Expected record-breaking holiday travel rush begins

AAA predicts 50.7 million people will travel this Independence Day, setting a record for the holiday. The FAA says Thursday will be the heaviest travel day over the weekend.

At Pittsburgh International Airport, travelers made their way through TSA checkpoints bright and early.

“Little anxious, just because it’s a holiday weekend travel. Feeling pretty good. Just retired yesterday, so heading out to Arizona to see my sister” said Kelly Worhatch.

This Independence Day vacation is special for Worhatch.

“First vacation in 43 years. I am not going to be opening a laptop or checking an email. It feels good,” said Worhatch.

Check-in lines kept a steady pace in Pittsburgh. Across the country, travelers faced delays and cancellations at East Coast airports, due to severe summer weather along with staffing shortages.

Even though Pittsburgh hasn’t seen those issues, the situation is on a lot of minds.

“We use TSA pre-check and checked in online, and just got to hope for the best,” said Jennifer Martindale

Officials say the peak hours are typically 5 to 8 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. That’s when most travelers come through the airport.

“Friday through Wednesday, we’re gonna have about 185,000 total seats on airplanes in Pittsburgh departing and arriving, which is a significant increase,” said Public Affairs Manager Matt Neistein.

From the skies to the highways and roads, AAA says lower gas prices mean more Americans are taking the roads.

“Our top emergency road service calls are battery service, lockout service, tire changes, and, of course, when all that fails, towing. So you want to be sure to check your vehicle,” said Tiffany Stanley, AAA East Central spokesperson.

Whether you plan to drive or fly, AAA advises you to leave early to give yourself enough time for any delays or unexpected issues.

If you’re driving to the airport, reserve parking online ahead of time because parking fills up quickly over holiday weekends.

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