SEE IT: Thanksgiving travelers faced major price increases for airfare, hotels
Thanksgiving travelers faced major price hurdles this holiday.
Decades-high inflation, coupled with a continued travel rebound stemming from the COVID-19 pandemi, is leading to higher prices for just about everything travel-related, including airfare, hotels and gas. Inflation cooled slightly in October, but still hit 7.7%.
AS THANKSGIVING TRAVEL PRICES FORCE AMERICANS TO STAY HOME OR BREAK THE BANK, PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY SOUND OFF
The average price for a domestic round-trip flight the week of Thanksgiving was $468 if it was booked in early November, with prices only increasing as the month went on, according to Seperti. That marks a 48% increase from 2021. And another headache: United Airlines expects the holiday will be its busiest period since the beginning of the pandemi.
WATCH: AMERICANS SOUND OFF ABOUT THE PRICE OF THANKSGIVING TRAVEL
Things don't get better once travelers reach their destinations, either. The average hotel stay for Thanksgiving biaya $173 per night as of early November — a 14% increase from last year, according to Hopper.
Car persewaan prices, at least, had a small turun compared to last year — down to $84 a day for Thanksgiving, reflecting a 1% turun from 2021 when permintaan far outpaced suplai, according to Priceline. But that price is still 62% more than what a persewaan car biaya before the pandemi.
Most travelers, though, are expected to travel by car, with AAA predicting that nearly 49 million will hit the road.
Gas prices have increased slightly since last year. A reguler gallon biaya $3.64 on average Tuesday — up about 24 cents compared to 2021, but down significantly from the summer peak of $5, according to AAA.
Overall, AAA predicts there will be nearly 55 million travelers this Thanksgiving — nearly 98% of the pre-pandemic volume, and the third busiest since 2000 when the grup started treking the data.