(Radio Iowa) – Roadways and airports have been crowded during the holiday periods all through this year and it looks like that is not going to ease up next week for Thanksgiving. Triple-A Iowa spokesman, Brian Ortner: “Triple-A’s Thanksgiving holiday travel forecast is showing that we’re gonna, you know, again, set all time highs for travel nationally and within our region. You know that we’re a part of here in Iowa, the west north-central region,” he says. That region includes Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri, and South Dakota, along with Iowa. Ortner says travel will surpass what we saw prior to the pandemic.

“If we go back and look at 2019, for our region, we had about six-point-three (6.3) million total travelers back in 2019 so we’re six-point-four now,”Ortner says. “Across our region and nationally, we had just over 77 million back in 2019 and over 79 million this year. And that’s an increase over that time and as in 2023 as well.” While the roadways will be busy, traveling will cost a little less.

“The good thing we can say is people are seeing lower pump prices than we saw last year. You know, in our region, with five-point eight million folks hitting the roads, that’s going to be a welcome addition to the travel plans,” he says. across the state. Iowa has a statewide average of two-dollars-73 cents for a gallon of fuel, which is less than the national average, which is at three-oh-six.

Ortner has one word to describe what it will be like for those who are flying for Thanksgiving. “Busy. Let’s just say that. Again, with the record numbers that are going to be taken to the air in our region, 296-thousand folks going to be taken to the airways. And I know people don’t like to hear it to say to plan accordingly, leave early, get to the airports early if you can. Be there two to three hours before your flight,” he says. He says the flight delays that have been a problem, appear to be getting better.

“You know, compared to what we were seeing like two years ago, I know there was a lot of issues then, that decreased last year,” Ortner says, “and haven’t heard anything in relation to that this year. But again, plan for the unexpected, because you never know whether you’re flying or you’re driving.” Ortner says make sure you know your options for a change of flight before you leave and have your information with you for your travel agent. If you booked yourself, have the app, the customer service line available to be able to make those changes if they would need to happen.