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As Charlotteans gear up for Thanksgiving travel this week, they confront a mix of good and bad news that could affect their journeys.
For air travelers:
There's more parking at the airport starting this morning with the planned opening of the new business valet parking deck and its 5,000 spaces.
But the price of air travel has increased in recent months with added holiday fare surcharges and baggage fees. Still, it remains slightly lower than last Thanksgiving.
And for drivers:
Gas is more expensive nationwide than a year ago. The average price for gas in Charlotte this week is $2.61 a gallon. Last year, it was $1.94 a gallon.
Highway problems are possible in two key spots. If you're driving west on I-40, be prepared for a detour through the mountains starting at Asheville and ending in Tennessee. Crews are still clearing an October rockslide. And if you're heading up I-85, one lane will be closed in each direction around mile marker 113 near High Point.
Overall, more North Carolinians are expected to travel this Thanksgiving holiday than last year, an encouraging economic sign, according to AAA Carolinas.
About a million North Carolinians - a few percent more than last year - are expected to leave home for the holiday, similar to a national trend.
In a survey conducted for the national AAA, some respondents said they feel they've sacrificed enough due to economic woes, said Byrnes.
Others are planning to find hotel deals or to stay with family for free, he said.
While many airfares are still 2 percent to 4 percent less than what they were a year ago, the gap is closing quickly, Tom Parsons, chief executive of BestFares.com, told Market Watch.
Bookings at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport are down 3 to 5 percent, according to airport spokeswoman Haley Gentry. Peak travel will be on Wednesday, she said.
Byrnes said the shift from air to car travel is economic. Travelers are fed up with extra airline baggage fees, holiday travel surcharges and increasing fares.
With fewer air travelers and a new deck, airport parking should be more convenient. At the new deck, which costs $10 a day, a valet parks your car and a waiting shuttle bus spirits you to the terminal in about two minutes, an airport official estimated.
Other than the more expensive curbside valet located at the terminal, the new deck is the fastest way to park and get to your flight, said Gentry. There are also special services available for a fee, such as car detailing and oil changes, she said.
