Recession takes its toll on Thanksgiving travel plans

Thursday, 27th November 2008

Written by Francesca Cookney

26-year old Alex Borcau lives in London and is looking forward to seeing her parents for Thanksgiving. "I was very excited when they said they'd booked flights," she said. "I just didn't think they'd be able to afford it right now." She's not alone.

Fewer Americans will be journeying across the globe whether by air, road, or rail to be with relatives this Thanksgiving, says a report by US motorist group AAA. In 2007 Thanksgiving travel leaped to record highs despite extortionate fuel prices and rising airfares but this year sees a 7.2 per cent decrease in flight bookings and a 1.2 per cent drop in travel altogether.

Thanksgiving is on Thursday and some 41 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles to be with friends and family over the 4-day holiday period but more than ever of these will be opting for bus and train travel rather than the usual flights. And for many, plans have had to be cancelled completely.

"We just said this might not be the best year for this kind of big, family reunion trip," said Beatriz Menanteau Menanteau, a 32-year old Minneapolis attorney whose 11 family members will not be reunited this year. "Consumers are cutting back on anything they perceive as not being essential," said chief U.S. economist at IHS Global Insight Nigel Gault.

"It's telling us just how much the overall picture has deteriorated".

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