Are you one of the 53 million American’s traveling over this Thanksgiving Holiday? I am happy to say I am sitting this one out but for many, actually it is a 13% increase over thanksgiving travel in 2020 according to AAA. Monday is by far your easiest and cheapest day to travel. Tuesday and Wednesday are predicted to be chaotic so pack your patience you could be waiting a while. Give yourself a little more time to get to your destination and understand that we are all trying to get somewhere.
So if you are looking for some savings, gas is $1 higher than this time last year and I am certainly looking to save money whenever I can. If you are driving use Gasbuddy or some gas app that lets you know the cheapest places around you. Where we live no one can touch Costco Kirkland gas prices but be prepared to wait in long lines for at least 20-30 minutes to fill your tank. Check out Tips For Avoiding Traffic This Thanksgiving.
How can you try to save time while flying this Thanksgiving? I’ll be honest I stalk FlightAware when ever we are due to fly. It is an invaluable app and it also works on a desktop computer. I use flightaware to see where my plane/flight is coming from and if its headed my way then I at least feel a little better that I will have a flight to take. If it see my flight delayed somewhere… then go by a word search or get some food cause it could be a while. There is expected to be very long lines with TSA as travel resumes close to pre-pandemic levels.
What happens if your flight gets cancelled? Make sure to have the app of whatever airline you are flying with. Rebook on the app rather than calling because that could take up to 3 hours before you can speak to someone. So while you are waiting for your flight why not check out the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Guide or perhaps make a grocery list to make some Thanksgiving Cruise Line Recipes. Why not start making plans for Christmas and check out the Annual Christmas Markets in the U.S, perhaps a National Park tour or a Hawaii Vacation Package. If you are ready to go back to Europe Christmas Markets tours have some availability especially for Tauck Tours.
What kind of yummy treats can I take with me on an airplane? Its always good to check the airline’s website and the TSA site for more details. In the past, things like meat, baked goods, stuffing are ok to take in your carry on. Things like jams and wine need to go in your checked luggage.
Safe travels and remember to pack some patience and give yourself some extra time getting to and from your Thanksgiving travel destination.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published with 2021 information. Tour programs, pricing, and departure dates are updated annually by tour operators. Contact Atlas Travel Center for current 2026 availability and pricing — our advisors have the latest information from all major tour operators and can help you book with confidence. In business since 1987, CLIA-certified, A+ BBB rated.
