Pittsburgh travelers ready for summer on busiest travel day of Memorial Day weekend

With 42.3 million Americans projected to travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend, AAA anticipated Friday to be the busiest travel day of the weekend, as thousands of people checked in for their flights bright and early at Pittsburgh International Airport.

From the Northeast to the Gulf Coast, vacation destinations were on the minds of many as they waited in long lines and prepared for takeoff.

“I’m going to New Mexico, and I’m most excited about my trip to go see my sister,” said Cayden Mason.

Experts predict more than 37 million people will drive to their destination, with nearly two million traveling by train or bus and more than three million flying.

“It’s a lot of people, and they’re probably going to other beaches and stuff,” said Jenna Miller, who was flying to St. Petersburg, Fla., with her family.

TSA said it’s ready for this summer’s anticipated increase in travel and announced that teenagers ages 13-17 may now accompany their parents or guardians enrolled in TSA PreCheck when traveling on the same reservation, something that could come in handy if you want to skip long lines.

“I wasn’t expecting this long. We’ve flown every holiday, and I’ve never been all the way back there, ever,” said Farren Mason of Pittsburgh

AAA said this is expected to be the third busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000, when it started tracking holiday travel.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

©2023 Cox Media Group