Holiday travel season begins

AUSTIN (AP) - This Thanksgiving, 42.5 million people in the United States are expected to hit the road to visit family and friends -- the highest number of holiday travelers since the start of the recession.

Travelers headed out of town by plane packed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.  As of 5 a.m., lines at the ticket counters were full. 

Airport officials at ABIA said the typical rush the day before Thanksgiving takes place between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Those picking up travelers at the airport can wait in the new cell phone parking lot. It's located off the exit prior to the airport, labeled as the "cargo" exit.  This parking lot is free and has restrooms and screens that list arrival and departure times.

Travel tracker AAA said 4 percent more Americans than last year will journey at least 50 miles from home, with about 90 percent of them driving. Another 8 percent plan to fly, but AAA notes that higher airfares and less available seats have forced many would-be fliers to drive instead. The remaining travelers plan to take buses, trains or other forms of transport.

This is the third consecutive Thanksgiving that Americans have taken to the road in higher numbers than in the past year.

The increase in holiday travel is welcome news for an industry that has been struggling to get Americans back on the road. Memorial Day saw no increase in vacations and travel was down for both Fourth of July and Labor Day breaks. AAA said Americans are willing to spend now because they want to spend time with their family.

"As consumers weigh the fear of economic uncertainty and the desire to create lasting family memories this holiday, more Americans are expected to choose family and friends over frugality," said AAA Travel Services Vice President Bill Sutherland in a statement.

Those driving should expect to pay more at the pump. The average price of a gallon of gas so far this November is $3.42, up nearly 20 percent from last year's $2.86, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. That means for every 100 miles a family drives this holiday, they should expect to spend about $2.50 more on gas.

Rates for mid-range hotels are expected to increase 6 percent from last year ago -- with travelers spending an average of $145 a night. Lower-priced motels are seeing a 7-percent increase to $103.

Weekend daily car rental rates will average $37, an 11-percent drop from last year.

AAA said Thanksgiving airfares are 20 percent higher than last year with an average lowest round-trip rate of $212 for the top 40 U.S. air routes. That estimate is much higher than a 4-percent increase predicted by both Orbitz and Priceline. Those companies said the average airfare was closer to $400.

Note: Airlines report quarterly airfares but don't break out prices for specific holidays.

The findings are based on a survey of 1,357 people in the U.S., 543 who said they plan to travel.