AAA Sees 45 Million Americans Traveling as Gas Hits $4.55 and Airfares Jump 20%

9 articles · Updated · CNN · May 24

45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles over the holiday weekend, topping last year’s 44.8 million and setting a new AAA record.
Gas averaged $4.55 a gallon on Friday—up $1.38 from a year ago and 53% since the Iran war began—while airfares are running more than 20% above last year.
Tourism Economics said higher fuel costs rarely curb travel on their own, partly because higher-income households account for a disproportionate share of leisure spending.
Hotels and vacation rentals are seeing some belt-tightening instead: travelers are skipping overnight stays, staying with family, or shortening trips from a week to four or five days.
Individual travelers cited family events and leisure as nonnegotiable, but many are adapting with long drives, reward miles, and cheaper lodging rather than canceling trips.

With consumer confidence at historic lows, who is actually funding America's record-breaking, high-cost travel boom?

Will the Iran ceasefire bring down travel costs, or is expensive travel the permanent new normal for Americans?

As Americans travel domestically in record numbers, why is international tourism to the U.S. falling so sharply?