The Air Transport Association (ATA) is projecting that a record 18 million Americans will fly during this year's Thanksgiving travel period. Their day-by-day forecast:

Traffic and Load Factor Estimates PASSENGERS LOAD FACTOR* (000) (%)

Fri 20 1,770 75.7
Sat 21 1,750 74.7
Sun 22 1,600 68.7
Mon 23 1,560 66.7
Tues 24 1,690 72.4
Wed 25 1,510 64.6
Thur 26 1,090 47.0
Fri 27 1,410 61.1
Sat 28 1,910 81.5
Sun 29 2,090 88.8
Mon 30 1,920 81.5
Tues 1 1,620 69.3

conclusions for "non-thanksgiving-europeans" fly on Tanksgiving-Thursday and enjoy all possible upgrade-priviliges.

(I won't this time, but it worked out very well for years in my planning)

Rudi,

That is why I am going to Europe for Thanksgiving!

Actually, the thing about Thanksgiving Day is that the load factor shown is the *average* for the day. Thanksgiving morning is actually quite busy while the afternoon on is dead.

However, for us frequent fliers, getting upgrades is still typically easier because there are so many more leisure travellers than typical.

Have not flown on Thanksgiving but on Christmas Day and new years day I often find myself with one or two other people in first,
easy upgrades. A few times if the flight's
nearly empty they let people spread out
(but generally keep those who didn't ask for upgrades out of first.) CATMAN

Unfortunately I am flying on Sunday, yes the 88% load day, on CO (on which I have no status). The things we do for family!

I am flying on Wed, and returning on Sunday, 88% travel load day. Which is fine, because on such high travel days, there is more bumping and free tickets, so I am hoping it will be me!

Best flying days are Friday/Saturday -- all those great fares (including the now infamous DL's holiday "L")...

Our load factor is 100% -- we have t-day at our house every year -- expecting 20 people or so people... Makes an airport gate look tame...

I was told last week that I have to fly out on a business trip on Monday the 30th. I checked with the airline (Delta) and found out, sure enough, that virtually everything is sold out. Oh ****, I have to fly (and pay) First Class. Actually, the cost is only a few hundred above what I have been paying for a round-trip purchased about 4 days out from departure. They will never give me any more notice, or let me purchase my ticket ahead of time. Any one ever heard of FF discounts on First Class? That is apparantly what I am getting.

The flights went smoothly from San Diego to Columbus,Ohio, however, getting out of the Columbus,Ohio airport was an incredible nightmare. It took an hour and a half to get out. We sat in the car without moving. We attempted to go back in the airport to have something to drink or eat but nothing was open. What we found out was that they were continuing to charge people for parking which was thus causing the delay, since there were only 2 ticket takers. This seems to be poor planning. It was even more frustrating to have to pay for the hour and a half that we sat waiting to get out of the parking lot. The problem would have been avoided with more booths open, or solved, if they had waved people through regardless of the parking fees.

Ricechek: As frustrating as the airport parking lots are... so too are the commuter railroad stations like Penn Station and Grande Central Terminal in NYC. Every holiday 3 million people rush for the train when the boarding call is made (it's like the boarding procedure at Southwest!) I always end up waiting for the next train, which is practically empty.

But the airports parking lots should do what
some of the railroads do on holidays: wave the fee. Sometimes on the NYC commuter railroads (NOT THE SUBWAYS and BUSES) there will be so many people that the ticket takers give up and let us ride free.

Generally it's on the ride at night. I guess
on turkey day the ticket takers got a chance for Turkey and are somewhere on the train sleeping it off. CATMAN

I'm hoping the percentages hold true....I'm taking my wife for a long weekend to Monterey via SFO - flying Christmas Day (Friday).

I thought that it would be a slow day for the airlines, but the flights seem pretty packed.

I'll let everyone know...

Flew Thanksgiving morning from SFO to EWR -- ok, no problems, but best part was going to the lounge (CO) at 9am and having completely to myself for about an hour. Woman at desk looked quite bored, but the place was extremely quiet and relaxing. If only it happened more often..

NJDavid--Be sure and go on down to Carmel and have a blast. The last time we were there we stayed at the Highlands Inn and it was fantastic. Fireplace in the room and all.

Thanks. Way OMNI and off the topic, but it is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Pacific Grove is where I will retire, someday.....