MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — It’s on track to be the busiest holiday for travel ever, and the American Auto Association (AAA) says you can credit that to falling gas prices.

The national average for a gallon of gas is now under $2 a gallon. That is the lowest prices have been since 2009.

Not only are the gas prices contributing to record travel for the holiday — the AAA says the time from Dec. 24 through Jan. 3 will be the busiest days of travel, ever.

Brad Durfee of Little Falls has been driving to Woodbury each Christmas for the last 30 years.

“Gotta do both sides of the family each holiday, so it puts us on the road,” he said. “I keep joking, ‘When do we get to stay home?!’”

Christmas Eve is notoriously a busy day for travel. The number of people traveling has been going up each holiday season for the last seven years.

Triple A says more than 100 million Americans will be traveling this year — a new record.

“It’s certainly nice to see that gas pump not go up so high, dollar-wise,” Durfee said.

Gas prices have dipped below $2 a gallon on average across the country. Here in Minnesota, the average is sitting at $1.87.

With 90 percent of travlers taking their cars, the savings add up — maybe even to add a few more gifts under the Christmas tree.

“We’ll probably spend a little bit more than normal,” Natalie Wiste of Starbuck said.

AAA predicts gas prices will continue to fall after the New Year. But whether they’re up or down, family traditions never change.

AAA says the cost of crude oil is low right now — hence the falling gas prices. However, it will likely start going up when they switch over to summer grade fuel sometime in late March.

This article was originally written by Kate Raddatz for CBSMinnesota.com.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — It’s going to be a busy holiday weekend on the nation’s highways.

AAA estimates a record 43 million Americans will be traveling this Independence Day weekend, topping the record first set in 2007 and matched last year. It’s also 5 million more than the Memorial Day weekend in May.

“This is a record indeed,” AAA spokesman Robert Sinclair, Jr. told WCBS 880’s Sean Adams.

An overwhelming majority of those travelers, more than 84 percent, will be driving, putting some 36 million people on the roads.

Gas prices remain relatively low. AAA puts the nationwide average at $2.31 per gallon, some 47 cents less than a year ago. Those lower prices along with strong consumer confidence and a generally healthy U.S. economy have led more families to take trips this summer.

Sinclair believes gas prices will keep trending downward.

“With this whole Brexit phenomenon and the plunge of crude oil as a result, gas prices probably are even going to get better as we go forward,” he said. “They’re still falling at 3 to 4 cents per gallon per week for the national average so it looks like the trend is going to continue.”

The travel group estimates that U.S. drivers have saved $20 billion on gasoline so far this year compared to the same period last year.

More people are also flying and cruise bookings are up 35 percent over last year, Adams reported.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — It isn’t even Halloween yet, but it might be time to start thinking about holiday travel.

Mark Ellwood, contributing editor for Conde Nast Travel, told CBS2’s Alice Gainer that planning ahead will always lead to a better deal.

Despite what some may say, Ellwood said there are no specific magic booking days.

“Anyone who tells you, ‘Oh 3 p.m. on Tuesday or Saturday is the cheapest day to book,’ don’t believe them. You can get a great deal on a flight anytime you look these days,” he said.

And there’s good news for travelers who don’t want to sit at a computer and do all the legwork: there are some sites that will do it for you.

“Airfairwatchdog will send you an email whenever that route goes on sale. You find out the minute it’s cheap,” Ellwood said.

He also recommended Scott’s Cheap Flights.

“Scott sits there checking where the deals are, sends you an email going, ‘I think I found an amazing price.’ And you can book it before the airlines notice,” he said.

Right now, Southwest Airlines is having its semi-annual 72-hour sale. Some round-trip tickets are less than $100, but the holidays are blacked out. Eligible travel periods run November 30 through December 20 and January 4 through February 15.

Regardless of the cost, Ellwood has one final tip. He suggests travelers sign up for TSA PreCheck.

“This means you’ll get through security way faster,” he said.

Ellwood also said it’s very hard to get a deal in the 11th hour, but booking a flight and hotel package together will help you pay less than you would for a last-minute flight.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Brace yourself for holiday headaches if you plan on flying in or out of LaGuardia Airport next week.

