Millions of Americans are expected to brave crowded airports and highways this Thanksgiving, despite concerns over inflation and memories of past travel meltdowns. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the busiest days to fly will be Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as the Sunday after Thanksgiving. On Tuesday, the TSA expects to screen 2.6 million passengers, followed by 2.7 million passengers on Wednesday. The largest crowds are expected on Sunday, with an estimated 2.9 million passengers, narrowly surpassing a previous record set on June 30. Meanwhile, AAA forecasts that 55.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between next Wednesday and the Sunday after Thanksgiving, with roads likely to be the most congested on Wednesday.

However, the weather may pose a challenge for both air and road traffic. A storm system is predicted to move from the southern Plains to the Northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing severe thunderstorms, gusty winds, and possible snow. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the potential disruptions during a news conference on Monday. He mentioned that the government has made efforts to better prepare for holiday travel by hiring more air traffic controllers, opening new air routes along the East Coast, and providing grants to airports for snowplows and deicing equipment. Nevertheless, Buttigieg advised travelers to check road conditions and flight times before departing, acknowledging that "Mother Nature, of course, is the X factor in all of this."

Despite these potential obstacles, there is some good news for travelers in terms of prices. Airfares are currently averaging $268 per ticket, which is a 14% decrease compared to last year, according to travel site Hopper. Additionally, gasoline prices have dropped by about 45 cents per gallon compared to the same time last year, with a national average of $3.30 per gallon as reported by AAA on Monday. Despite the savings at the pump, a survey conducted by GasBuddy found that the number of people planning long driving trips this Thanksgiving hasn't significantly changed from last year. Patrick De Haan, an analyst for the price-tracking service, attributed this to the fact that while gas prices have fallen, other expenses, such as food, have increased. He also noted that many Americans spent more during the summer and may not be financially prepared for Thanksgiving travel just yet.

The anticipation for holiday travel is tempered by memories of the travel chaos experienced last December. Severe winter storms disrupted thousands of flights, leaving millions of passengers stranded. However, Scott Keyes, founder of the travel site Going, is cautiously optimistic that this year's holiday air travel won't be as problematic. Keyes noted that airlines have managed to avoid massive disruptions so far this year, with cancellations decreasing significantly compared to previous years. He emphasized that controllable cancellations, caused by airline system failures rather than weather conditions, are what irk passengers the most. Southwest Airlines, in particular, faced major challenges recovering from last year's storm due to its planes, pilots, and flight attendants being out of position, as well as issues with its crew-rescheduling system. The airline has since purchased additional deicing trucks and heating equipment, added staff at cold-weather airports based on forecasts, and updated its crew-scheduling technology.

While airlines have improved in terms of avoiding passenger stranding, consumer complaints about airline service have surged, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been blamed by airlines for not keeping up with the growing air traffic. The FAA's limited efforts to address the shortage of air traffic controllers, particularly in key facilities in New York, Miami, and Jacksonville, Florida, were highlighted in a report by the Transportation Department's inspector general this summer. However, staffing levels in other areas of the airline industry have largely recovered since the pandemic. After initially shedding tens of thousands of workers, airlines have been on a hiring spree since late 2020, adding more than 140,000 workers, which is an increase of nearly 40%, according to government figures.

In response to the expected surge in holiday travel, airlines are using their expanded workforces to operate more flights. Southwest Airlines is the most aggressive among the major carriers, planning to offer 13% more seats over Thanksgiving compared to last year's five-day stretch, according to travel data provider Cirium. United and Delta are each growing by 8%, while American Airlines will see a more modest 5% increase but will still have the largest number of seats available.

As travelers prepare for their Thanksgiving journeys, they are urged to stay informed about weather conditions, flight times, and road conditions. While the travel industry has taken measures to enhance preparedness and affordability, unforeseen factors such as severe weather can still impact travel plans.