SAN DIEGO — Labor Day weekend travel is expected to surge this year, making it even busier for travelers on the roads and at airports.
Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed for the long holiday weekend as a lot Americans mark the unofficial end of summer.
According to AAA, travel during Labor Day weekend is expected to be up 9% compared to 2023. Before you hit the road and leave San Diego County or head to San Diego International Airport, here are some things you should know before you go.
San Diego International Airport
Right in time for the holiday weekend, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Wednesday opened the New Terminal 1 Parking Plaza at San Diego International Airport, which provides 2,834 parking spaces.
The five-story T1 Parking Plaza is opening in two stages, with this first stage more than doubling the number of spaces available in the previous Terminal 1 parking lot.
Track your flight
Before you head to the airport, be sure to check the status of your flight. You can check to see if your flight has been delayed or canceled at San Diego International Airport's website, here.
When is the best time to hit the road?
First, be sure to check traffic before you leave.
If you plan to start your drive on the Thursday or Friday before Labor Day, you will be sharing the road with commuters. You might want to leave before morning rush hour or even in the evening to avoid jams.
Transportation-data provider INRIX says the worst time to travel by car on Thursday will be between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and on Friday between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. That flips on Saturday, when you'll want to avoid driving between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.
For the return trip, pretty much all day Monday — from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. — will be a slog, according to INRIX.
When will airports be busiest?
According to TSA, the busiest day is Friday. The agency expects to screen 2.86 million people that day.
American Airlines says Thursday and Friday will be its busiest days, with 6,400 flights per day, followed by Labor Day itself, when the carrier has 6,300 scheduled flights.
Refunds, reimbursement
Airlines are required to provide refunds — including for extra fees paid — to passengers whose flights are canceled for any reason. However, they are not required to pay cash compensation, and no major U.S. airlines do. Only Alaska, Southwest and JetBlue even promise travel vouchers if the cancellation is their fault.
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