Thursday, Friday expected to be peak air travel days for Memorial Day weekend

Many Americans are expected to travel this holiday weekend.

AAA predicts about 39 million Americans will be traveling the next few days, and Thursday is expected to be the busiest day at airports.

The price tag to travel is on the rise due to kids getting out of school and the weather improving. It costs about $550 to travel to San Francisco, $600 to Seattle, and about $300-$400 to get to New York or Charleston.

Those prices are for one person in the middle of June.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices increased by 18.6% from March to April, making it the largest hike in history within a 30-day period.

That doesn’t mean prices are at an all-time high though – only that airfare costs are rising.

Thrifty Traveler says besides supply and demand, fuel prices and inflation are driving airlines’ costs higher.

The Minnesota-based travel guide also adds after shrinking to survive the pandemic, airlines simply can’t keep up with the surge in travel demand.

However, just because flight prices are rising, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find an affordable ticket.

“Keep watching the days and times when is the best time to book your air travel,” said Edyta Satchell, a travel expert with Satchell Global. “It is said Sundays are good, Wednesdays are good to expect those lower rates.”

Other options for cheaper travel include:

• Cash in on vouchers if you canceled a trip during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Think about using a travel rewards program if you use credit cards
• Do research for specific companies that may offer promotions

Security officials at MSP expect to see just as many travelers this weekend as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic started, or possibly more.

Meanwhile, road traffic is expected to be the busiest Thursday and Friday, and gas prices for the weekend are expected to be the highest yet.

KSTP’s complete Memorial Day guide