Travelers paying a steep price for a piece of Mom's pumpkin pie
High prices at the pump won't keep people away from their pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving.
Despite record-high gas prices, the American Automobile Association estimates that 31.2 million people, or 80 percent of all Thanksgiving travelers, expect to make their trips by car this year - an increase of 1.3 percent from the 30.8 million who drove to a Thanksgiving celebration in 2006.
South Bristol resident Melanie Eisenberg will be one of those travelers. She plans on driving six hours to visit her 83-year-old parents in Cuyahoga Falls, near Akron, Ohio.
Eisenberg estimates that the trip costs her $53 or $54 - about a full tank of gas - each way. While the price of gas sometimes makes her think twice about going, she says it's worth it.
"This is the first time that we have seen gas prices topping more than $3 a gallon nationally in the month of November, but that will not prevent Americans from connecting with their loved ones during this time of family gatherings," said Tom Chestnut, president of the AAA of Western and Central New York.
Despite the high cost of fuel, the state Thruway Authority says it expects today and Sunday to be two of the Thruway's busiest days all year, with noon to 8 p.m. being the busiest periods on those days. Last year, more than 4 million vehicles traveled on the Thruway during Thanksgiving weekend.
As of Monday, one gallon of self-serve regular gasoline averaged $3.26 in the Rochester area, up 30 cents from one month ago and 87 cents from one year ago. The statewide average was $3.26 per gallon, up 31 cents from one month ago and 88 cents from one year ago. Gas prices nationwide averaged $3.09 per gallon, up 28 cents from one month ago and 86 cents from one year ago.
In addition to the 31.2 million who will travel by car, the AAA estimates that almost 5 million, or 12.1 percent of, holiday travelers will travel by plane, up 2.2 percent from 2006.
Eisenberg joked that it would not be too much more expensive for her to fly to Ohio than to drive.
In reality, said Bob Arlin of Avanti Travel Service in Farmington, "it is probably still less expensive to drive when you're traveling within a 300- to 400-mile radius."
Those who do choose to fly home for the holiday will likely face delays and long lines at airport security checks on what the travel industry often says are the busiest travel days of the year.
The good news: Airfares are down about 7 percent from this time last year, according to AAA estimates.
Air travelers can also save by booking early, said Arlin. Many airlines allow passengers to purchase tickets as early as 11 months in advance. But customers might not get the rock-bottom fares they see in advertisements, since airlines only offer a handful of their cheapest seats on each flight, he said. And advertised fares don't usually account for taxes, fees or surcharges, all of which add to the total price.
Despite the hassle and cost, Arlin said it looks to be a record year for both road and air travel. Come snow, traffic or astronomical fuel prices, it seems that nothing trumps being home for the holidays.
Contact Hilary Smith at (585) 394-0770, Ext. 343 or at hsmith@mpnewspapers.com.