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'Lost Grandma At The Airport': Holiday Travel Volatile In '08

Tribune file photo by JULIE BUSCH (2007)

Dina Gross and her family flew to Philadelphia from Tampa International Airport last year for Thanksgiving.

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 14, 2008

Thanksgiving may be the most traditional of American holidays, cutting across religious and political backgrounds. Travel to see friends and relatives is a primary holiday activity.

But Thanksgiving travel plans this year have become as volatile as the economy, airfares and gasoline prices.

This year's travel prospects vary from survey to survey. The Air Transport Association of America predicts airline passenger traffic will decline 10 percent this year to about 24 million between Nov. 21 and Dec. 2. TripAdvisor.com predicts that 38 percent of travelers will fly this Thanksgiving season, compared with 37 percent a year ago.

Here are more findings from a survey this month of more than 1,000 U.S. travelers by TripAdvisor.com, an Expedia Inc. company whose brands draw more than 32 million on-line visitors a month.

Travel Plans

37 percent of respondents plan to travel this Thanksgiving, equal to last year

57 percent plan to drive, down from 59 percent in 2007

38 percent will fly, up from 37 percent in 2007

Family Considerations

30 percent feel pressure to spend time with family

77 percent will see family and friends

7 percent will travel to avoid families and friends

Money Concerns

76 percent said economic concerns did not affect Thanksgiving plans

30 percent said exotic tropical destination is their dream if money were no object

31 percent said staying home with family and friends is their dream Thanksgiving

When To Go

28 percent will travel the day before Thanksgiving

28 percent will travel on Thanksgiving Day

27 will travel home on Sunday after Thanksgiving

How Far To Go

15 percent will travel less than 100 miles from home

36 percent will travel less than 300 miles

9 percent will travel overseas

Love And Hate

34 percent love everything about Thanksgiving

10 percent said flight delays are the most annoying aspect

10 percent said getting stuck in traffic is the most annoying

10 percent said they eat too much

Respondents' Thanksgiving Plans Gone Awry

"We lost grandma in the airport; it took 90 minutes to find her."

"I was hauled off a train in Bulgaria by secret police... seriously scary."

"I left the turkey in the cooler at the house six hours away. Had duck that year."

"Flight canceled out of Montgomery, Ala., and had to take a bus to Atlanta. Bus driver got lost, we missed our flight, and spent day in the airport."

Source: TripAdvisor.com

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