The Port Authority, which operates the airport, issued a travel advisory about possible delays due to construction.

As CBS2’s Hazel Sanchez reported, travelers headed in or out of LaGuardia should be prepared for a traffic nightmare.

The multi-billion dollar plan to renovate the traffic hub will cost a lot of time.

Frequent flyer Susan Howe said it’s already taken a toll on her.

“It’s been really tough. It takes a lot longer, and is a lot less fun,” she said.

As construction crews continue to tear down some of the airports old parking garages and lots to make room for a new and improved travel experience, travelers have lost hundreds of convenient long term parking spaces.

Starting with 6,400 spaces before the project began, there will eventually be 7,200 spaces when the project is complete.

In the mean time, Sam Edwards — manager of Buccaneer Diner about a mile away from LaGuardia — said people are now trying to sneak spots in his restaurant parking lot.

“It’s very busy. I can’t afford to lose one spot. We all park outside. We all have cars here. No one allowed to park in the parking lot except the customers,” he said.

Some roadways and ramps leading to LaGuardia’s main terminal have been shut down to accomodate construction.

The backup got so bad in August, that passengers were exiting their cars on the Grand Central and walking their way in.

Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye said the agency has taken measures to make sure everyone stays safe.

“Added police officers, police more effective than security guards,” Foye said.

Port Authority did open an 1,800 space employee parking lot to the public to accommodate spaces lost during construction.

Many travelers said they’re considering other options to avoid the mess altogether.

“Between here and Newark we don’t have a lot of choices, so I probably look at Newark more often,” one traveler said.

The new 3,000 space garage will be complete in 2018. Travelers said it can’t come soon enough.

If you need to drive and park at the airport, use long term parking lot P-10.

Nearly 350,000 people are expected to use LaGuardia during the Thanksgiving holiday, according to the Port Authority.

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork)– When it comes to Thanksgiving travel plans, some say Friday is the new Wednesday.

As 1010 WINS’ Glenn Schuck reports, a number of area travelers aren’t taking any chances this year. They’re leaving town today, rather than waiting until next Wednesday.

LINK: NY DOT Announces Holiday Gridlock Days

Richard and Laurel Cohen of Stamford, Connecticut are heading to Miami for the holiday. They said they had no problem changing their flight from John F. Kennedy Airport to Newark Airport since normal holiday traffic woes were not a concern.

“No traffic, the Van Wyck doesn’t exist,” Richard joked.

Carol from Teaneck, also hoping to avoid next week’s traffic concerns, was leaving for Wisconsin on Friday.

“I’m not travelling on Thanksgiving weekend anymore” she said. “It can ruin the holiday,” she added.

Whether or not a week with her family will have the same effect, she couldn’t say.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Thanksgiving weekend is known as one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

To counter this year’s rush, local transit agencies have announced additional services to get riders where they need to go.

The Long Island Railroad starts rolling extra trains out on Thanksgiving Eve and continue through Thursday to accommodate riders heading into the city for the Macy’s Parade.

The LIRR will run a normal weekday schedule on Black Friday before adding extra trains on both Saturday and Sunday.

Off-peak rates are in effect Thursday through Sunday, and the Saturday and Sunday adjusted service will continue through the holiday season.

Metro-North will start running extra trains at 1 p.m. Wednesday. On Thanksgiving, they will operate a modified weekend schedule with extra inbound trains to accommodate riders heading in to the Macy’s Parade.

Black Friday will see a modified Saturday schedule with additional inbound trains in the morning and outbound trains in the morning to accommodate bargain hunters.

Saturday and Sunday will return to normal weekend schedules with additional Shoppers’ Specials trains.

New Jersey Transit is offering “early getaway” bus and rail service Wednesday for commuters leaving work early. Additional services will also be provided to customers heading to Newark Liberty International Airport.

Similar to the LIRR and Metro-North, NJ Transit will be offering extra trains and buses to their Thursday morning and midday schedule to accommodate people traveling into the city for the Macy’s Parade.

On Black Friday, enhanced bus service will be offered to shopping centers throughout New Jersey.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Tuesday that service from Journal Square to 33rd Street, closed on weekends since August, will be open and operating throughout the Thanksgiving weekend.

