In The Know - Short's December 2024 News

Our external newsletter is your go-to for the latest travel news. Be sure to check it out every month to stay in the know!

INDUSTRY NEWS

Record Number of Holiday Travelers Expected to Close Out 2024  

AAA projects 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home over the year-end holiday period* from Saturday, December 21 to Wednesday, January 1. This year’s domestic travel projection narrowly surpasses the previous record set in 2019 by 64,000 travelers. AAA expects an additional 3 million travelers this holiday season compared to last year. 

“This is the time of year when lifelong memories are made with loved ones, and travel plays a big role in that,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “This year, with Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, we’re anticipating record-breaking travel numbers the weekend before and the weekend after the holiday.”...read more 

Check Wait Times

The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provide information on wait times at airports and border crossings.

TSA screenings are detailed checks that can cause high wait times. Download My TSA application to check and post airport delays reported by fellow travelers in real time, confirm what items can be brought through security, and review other tips for travelers from TSA.

Travelers crossing land borders can download the Border Wait Time application to access wait times. Wait times are updated hourly and listed for commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles and pedestrians.

The Border Wait Time application, is available for mobile phones and features RSS feeds...read more 

REAL ID Deadline

Beginning May 7, 2025, a REAL ID-compliant license or an acceptable alternative will be required for domestic air travel and access to federal facilities. Travelers without the proper ID will not be permitted to pass through security checkpoints after this date.

To ensure that your student athletes, staff, and associated personnel have the necessary identification for future travel, please consider the following steps..read more

DOT proposes required compensation for airline delays and cancellations

Under a proposal put forward by the Transportation Department on Dec. 5, airlines would have to compensate passengers for cancellations and delays of more than three hours.

The rule would apply only in cases where the delay or cancellation is the fault of the airline and not caused by external factors such as weather. 

The DOT has yet to develop a specific proposal on compensation amounts and is asking for public feedback on the subject. As a starting point, the department said it is considering a tiered approach, starting at between $200 and $300 for domestic delays of at least three hours but less than six. The DOT is contemplating passenger payments of $375 to $525 for delays of at least six hours and compensation of between $750 and $775 for longer delays....read more

TRAVEL TIPS

Avoid the crowds: The best, worst times to drive (or fly) for Christmas and New Year's

Holiday travelers, get ready. This year, an unprecedented number of people are set to hit the roads and skies for their year-end celebrations.

This year, AAA predicts 119.3 million people will be traveling more than 50 miles starting from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1. That's 3 million more than last year and 64,000 more than 2019. Nearly 90% of these travelers will be driving to their destinations, although the 7.85 million air passengers are also record-breaking.

"This is the time of year when lifelong memories are made with loved ones, and travel plays a big role in that," Vice President of AAA Travel Stacey Barber said in a statement. "This year, with Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, we’re anticipating record-breaking travel numbers the weekend before and the weekend after the holiday."...read more