without going through security again. These kiosks also have software that enables customers to make changes to their itineraries, such as placing themselves on the stand-by list for an earlier flight.
US Airways
Increasing staff at airports and plans to hold additional spare aircraft for placement into scheduled service if needed.
Northwest Airlines
Has issued a “20 Point Plan” to minimize disruption during the holiday travel season. The airline will waive rebooking fees for passengers whose plans were disrupted by weather or mechanical delays.
Theodore Koumelis - Friday, December 07, 2007