Commuter advocate Jim Cameron tells WCBS 880’s Fran Schneidau that buying your tickets ahead of time may be your best bet, as there’s likely to be a long line of people at the ticket machines.

“Get in, get a seat, get comfy, and left everybody else be the standees,” Cameron says.

Cameron adds that passengers can normally board outgoing trains 15 to 20 minutes prior to departure, so it’s best to get aboard as early as possible.

© 2016 CBS Local Digital Media

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Millions of people were making their way back home Sunday evening as the Thanksgiving weekend wound down.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported delays of about 15 minutes for most area airports, but Tri-State Area airports saw more severe delays on Sunday evening.

CHECK: Local Traffic | Airport Delays

Delays earlier Sunday evening amounted to 45 minutes for arriving flights at Newark Liberty International Airport due to strong winds. Flight times later returned to normal.

Delays at LaGuardia Airport averaged 35 minutes, and at John F. Kennedy International Airport 15 minutes.

There were also several reports of traffic delays on area roadways, but no serious problems were reported.

AAA estimated nearly 49 million Americans would be traveling this weekend.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — As holiday travelers clogged the roads Thursday night, others were hoping to avoid delays at area airports.

CBS2’s Alice Gainer was at LaGuardia Airport, where things were relatively calm. It appeared many people may have already left for the holiday weekend.

Gainer talked to travelers who had just touched down in New York, and for the first time ever, heard no complaints.

“Easy, simple,” one said.

“I was coming from Chicago, which doesn’t have a reputation of being an easy place to come from,” another said.

One thing on the back of travelers’ minds was the recent attack at a Christmas market in Berlin, Germany. At LaGuardia, the security measures were obvious.

“There was more security and evidence, but I don’t want to stop my trip and my enjoyment,” said Margaret Smith, of Chicago.

“I think they have enough security everywhere to prevent anything,” another traveler said.

“I know it’s going to be a safe trip,” said Monica Chung, of Minnesota.

As one of the busiest travel times of the year, statistics show there is a chance your holiday trip might include a stop in the emergency room, CBS2’s Dr. Max Gomez reported.

Jazon Ziegler and his family were packing for a trip to see relatives over the holidays. Unlike a recent vacation, this time they hoped to spend a little more time getting some R&R and less time in the ER.

“I tried to play it off, and the next day I just couldn’t do it anymore and had to go to the emergency room and see what’s going on. I ended up rupturing my eardrum and just had a horrible time the rest of the week,” he said.

A new national survey by Orlando Health shows one out of four Americans had their vacations interrupted by a trip to the ER. Experts there should know, Orlando is not only one of the busiest travel destinations in the country, it’s also home to one of the busiest ERs.

“We really see the gamut. I mean, if you think it you can imagine it, quite honestly, we’ve seen it,” Dr. Steven Corbett said.

Corbett said he treats so many people from so many places, he knows how to say the word “pain” in 17 languages.

He advised people to stay home if they aren’t feeling well to begin with.

“If you’re ill or sick before you leave and you wouldn’t go to work that day, you probably shouldn’t go to your vacation that day as well,” he said.

He said too many people try to push it and end up in the ER, and a surprising number forget to refill their medications before they leave. He suggested using your phone to take photos of prescriptions and uploaded important images or X-rays.

“You’d be surprised by how many people have something brand new or acute, like an operation in their recent past, and have almost no details about who, what or why they had their procedure,” he said.

Always put your medicine in a carry-on bag in case your luggage gets lost.

Lastly, if you’re going out of the country, buy traveler’s insurance. Medicare and some private plans are no good outside of the United States.

Also, pace yourself — drinking too much or eating too many new foods is another way to wind up in the ER. And if you’re heading to a sunny destination, don’t forget to pack sunscreen. It may be winter, but the sun is still strong in Florida and the islands.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Travelers are being urged to pack extra time and patience as millions of Americans rush to be with loved ones this holiday weekend.

AAA presidents 103 million Americans will be traveling between Friday and January 2.

“On average about 25 percent more people will be flying during the Christmas weekend and during the week than any time of the year, I think the only one that’s higher is Thanksgiving,” travel expert Pete Trabucco.

