Book your flights for Thanksgiving now, and expect your plane to be packed with other travelers, flight-related groups are advising. A Hotwire survey found 78% of people who expected to travel during Thanksgiving week had not yet booked their flights, hotels or cars. About 24 million people are expected to fly during the holiday period, up by 150,000 passengers from last year, said industry trade group Airlines for America. However, fewer planes will be flying because airlines have grounded some to cut expenses. Consequently, cabins could be 90% full on the busiest travel days, Wednesday, November 21st, Sunday, November 25th and Monday, November 26th, Airlines for America said. Flyers also might check flights at smaller airports for cheaper tickets. According to TripAdvisor’s Thanksgiving travel survey, 35% of travelers are planning to travel this Thanksgiving. Although airfares are on the rise, 38% of those traveling for Thanksgiving plan to fly to their destination, while 58% intend to drive. Other findings from TripAdvisor’s survey:

Peak Thanksgiving Travel Days:

  • 31% - Thanksgiving Day, November 22
  • 28% - Wednesday, November 21
  • 19% - Earlier than Monday, November 19
  • Half of travelers will head home on Sunday, November 25 or later.


Distances Traveled for Thanksgiving:

  • 41% - Traveling more than 500 miles
  • 26% - Traveling between 100-300 miles
  • 18% - Traveling 300-500 miles
  • 70 percent will drive at “off-peak” hours to try and avoid the worst of the Thanksgiving holiday traffic.


Effect of Rising Airfares:

  • 47% of travelers said rising airfares impacted their Thanksgiving travel – here are the top three ways they were affected:
  • 41% - Booked their flight early
  • 35% - Will drive to their destination instead of fly
  • 3% - Still waiting for prices to come down


What Travelers Plan to Spend on Thanksgiving Travel:

  • 38% will spend more on Thanksgiving travel this year than in 2011, 46% will spend the same, and 10% will spend less. Among those traveling, 46% will spend $500 or less on their Thanksgiving travel.


The top U.S. destinations travelers will visit:
1. New York City
2. Boston
3. Los Angeles
4. Orlando
5. Philadelphia

Where Travelers are Staying for Thanksgiving:

  • 47% Will stay at the home of family or friends
  • 33% Will hunker down in a hotel, and
  • 8% Will kick back in a vacation rental.


Appetite for Technology:
Among those traveling for Thanksgiving, 47% will use a smartphone or tablet device to plan or assist in their Turkey Day travel. The top uses for smartphones or tablet devices during Thanksgiving travel include:

  • 80% - Checking the weather
  • 51% - Researching restaurants
  • 51% - GPS navigation
  • 38% - Checking the status of a flight
  • 27% - Researching a destination