WALNUT CREEK — Travelers who canceled getaways and get-togethers last year because of the pandemic are making up for lost time. More than 109 million people will head out of town between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2. That dramatic bounce-back will bring this year’s numbers to 92% of 2019 levels.
“With vaccines widely available, conditions are much different and many people feel a greater level of comfort traveling but travelers will still be mindful of the pandemic and the new omicron variant,” said Sergio Avila, AAA Northern California Spokesperson.
More than 100 million on the roads and 6 million in the skies
Road trips will remain the top mode of travel during the holidays, with over 100 million planning to head to their destinations in cars despite gas costing $1.25 per gallon more than a year ago. Of the over 14 million Californians expected to travel, 88.75% of those will be hitting the road.
Navigating the New Travel Landscape
Whether you plan to do so by car or plane, it’s important to know how to navigate the new travel landscape to avoid unnecessary stress and challenges on the way to your holiday destination:
- Be Proactive. Book flights, car rentals, accommodations and other activities as early as possible. AAA Members are eligible to receive discounts on accommodations and car rentals.
- Be Patient. The roads and airports will be busy so plan ahead. For domestic air travel, AAA suggests arriving at the airport 2 hours ahead of departure time and 3 hours for international flights.
- Be Prepared. The over 100 million Americans planning to drive over the holidays need to be prepared for slowdowns and breakdowns. AAA expects to respond to as many as 1.3 million calls for help. Check out AAA Northern California’s Stress Less Checklist and AAA Digital TourBook to prepare.
- Be Protected. AAA’s COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map and TripTik.AAA.com are free resources travelers can use to understand recommendations and requirements when traveling in the U.S.
Forecast Methodology
In cooperation with AAA, IHS Markit—a world leader in critical information, analytics and expertise—developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from IHS Markit’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including prices of gasoline, airline travel and hotel stays.The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and IHS Markit forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of Nov. 15, 2021.
About AAA Northern California
AAA has a proud history of serving Members for over 100 years. AAA is on a mission to create Members for life by unleashing the innovative spirit of 4,600 employees representing 6 million Members across Northern California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska. In addition to legendary roadside assistance, AAA offers home, auto and life insurance, travel and home security services. According to Via Magazine’s Smart Guide, being a AAA Member can save you more than $1,200 a year. Learn more at AAA.com