After stormy weather delayed flights on the West Coast earlier this week, passengers nationwide may see some gridlock, CBS2’s Ali Bauman reported.

Check: Traffic | Weather

For those getting a head start on the holiday Thursday night, the departure board at LaGuardia Airport read mostly on time, Bauman reported. The same was true Friday morning.

Travel experts say the busiest time to fly is midday and recommend arriving at least an hour before your flight to leave time for TSA security.

More: Tri-State Guide To Planes, Trains & Automobiles

“You probably want to make sure that you get everybody packed and ready to go, make sure all your liquids are in a bag and that everything is set up, your shoes are off, your belt is off,” Trabucco said.

Holiday traveler Kathy Berger arrived at Newark Liberty Airport about two hours ahead of her scheduled flight to Cincinnati.

“We definitely came early,” she said. “We wanted to make sure we had lots of time. But everything is going really smoothly. So far, so good.”

Aside from lots of people and long lines, there were no major problems at LaGuardia Airport early Friday morning, 1010 WINS’ Carol D’Auria reported.

“The baggage line is slow but it’s normal so far,” said one woman headed to Florida with her 4-year-old daughter.

For a smoother ride, travelers are advised to check the flight status before leaving for the airport, call the airline if you think you’ll miss a connecting flight and be kind to the people behind the counter.

Security is top of mind after the recent attack on the Christmas market in Berlin, but many travelers say protection at area airports is visible.

“I think there is enough security everywhere to prevent anything,” one traveler said.

But the terminals are just the bookends to the holiday trip, staying safe and healthy in between can be challenging as well.

A new national survey by Orlando Health finds 1 out of 4 Americans had their vacation interrupted by an emergency room visit.

“If you’re ill or sick before you leave and you wouldn’t go to work that day, you probably shouldn’t go on your vacation that day as well,” said Dr. Stephen Corbett, a family practice physician.

Experts recommend always putting your medicine in a carry-on bag in case your luggage gets lost.

If you’re going out of the country, buy traveler’s insurance. Medicare and some private plans are no good outside of the United States.

Also, pace yourself — drinking too much or eating too many new foods is another way to wind up in the ER. And if you’re heading to a sunny destination, don’t forget to pack sunscreen. It may be winter, but the sun is still strong in Florida and the islands.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – There’s still no solution for a computer glitch putting Christmas travel plans in jeopardy for American Airlines customers.

Hundreds of flights might not be able to leave the ground, leaving passengers wondering what to do.

As CBS2’s Marc Liverman reported, it might be a little harder to get into the holiday spirit this year for passengers scheduled to fly North America’s largest airline.

“I’m waiting for American to solve it,” one woman said.

MORE FROM CBS NEWS

The Allied Pilots Association estimates 15,000 flights between December 17 and 31 are at risk of being cancelled because they don’t have a full crew.

“I feel very sorry, you know, people work very hard, and I really hope they get onto their flights,” said passenger Boruch Schlander.

“I think it’s terrible and it’s mismanagement,” another woman added.

The pilots union told CBS News a glitch in the computer system American uses for scheduling did not account for the busier holiday travel season – meaning not enough pilots to fly all the planes.

“Obviously, American does not want to be the airline equivalent of Scrooge and cancel a lot of people’s vacations,” said airline analyst Henry Harteveldt.

The airline is planning to use reserve crews and offer to pay up to 150 percent of the hourly rate to pilots who pick up certain open trips. So far, it isn’t offering any passenger refunds.

“I would hope American would be good for it,” one man said.

Whether American pays or not, some passengers say they will eat the cost and book a second flight on a different airline.

“I’d bite the bullet, because I’m not going to wait,” said passenger Annette Nettles. “Christmas is a holiday that every family spends together.”

Even if that means an extra few hundred dollars for a backup ticket.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Holiday travel is typically a major headache and Thursday could end up being the worst travel day of the year across the Tri-State.

A gridlock alert was in force for the city Thursday, meaning officials were asking people to use mass transit in the hopes that it will help clear up congestion on the roads.

