NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Millions are wrapping up their travel over the holiday weekend, and the Transportation Security Administration projected about 17.5 million people will go through checkpoints through Wednesday.
Charleston International Airport had a steady flow of people throughout the morning and afternoon hours. TSA prepared for record-setting travel this extended weekend as the Federal Aviation Administration forecasted the busiest Labor Day in 15 years.
AAA Newsroom data shows the most popular destinations for the Labor Day weekend were Seattle, Orlando and New York. The travel group looked at data from Thursday through Monday to analyze and compare with 2024 trends the same stretch of five days. Data shows flights were 6% cheaper with an average of $720 per ticket. However, international travel came in at 8% more than last year.
Many passengers at the airport on Monday were heading home from their final trip of the summer.
Brooke Rowley came to Charleston not for a trip or to return home, but to pick up a new family member. She met at the airport to get her new puppy and bring her back to meet her other dog in Sacramento, Calif. Rowley said her new brother is excited to meet his new playmate, but before then, they’ll need to make it through a long trip home.
“I’m flying back to Charlotte to Sacramento, so that will be about a five-hour plane ride, so I have to keep her entertained with treats and toys and everything, so the whole day is about her,” Rowley said.
Rowley said she did hit a snag on the way to the airport, having a delayed flight and extra hotel stay, but since then, it went well. She wasn’t the only one with a bit of a bumpy day.
Jamaica Young from Omaha, Neb., was traveling with her toddler over the holiday. Young said the trip felt long.
“I have a three-year-old, so we woke up at 3 a.m. to get to the airport by four and get here. We had a layover in St. Louis that was kind of rough because it was six o’clock in the morning and he was tired, but we made it,” Young said.
Erik Siroky and his partner were returning home to Charleston. He said it was a special weekend for him as they witnessed his close friend get engaged over the holiday weekend. He added that while it was busy at airports, he didn’t mind the holiday travel.
“This is our second time, I think, now traveling for the holidays. I think leaving out of here, we caught some rain. We sat on the tarmac for about an hour, but other than that, it’s been smooth sailing,” Siroky said.
As for Ralph Barretto and Nina Barretto of New Jersey, they decided to vacation in Charleston for the long weekend. It was their first trip to the area, and they said they spent their time exploring downtown, going on a horse carriage ride, visiting the Pineapple Fountain, and enjoying Southern hospitality.
“It was a pretty good travel day out of Newark. We were worried about all the delays up there, but we got here early, so it was actually a pretty good, easy travel, and I’m hoping for the rest of our trip to stay the same way,” Ralph Barretto said.
Michele Hazzard from Lehigh Valley, Pa., made the trip to Charleston with a group of nine people. They came to visit her grandson, Anthony, who attends Navy school in the area. Hazzard said highlights of the holiday trip, aside from seeing him, were trying a seafood restaurant and all of the southern eats. Hazzard said her grandson also was left with some goodies, which may have impacted travel a bit, but she said was worth it.
“I did go overweight on my baggage because his great Nana does canning and baking, so we had to make sure we brought him jam and pickles and cake, and so he’s all set to go back to base,” Hazzard said.
For the latest travel data, both by plane and vehicle, visit the AAA newsroom site.
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