Can you believe the unofficial kickoff to summer is tomorrow? Crazy! AAA just released their 2025 Memorial Day projection and airports, as well as roads, are expected to be busy, busy, busy. “AA projects 39.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend. That’s an additional one million travelers compared to last year.”
1. Leave plenty of time
AAA predicts driving to be the preferred mode of transportation this weekend with 87% of Memorial Day travelers choosing to take road trips. With an influx of travelers, you’ll want to leave early for the airport or for your destination. All it takes is one person or accident to slow you down dramatically. You don’t want to be rushed since that’s when stress levels rise, tempers flare and patience wanes.
2. Bring your REAL ID or passport
If you’re flying, you don’t want to be slowed down for not having the proper identification. On May 7, TSA is requiring domestic travelers to have an enhanced driver’s license or a passport. Here’s what you need to know and what will happen if you don’t have a REAL ID or passport. Regardless, TSA still recommends you arrive at the airport terminal two hours prior to domestic flights or three hours for international flights. Travel hack: Many airports have more than one security checkpoint. Ask an employee if there’s another checkpoint that has shorter lines. Better yet, enroll in TSA PreCheck or sign up for CLEAR and you’ll be in lines that are shorter and move a lot faster. And don’t
3. Bring food and drink
On most flights in the U.S., airlines either don’t serve food or if they do, they charge for it. Instead of being at the flight attendant’s mercy for what and when you eat, bring your own. Bring food from home because not every airport restaurant is open and if they are, they might have long lines. Be sure to bring plenty of water, too. Travel hack: Since you can’t go through security with bottled water, buy it on the other side or bring an empty bottle and fill it up at a water fountain so you can stay hydrated. In addition to your meal, you should bring snacks in case of any lengthy delays. I always have granola bars and almonds packed in my carry-on bag.
4. Download apps
Download the app of your airline, hotel, car rental, cruise … you name it. Input your confirmation number so you can manage your trip from your fingertips. Travel hack: One resource that even frequent travelers don’t realize is available right at their fingertips is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). They have a handy free app for both Android and iOS that allows travelers to do a lot of things, including asking them what they can and cannot bring through security. Here’s the 411.
5. Act fast
If your flight is significantly delayed or canceled, then you need to act fast since there aren’t a lot of empty seats airlines can rebook you on. Instead of calling your loved ones to tell them what’s going on, immediately get in line and while standing there waiting to speak to an agent, use the airline’s app to get rebooked or call the airline reservations and tweet them since they might be able to help you a lot quicker. FYI: Don’t Google the airline’s number. Have the number preprogrammed into your phone since some scammers have come up with a clever way of stealing your money by pretending to be airline reservation agents. Travel hack: If you’re not a member of an airline club and the lines at customer service are crazy long look into getting a day pass since agents in the club never have long waits and sometimes have more pull.
6. Find the best seat
Not many people like sitting in a middle seat or to be separated from their travel companions. Arrange for seats in advance and then keep double-checking to make sure the airline hasn’t reseated you (sometimes they change the aircraft). To find out which seats are the best on your particular aircraft, go to SeatGuru.com and search the airline and plane model. Travel hack: If your desired seat isn’t available, keep checking or better yet, create a seat alert at ExpertFlyer.com. Usually, the good seats will open up because often, elite frequent fliers get upgraded or change their plans. As a last resort, check when you get to the airport at the check-in counter and at the gate.
7. Double check
If you booked a flight months ago, be sure to keep checking to see if the airline has changed the departure time, route or type of aircraft. There’s a very good chance they did and you might have missed their email alerting you. Travel hack: There’s free services out there that will help you monitor it like TripIt.com. Just email your itinerary to plans@tripit.com.
8. Ship your bags
If you’re flying, chances are you’ll be checking bags. Most major carriers charge around $160 for two checked bags on a roundtrip ticket ($35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second). Some low fare carriers, like Frontier and Spirit, can charge up to $99 just for a carry-on bag so do your research in advance. Here’s the best bag for flying the low fare carriers. No matter how you travel with your bags, always put an Apple AirTag in them so you can track them.
Travel hack: Southwest Airlines is about to start charging for checked bags. Here’s how you can get them free for the rest of 2025. Or, if traveling domestically, ship your bags via Ground (do it at least five days in advance) so you don’t have to deal with checking bags, getting slapped with unexpected fees, arriving to the airport early, standing around for what seems like an eternity waiting for them to come out, risk getting stuff stolen or the bags lost. When I checked my bag with FedEx or UPS, I didn’t even need to find a box; they shipped it as is. Another advantage of not traveling with large bags is that you can take public transportation, which can save you time and money, especially in cities like New York and Chicago. Tip: If shipping to a hotel, be sure to call them in advance to find out if they charge a “receiving fee,” which might negate the savings. There are also services out there that will come to your door like Ship&Play.
9. Don’t pay for a luggage cart
Most U.S. airports charge between $6 and $8 for one-time use of a luggage cart. Instead of getting ripped off, go outside to the arrivals curb or parking lot and look for ones that previous passengers have left behind.
10. Bring a pen
Even before the pandemic, no one wanted to share a pen and most airlines don’t provide them. So instead of asking your seatmate or having to wait until you get to immigration, always pack a pen. That way, you won’t lose your place in line. In fact, pack multiple cheap pens so if your seatmate asks you to borrow one, you can just give them one and tell them to keep it.
11. Pack your patience
In addition to bringing your clothes and gear, pack your patience because the holidays bring a crush of travelers who don’t fly often, so give them a break. Just take a deep breath and remember how lucky you are to be traveling, whether it’s to an exotic location or to see your loved ones, and don’t lose your enjoyment of the spirit of the season.
12. Worst times to hit the road
According to AAA & INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects the afternoons over Memorial Day weekend to be the most congested. Travelers should hit the road during the morning hours. Boston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, DC are the metros that can expect the heaviest traffic.
The good news is gas prices are lower this year than last. According to GasBuddy, the leading fuel savings platform saving North American drivers the most money on gas, “the national average price of gasoline will be $3.08 per gallon on Memorial Day, making it the cheapest Memorial Day at the pump since 2021.”
Happy Birthday fellow Gemini!