AAA expected the city to have the worst congestion in the nation with drivers seeing travel times triple between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Thursday as evening commuters mixed with holiday traffic.

Chopper 2 was above LaGuardia Airport traffic Thursday afternoon, where more than 20 planes full of passengers were lined up and ready for takeoff, and that’s when things were going well.

“No one ever misses their Christmas flight, so I am worried about getting bumped off,” Meredith Johnston said.

On Wednesday evening, some travelers ditched their vehicles and walked along the shoulder of the Grand Central Parkway with their luggage up to LaGuardia Airport.

“Took us two and a half hours to get here,” traveler Jewel Adams said. “We sat in front of Terminal B for about an hour, so we decided to walk so we won’t miss out flight.”

“We thought the traffic was going to be bad but it was fine,”one traveler told CBS2’s Magdalena Doris on Thursday.

Rapper Jim Jones isn’t immune from having to travel travel through busy LGA or from getting last-minute gifts. He was spotted at the airport and told Doris he hadn’t even gotten a tree yet.

Elsewhere, security has also been tightened at spots around the city. Cars were randomly stopped and searched at the RFK Bridge heading into Manhattan.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says it’s pro-active response after two terror attacks on the city in the last six weeks.

“I want to make sure that when the public sees this activity, that they’re not alarmed. We don’t have any information that has caused us to increase security. This is just out of an abundance of caution,” Cuomo said Tuesday.

AAA says 107.3 million Americans will travel between Saturday and New Year’s Day, the highest on record and a 3.1 percent increase from last year.

Of those travelers, AAA predicts 94 million people will hit the roads and 6 million will take to the skies.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Wind and wintry weather caused delays at airports across the country Saturday, as millions of Americans traveled to their holiday destinations.

AAA estimates a record 107 million Americans will celebrate the holidays away from home this year, with 6.5 million taking to the skies.

More: Latest Forecast | Traffic 

At John F. Kennedy International Airport, CBS2’s Jessica Borg found travelers hovering around the arrivals board for information that could change from hour to hour.

“Been here a while, not super fun,” said Brooklyn resident Sean Martin, whose friend’s flight from Rochester had several delays. “I knew it was going to be one hour, then I was here, then it was another hour, and then I’m here — it’s just been dragging on forever.”

“She’s finally here,” he added.

Alfred Arian’s brother-in-law’s flight from Egypt was also delayed, but he considered himself lucky.

“I was really expecting that there’s going to be a delay. I think the airplane was up there for like half an hour until they give the OK to land, that’s why,” he said. “I’m assuming there are a lot of delays here. It’s a holiday — Christmas.”

For some, the reunions were worth the wait. James Shield, of Astoria, Queens, was delighted to see his son come in from Holland.

“I’m happy to have this guy here for Christmas,” he said. “Wish everybody at home a Merry Christmas!” 

Ben told 1010 WINS’ Carol D’Auria he drove from Philadelphia to JFK pick up his son, Alex, who just finished studying in Brussels. He said he will never make the holiday trip again.

“Once you get across the Verrazano Bridge, it’s nasty,” he said. “Maybe at 3 a.m. it’s OK, but any other time it’s not fun.”

Alex, however, said getting through the airport was actually a breeze.

“I got through baggage, and security and everything — customs — in five minutes,” he said.

The father and son then hit the road to head back to Philly, joining the more than 9.7 million people traveling by car between December 12 and January 1. 

Over the past 20 years, Lily says she’s spent the holidays in South Carolina. As a result, she’s become accustomed to the drive.

“Just taking it easy,” she told WCSB 880’s Kelly Waldron at a rest area along the New Jersey Turnpike. “Whenever I get there, I’ll get there.”

An already-exacerbated Ray was on his way to Atlanta from the Big Apple.

“Our plan was actually to leave a little earlier but we have a baby, a pregnant woman, and an old lady in the back so things don’t normally go as planned,” he said.

Ray said his goal was to beat the traffic in Virginia but unfortunately, he said, he’ll likely drive right into it.

The inclement weather could also mean problems for people expecting last-minute deliveries from FedEx. The company says wind created delays at its Memphis hub overnight.

