This article was originally published on ctinsider.com on October 30.
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. In Connecticut, a network of roads, rails, and airports connect travelers to and from the Nutmeg State to just about anywhere in the world.
Whether you are arriving or leaving Connecticut for the holiday, the best thing travelers can do to prepare is to book ahead, said Jan L. Jones, program coordinator for hospitality and tourism management at New Haven University.
“Trying to kind of find those off-peak times for cars and for trains is really important because you can get cheaper pricing, but you can also avoid the long traffic on (Interstate) 95,” Jones said.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest travel day, however, travel has become more spread out in recent years because people are more aware of their spending. Many also have remote work flexibility, making it easier to travel in off-peak times.
“I think we’re still going to see some of the highest numbers we’ve had in probably four or five years, but yes, people are traveling a little differently,” Jones said. “They’re definitely getting back to being conscious with their money.”
Whether you are traveling by planes, trains or automobiles in Connecticut this Thanksgiving here is what you need to know.
Planes
In both 2022 and 2023, about 90,000 people departed from Bradley International Airport in the 10 days surrounding Thanksgiving, said Brian Spyros, spokesman for Connecticut’s Airport Authority and Bradley International Airport.
“We’re expecting to see another busy year for Thanksgiving travel,” Spyros said.
With the holiday rush, Connecticut travelers should be prepared for longer lines and a busy airport. The morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. is the busiest time of day at Bradley in Windsor Locks with over 20 flights leaving the terminal.
Thanksgiving’s travel rush at airports used to be the Wednesday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving, but over the last couple of years, holiday travel has spread throughout the week, Spyros said.
“Wednesday is still busy, but you have people who will opt to leave on Tuesday, Monday, or even the weekend prior” to beat the rush, he said. “It’s kind of beneficial to get an early start and go and enjoy themselves.”
This year, if flights are canceled or experience significant delays — three hours or more for domestic flights and six hours or more for international flights — airlines are required to offer a refund to travelers, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s latest ruling. This applies if travelers do not accept the delayed flight, any travel credits offered, or rebooking options.
“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them — without headaches or haggling,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in an April news release. “Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers.”
Airlines often add more flights during the week of Thanksgiving, as well. Spyros said the best thing Connecticut travelers can do is plan ahead.
“One of the big recommendations we have for people is to always know where you’re going to park” before arriving at the airport, he said.
Bradley International Airport offers a variety of parking options as well as some third-party companies like LAZ.
While line lengths vary, Spyros recommends being in the terminal at least 90 minutes before a flight and downloading the airline’s app to check in and receive updates on delays, departures and arrivals.
“Familiarizing yourself with the TSA guidelines can really help save time navigating through the airport,” Spyros said.
Trains
Connecticut’s train service is another option for travelers, with CTrails, Metro-North, and Amtrak services.
“Thanksgiving is our busiest travel week of the year, and we call it our Super Bowl internally,” said Jason Abrams, Amtrak spokesperson.
Amtrak is adding cars to trains to increase its capacity this year in anticipation of over a million people nationwide riding the rails.
“The best piece of advice I could say is buy your ticket when you can,” Abrams said.
The trains the week of Thanksgiving sell out quickly, Abrams added. Connecticut riders looking to travel outside of the state with Amtrak can connect across the nation.
New Haven is one of Amtrak’s top 10 busiest stations. Amtrak also serves other Connecticut stations including Hartford, Stamford, Bridgeport, Mystic, Old Saybrook, Meriden, and Windsor Locks.
Stations get crowded, so Abrams said travelers should arrive at least an hour before their train departs. If you need assistance boarding the train, Amtrak offers help with the Red Cap service.
“The earlier you travel, the less crowded it’ll be, so the later in the day things become more crowded,” Abrams said.
Seating for the general Amtrak ticket is first-come, first-served, and most trains will be sold out. Assigned seats can be reserved in business class.
Automobiles
Driving is the most common option for travelers during the holiday season.
“We know that Wednesday typically is the busiest day to travel both by car and then also in the air, and because folks know that, they may decide to leave Tuesday,” said Lauren Fabrizi, AAA spokesperson.
Sunday will see the most post-holiday traffic, Fabrizi said.
“We say that when commuters and travelers mix, that’s some of the worst times to travel,” Fabrizi said. “If you can leave or come home outside of those peak travel times, that’s what we advise.”
Leaving very early in the morning or later at night is best.
“We’ve seen far too many tragedies on our Connecticut roads this year alone,” Fabrizi said. “We can’t stress enough that when you’re out there, follow the speed limit, buckle up, and ditch the distractions.”
Making sure your car is in good mechanical shape is also very important to preventing travel issues.
“You want to make sure that your car is in tip-top shape before you head out. We’re a month out, so now is a good time to do that,” she added. “If you want to go for an oil change, if you want to get your battery checked, because we’re seeing the temperature drop overnight.”