Cheap gas and plane tickets means a busy Labor Day weekend
Gas prices are the cheapest in four years and domestic airline fares are down 6%.
Whether you’re traveling by planes, trains or automobiles, you’ll have a lot of company this Labor Day weekend. Analysts said we could see a record-breaking number of travelers thanks to cheaper gas prices and domestic airline tickets.
Marta Cristaldo is spending the holiday weekend moving a dog all way from California.
“I’m bringing Kona,” she said. “She’s moving from Los Angeles to New Hampshire. That will be her new home.”
Cristaldo is among the millions taking advantage of the lowest gas prices in four years.
“The bigger thing pushing prices lower this year has really been OPEC, who earlier this year raised production,” said Patrick De Haan, with Gas Buddy. “That’s pushed the price of oil down.”
So far, drivers said that traffic has been tolerable.
“Actually, it’s been pretty good. It’s not that bad,” said Bill Medina, of North East, Maryland. “We just drove through the George Washington Bridge. We thought we’d hit a lot more traffic.”
Medina and his wife are headed to a wedding in Meriden.
“Stay in your lane, you know, be patient,” he said. “Don’t weave in and out of traffic.”
To beat the rush, AAA suggests leaving between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Saturday. Coming home on Monday, the worst time to travel is between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
The airports might be even busier. With fares down 6% this holiday, the TSA expects a record 17 million passengers. And one of the top destinations is New York City.
So maybe Interstate 95 isn't so bad after all.
“Be nice to each other,” said Tim Gagnon, a truck driver from Chicopee, Mass. “Give people space. Don’t cut trucks off!” And if you get stuck in traffic, at least the weather is nice.
“It’s a beautiful day,” said Eden Villeva, of Westchester County, N.Y. “Looks nice, so we’re enjoying it.”