If you’re expecting a package delivery, check the FedEx website or app for updates.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – It’s only September, but experts say you should book your holiday travel sooner than later.

New data shows now might be the best time for cheap flights.

Should you buy now to avoid the price surge, or wait and hope they will drop? According to new data trends from Google’s travel team, if you want to save, don’t wait.

Regardless of the destination, Google says airfares will likely go up 75 days before departure, then again 35 days before.

In fact, the company says if you wait to book your trip until October, you will likely see a 95 percent increase. If you procrastinate until November, there will likely be another 30 percent hike.

Not all experts agree, though.

Travel website Hipmunk says it’s not too late to book next month. It says the first week in October is the optimal time for Thanksgiving flights.

Whichever you choose, experts recommend flying on Thanksgiving Day for the cheapest flights and smallest crowds. Instead of flying back the day after Thanksgiving, extend your trip and return midweek if possible.

You might also want to think twice about traveling with holiday gifts. Avoid paying extra baggage fees by shipping presents in advance or shopping online and having them delivered to your destination.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Travel experts are already predicting the busiest Thanksgiving season at the airport on record.

This year’s holiday is also expected to last longer than normal, CBS2’s Natalie Duddridge reported Tuesday.

The lineups at LaGuardia Airport are still calm, but in just over a week it will be mobbed.

MORE: Experts Say Now Is The Time To Book Your Holiday Travel

The Transportation Security Administration is projecting this Thanksgiving will see 25 million travelers, 7 percent more people flying than last year.

“I try to get out before the rush. Saturday to Saturday so the Saturday before Thanksgiving,” traveler Barbara O’Hare said.

O’Hare is one of thousands who plan to start their holidays even sooner than usual, as early as Nov. 16, making the Thanksgiving rush last a full 10 days until Nov. 26.

“People are trying to get a jump-start, head start on the crowds, but actually it’s just as busy the Friday before Thanksgiving and the Monday before Thanksgiving,” TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said. “It starts to ramp up on Tuesday. Wednesday is huge, of course, the day before Thanksgiving. And Sunday, right after Thanksgiving, is probably one of the busiest days.

“More people, indeed, are traveling, so here at LaGuardia Airport we are going to see just tens of thousands more passengers coming through the checkpoint,” Farbstein added.

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

But even though travelers are staggering their travel start dates, the TSA says each individual day at the airport is not going to be any less crazy.

As many as 50,000 people are expected to pass through LaGuardia daily. At John F. Kennedy Airport, that number doubles to 100,000 each day. And around 70,000 are predicted at Newark Liberty Airport’s security checkpoints.

“I tried traveling last year on the day and it was just packed and I thought traveling on the day would be easier. It was almost worse,” traveler Jo Holcomb said.

So to make the mayhem flow a little easier, the TSA’s advice is arrive early and be prepared.

And that means knowing what to pack.

Turkey and stuffing are allowed in carry-on bags. So are pies and cakes, because they’re considered solids.

But no gravy or mashed potatoes because they’re considered a liquid.

“So a popular Thanksgiving dish is yams. If it’s wet and already made liquid it has to go in checked baggage. If it’s not made yet, dry yams that can go in carry-on baggage,” said the TSA’s Shatimah Brathwaite.

MORE: New 3-D Scanners Spot Explosives Older Machines Could Miss, TSA Says

If you’re still not sure what you can or can’t bring on board, there’s an app for that. All you need to do is download My TSA, type in your question and you’ll get an answer.

For example, travelers cannot bring sparklers on board, but can bring knitting needles.

All of those travelers will stagger en route to their destination, but the madness happens when they all come back on the same two days, Sunday and Monday.

The TSA says you can bring wrapped gifts on board, but it’s not recommended. Why not? Because if it sets off an x-ray machine officials will have to unwrap it to find out what’s inside.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — It’s hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is only a week from Thursday.

This holiday travel season is expected to be the busiest since 2005. The Transportation Security Administration is assuring the public that it is ready, CBS2’s Hilary Lane reported Tuesday.

Diego Palacios and his family are among millions of Americans planning to fly for the Thanksgiving holiday.

“I think it’s an exciting time to disconnect and have fun with the family,” he said of his planned trip to Mexico.

