More Americans expected to travel for Thanksgiving after last year’s drop; most opt for car

More Americans expected to travel for Thanksgiving

WASHINGTON — The AAA auto club says a few more Americans will be traveling away from home for Thanksgiving this year, though most people are making their holiday treks by car.

The group says about 33.2 million people will travel by car this year, a 2.1 percent jump from 2008. The numbers were based on a survey of 1,350 households.

Air travel was expected to dip 6.7 percent, with about 2.3 million people booking holiday flights. The drop continues a decade-long trend of fewer people traveling by air for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Still, AAA officials say the slight increase marks a change in consumer confidence, as travelers may feel more financially secure and willing to spend money despite the recession.