When you think of the holidays, what comes to mind? Along with Christmas lights and reindeer, most of us associate the season with hours waiting at the airport or hair loss from those pleasant extended family visits.  For 2009, many experts are predicting that travel will go up compared to last year, although fewer people will travel by air due to budget concerns, reduced airline capacity and added charges.

A recent study reported by AAA says that for the recent Thanksgiving holiday, nearly 86 percent of Thanksgiving travelers chose to travel by automobile while only six percent said they planned to go by air. The projected decline for air travel for this past Thanksgiving is expected to be in the neighborhood of 6.7 percent, or 2.3 million travelers once the final figures are worked out. AAA said the amount of Thanksgiving travelers journeying by air has been declining for a decade.

Locally, Orlando International Airport is expected to beat the curve in passenger decline when they finalize their travel numbers from the Thanksgiving holiday. “Right now for Thanksgiving, we are down about 4 percent from last year, which is encouraging given what’s happened throughout the year,” says Carolyn Fennel, director of public affairs at OIA.

December air travel numbers are expected to increase compared to last year, but many people are still finding other means to move about the country including trains, buses and automobiles. “People are staying closer to home, not travelling for as long and not spending as much once they get there,” says Pat Tiffany, travel consultant with Travel Leaders. “Some airlines will run a special, but when you have a family of four that still gets awfully expensive.” Especially with airline baggage fees. “For about a year now almost every airline has been charging anywhere from $15-20 for the first bag and $25 and up for the second bag,” says Tiffany. “People are being very careful with their money these days, so sometimes it’s hard to justify that cost.”

Still, whether you’re jet-setting to your destination or having family come to stay with you during the holiday season, you’ll need to be prepared.

If you’re going to travel, the key is to make your plans early. Tiffany suggests being flexible about the dates and times you fly giving you more choices, saving you time and money. Midweek flights are the best option, and if you have to fly on a weekend, Saturdays are less hectic than Sundays at the airport. Remember that weather can also play a factor in your travel time. “Try to fly nonstop whenever possible,” she says. “If you do have to connect, try to avoid cities up north where there will be more weather problems.” There are less delays for flights earlier in the day, and, of course, arriving early allows plenty of time for security. Another way you can avoid delays and save money is by flying to nearby airports of smaller cities, like Sanford instead of Orlando.

If you have family travelling to you this year, remember to expect delays at the airport and on the road. “Even if traffic is down from years past, it will still be hectic getting in and out of the airport,” says Tiffany. She suggests meeting your incoming visitors in the departure area of the airport if they do not have bags to gather from the baggage claim area. “It will be a lot less crazed on the departure level and you’ll have a much smaller headache,” she says.

Most importantly however, remember not to sweat the small stuff. “When traveling, try to have patience and make the best out of time you spend waiting around,” says Tiffany. Even with numbers that are lower than in years past, travel can still be a stressful experience if you let it be. Whether by car, train or plane, remember what the holidays are for. You’ll be a lot happier when you get to where you’re going if you do.

Article by Corey Gehrold