(WHAS11) - Wednesday is the busiest travel day of the Thanksgiving holiday. Millions of Americans are boarding airplanes or packing the car to get to their destination. But fewer of them are flying to get where they are going and more of them are hitting the road.
At the Louisville International Airport, Wednesday morning was smooth-sailing with no flight delays.
"It's light. It's pretty light. I like it," said Kirk Macauley, who is traveling with his family to Florida. "It looks like the security line is moving along, so I think we'll get through here pretty quick."
It's a trend across the country. 33.2 million people will travel by car this year, according to AAA. That's up 2% from last year.
And Triple A says 2.3 million people will travel through the skies by plane this year, which is a number down 6.7% from 2008.
"We've seen and expect today, a slight reduction in travelers due to the economy," says Trish Burke, PR Director for the Louisville International Airport. "Both business travel and leisure travel have been off, as most people are aware of the last year or so."
But that doesn't mean you'll find more room on board. Airlines are also cutting back. They are scaling back on seats to cut costs and flying smaller planes when necessary. Airport authorities say to remember less is more when you are packing your bags.
"Less is more," says Burke. "It's difficult to travel with lots of things and aircraft will be crowded so there will be limited space in the overhead bins. And, while last year, there were some checked baggage fees, now virtually all airlines are charging for that first checked bag."
And if you think you will save time and money by driving, like many people do, some say you might want to think again.
"Actually it was cheaper to fly than for us to drive," says Miranda Huff who is flying with her two boys to Wisconsin to visit family. "We did the price comparison with the gas and even rental car prices have gone up enormously this year. So everything was much cheaper to fly this time."
AIRLINE TRAVEL TIPS
= Limit Luggage: don't exceed airlines' carry on size limits or you could have to check your bag at the last minute. And expect competition for overhead bin space.
= No wrapped gifts: security can and will unwrap gifts to check them out. Ship large gifts ahead of time, if possible.
= The 3-1-1 Rule: till in effect for carry-on liquids or gels. It means containers of 3.4 oz or less only - and they have to be in 1 clear plastic bag, that's 1 quart size. Place the bag in the security screening bag outside of your carry-on bag.
= Avoid peak days: If possible, book your flight before or after main travel days. You'll be more likely to get a flight at a good price.
= Be aware of fees: many airlines have new or increased fees for services like checking baggage. Check these out beforehand so you don't get surprised.
DRIVING TRAVEL TIPS
= MAXIMIZE MILEAGE: take the most fuel-efficient vehicle you own to get the most bang for your gas buck.
= CHECK TIRE PRESSURE: before you leave. Good levels can help with fuel efficiency and avoid blowouts or other trouble on the road.
= TIME YOUR TRIP: so you can avoid congested areas of your trip during busy times, like rush hours.
