ATLANTA — The number of Americans planning to travel this Memorial Day is expected to increase, but only slightly, according to AAA.
The auto club is predicting a 0.2 percent increase in the number of Americans planning to travel at least 50 miles during Memorial Day weekend (Thursday through Monday). A total of 34.9 million Americans are projected to hit the road despite higher gas prices than last Memorial Day.
“The rising fuel costs this year have had a more significant affect on those with lower household discretionary spends since filling up their tank takes a bigger cut of their overall budget,” Brent Hubele, vice president, Travel, AAA Auto Club South, said in a news release. “Compared to last year, we have seen a shift in traveler demographics as a result of increased gas prices.”
Travel among people who make more than $100,000 is expected to increase by 5 percent while travel among people making between $50,000 and $100,000 looks to increase by 6 percent.
Interestingly, the number of Americans planning to fly this year increased 11.5 percent while the number of people driving is projected to decrease by 0.3 percent. Travel by other modes — such as buses and rail — looks to decrease by 12 percent, AAA is predicting.
“The change in travelers’ profile and party size and composition is the main reason we are seeing an increase in airline travel this year, despite increased airfares and associated fees,” said Hubele. “The increase in air travel is also why we there is an increase in total distance traveled from last year.”