AAA: More to Travel Over Labor Day

AAA is forecasting more travelers on the roads and in the air this Labor Day than during last year’s holiday.

Nationwide, AAA expects 34.4 million people to travel at least 50 miles over Labor Day, up nearly 10% from last year’s 31.3 million.

AAA East Central spokeswoman Bevi Powell says there is “pent-up demand” for a Labor Day jaunt among many Americans, as a down economy caused travel rates to fall last year.

Powell says while job growth is disappointing, factors like gross domestic product and household net worth are recovering. She says that growth is allowing many families to take one last vacation as summer winds down.

However, Powell says some travel costs will be higher this year than last year.

“Airfares are up about 9%, car rentals are up about 7%, hotel rates… three-diamond hotels are up about 6%, and two-diamond is up about 2%,” says Powell.

Cars remain the most popular mode of holiday travel. Of Pennsylvanians, 1.1 million expect to drive while 66,000 anticipate flying.