AAA projects more than 54 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more this year. The TSA expects a record number of airline passengers.

“U.S. airlines are planning for 30.6 million people to travel,” said Sharon Pinkerton, the senior VP of Airlines for America.

MORE: TSA Warns: 2018 Thanksgiving Travel Will Be Unprecedented

TSA officials anticipate the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday will be the busiest, but said they’re ready to meet the demand.

“We have additional staff at all our checkpoints and throughout our airports. We have additional canine team. We have new X-ray technology, new credential authentication technology,” TSA administrator David Pekoske said.

The TSA is urging everyone to pack smart and enroll in trusted traveler programs. At New York’s LaGuardia Airport, some fliers said it’s a time saver.

“Every time I travel it makes it so much faster for me,” Cindy Segovia told CBS2’s Lane.

For those planning to hit the road, travel times in the most congested cities could be as much as four times longer than normal, with drivers in San Francisco, New York City and Boston expected to see the longest delays.

It will also take more time to get to the airport.

“Pack a little extra patience and serenity,” said Todd Hopley of the American Association of Airport Executives.

TSA officials said they continue to deal with persistent security threats. They’re asking travelers to report suspicious activities and Congress for more money to help keep passengers safe.

SECAUCUS, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts more people traveling this Thanksgiving than in the last 13 years.

So how can you avoid traffic and how should you prepare in case you do get caught in it?

If brake lights bring you flashbacks of last week’s traffic during the snowstorm – when Manhattan froze in gridlock and drivers were stuck on highways up to ten hours – then you’re probably not looking forward to Thanksgiving travel.

MORE: New Yorkers Left Stranded After Snowstorm Causes Widespread Issues With MTA Buses

“I thought I’d try a day earlier to beat the traffic but I still hit it,” Chris Minidas of Boston told CBS2’s Ali Bauman.

“If you leave any time in the evening over the next few days you’re gonna hit traffic, it’s unavoidable,” Robert Sinclair of AAA warns.

Sinclair said Tuesday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. is likely the worst time to hit the road.

Last Thursday really, really sticks in people’s minds as far as how bad traffic can be so they really want to get out ahead of time, but just shifting the rush from one day to another,” Sinclair explained.

AAA predicts the heaviest traffic in our area will be at:

• The 495 Viaduct from the Lincoln Tunnel to the New Jersey Turnpike
• The Hutchinson River Parkway
• The Belt Parkway

“We’re anticipating 300,000 breakdowns just our members over the holiday travel period,” Sinclair added.

Police advise drivers to check tires, fill up tanks, and charge phones before leaving.

Even a plane ticket doesn’t get you off the hook. AAA says flights are up compared to this week last year.

Friday, traffic was so bad outside LaGuardia Airport people had to run past the gridlock to make their flights.

The Port Authority says it’s putting extra traffic agents at the terminals and positioning tow trucks for quick response.

AAA also warns to be weary of traffic-tracking GPS. They’re usually best for short distances, but if you blindly follow navigation for too long, Sinclair said it can take you down convoluted routes that don’t save much time.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – It’s the official start of the holiday travel season. Experts say more than 107 million Americans will plan a winter getaway and if you’re one of them – you’d better start booking now.

From sun soaked beaches to adventure filled getaways, there’s something for everyone, and at some tempting prices.

“It’s a buyer’s market for the first time in years. Domestic airfares on average are down 24 percent over last year at the same time,” CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg said.

Greenberg says to target destinations like Toronto, Boston, and Orlando for the best savings.

“The normal window for getting good deals is 25 to 54 days out. So you’re just about at the 25-day mark right now, better do it within the next week.”

Greenberg also says add some warm weather destinations to your wish list too.

“A number of Caribbean islands that were hurt last year are starting to come back which means they need us.”

He adds there should be room on planes and in hotels at “welcome back” prices. For travelers looking to score a bargain, there are Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals too.

Margaritaville resort in Grand Cayman is offering 50 percent off. Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic has 35 to 50 percent off accommodations.

Mehak Hassan of Liberty Travel says agents there don’t charge for their services and they have lots of good deal destinations available.

