It’s rarely a shock to see Americans in travel mode before a major holiday weekend but Labor Day 2023 is shaping up to be a barn burner.
If that is, travelers can handle the long airport lines and heavy traffic. That's especially the case if you’re traveling overseas, where bookings are up 44% compared to 4% domestically, according to AAA.
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Consequently, travel consumers can expect close quarters this Labor Day in the skies and at the gates.
“Travelers heading out of town over the long weekend should expect busy airports and long lines,” the travel app Hopper said in a news release.
On the upside, Labor Day wanderlusters can expect some good deals along with those sharp elbows for the holiday weekend. Here are five takeaways from Hopper on what consumers can expect when they hit the open road this Labor Day weekend.
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Lower flight prices. Overall airline ticket prices are down 11% from 2022, to $226 per ticket.
Hotel stays are slightly costlier. Hotel costs are up 3.8% from last year, averaging $215 per night.
Auto rentals will be more affordable. Renting a car this holiday weekend will be less expensive, with prices down 14.5% from 2022.
Airplanes should be full. During the “wraparound” week from Thursday through the Tuesday after Labor Day, more than 20 million seats will be sold on US airlines.
Friday will be the busiest travel day. On Friday, September 1, 3.7 million people will hit the friendly skies, making it the busiest day of the Labor Day weekend. The following Monday will come close, with 3.6 million airline seats filled.
Labor Day revelers may want to purchase flight disruption insurance given the high number of U.S. flights that were canceled or delayed this year.
Hopper also recommends a “buffer day” to buy you time if your Labor Day flight is canceled or otherwise disrupted. The travel platform also advises booking the first flight out in the morning “to steer clear of backed-up tarmacs.”
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