Higher prices, more travelers for summer travel

AAA predicts about 37 million Americans will take a road trip over Memorial Day weekend, driving at least 50 miles from home. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen about 10 million airline passengers. Those numbers would set post-pandemic travel records. Hotel rooms and other short-term rental prices went up from last year, with hotels up to $157 per night from $150 last year, according to AirDNA. But the national average gas price has fallen to $3.56 per gallon from $4.60 last year, according to AAA. 

Will there be travel delays? This weekend will be a test of new strategies, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. Officials at American Airlines and Southwest Airlines said they have created systems and a plan to keep flights running on time. Airlines have hired about 25,000 workers since this time last year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

Dig deeper: Read Josh Schumacher’s report about the TSA expanding facial recognition in airports.