“With some partners, 30 percent off, with others 55 percent off,” Hassan told CBS2’s Jessica Layton.

Hassan also suggests to check out the west coast of Mexico, but she says this still can be a stressful time to travel and offers one piece of advice.

“Give yourself some time, make use of the deals that are in place be flexible.”

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Make sure to give yourself plenty of time if you’re hitting the road, flying or taking the train today.

Sunday is one of the busiest travel days of the year. It’s when most people head home after Thanksgiving.

Some passengers on an Amtrak Acela train bound for Boston were stuck for at least six hours outside of Penn Station, apparently due to a power problem.

“We left at 9:40 on time. We pulled out of the tunnel. About five minutes out of the tunnel, we stopped,” passenger Nicholas Yeh told CBS2’s Marc Liverman. “They didn’t tell us much until they started to tell us… the connections to the wires were broken. It was maybe an hour, an hour and a half when they finally started opening the doors to the cabins so that we could start getting more fresh air. One of the bad things though is that without power, none of the bathrooms flush.”

Yeh praised the conductors, saying they have been communicative with the passengers. They told passengers that due to where the train had become stuck it wouldn’t be safe for them to get off.

“The power went off very early and we didn’t really know what was happening when it just stopped. After about 30 minutes they made an announcement, saying there was trouble,” said passenger Sabrina Fleischman. “Because the toilets are powered by the power, we had no power, so they couldn’t flush. So they were all backed up, and they ended up closing all the bathrooms, because it was unsanitary for people to actually go in there.”

Amtrak connected a diesel engine to help move the train, Yeh said.

The long delay on the train rattled passengers.

“Nearing four hours, people started to get a little bit unsettled,” said Fleischman. “They were complaining to, I believe it was the conductor and the people working, telling them there was an odor coming out of the bathroom.”

At one point, one passenger wound up calling the police because Amtrak wouldn’t let the passengers leave, Fleischman said.

Experts believe the number of people flying could set a record, with the TSA potentially screening more than three million travelers.

“Normally for us we’re in the low two millions. So to get up to three million, that’s a significant surge,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske.

If you’re driving and hoping to avoid post-Thanksgiving traffic, experts say you should have left Saturday.

They urged drivers traveling Sunday to leave before 3 p.m., after which traffic is expected to be the worst in New York City.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – AAA is predicting that this holiday season will be a record-breaking year.

WEB EXTRA: Read AAA’s complete travel forecast (.pdf)

Numbers released Thursday morning show that 112.5 million people are expected to be traveling in the air and on the roads. That’s a 4.4 percent increase over last year’s number. It’s also the highest number of travelers since AAA started tracking holiday travel in 2001. It breaks down like this:

• 102.1 million people are expected to travel by car
• 6.7 million people will travel by air
• 3.7 million will travel by trains, buses and cruise ships

Watch: AAA’s Robert Sinclair On Holiday Travel

Robert Sinclair of AAA stopped by CBSN New York’s studios to talk with Alex Denis about the forecast.

“We’re anticipating in some cities as much as a quadrupling of travel time. Atlanta’s the worst, and New York’s right behind. So if a normal trip takes one hour, it’s going to take four hours,” Sinclair said.

Data released by AAA shows that Thursday, Dec. 20 from 9:30 – 10:30 p.m. will be the worst time for travel in New York City.

Sinclair told Denis that there are more cars on the road. Just in New York City alone, between 2012 and 2017 the number of registrations for passenger vehicles has gone from 1,776,536 to 1,925,041, an 8.2 percent increase.

“We’ve seen and additional 146,000 vehicles registered in the City of New York over the past five years. An additional 52,000 for-hire vehicles, the Ubers and Lyfts of the world, in a place where it’s so difficult to be a vehicle owner,” Sinclair said.

Sinclair’s advice for travelers?

• Timing is everything. Leave early if you can.
• Drive with the aid of an app that uses real time traffic data
• Consider alternate routes
• Travel on the holiday itself. Most people leave before the holiday, and that’s when you’ll hit the most traffic.

In addition to the holiday travel hangups, you should also be aware of Gridlock Alert days. Both today and Friday – as well as next Thursday and Friday – are Gridlock Alert days in New York City.