New York City's Thanksgiving Travelers Abandon Airports for Trains Amidst Delays and Chaos
This year's busiest Thanksgiving weekend for domestic air travel has brought out a surprising trend in New York City: many travelers are skipping flights altogether. The cause? Air travel riddled with delays and cancellations, rendering the traditional holiday air journey a stressful ordeal.
For Allan and Alexandra Gibson, their decision to leave for Washington, D.C. by train was a no-brainer. "I like the food and spending time with my family," said their 10-year-old son Grant, lugging a heavy scooter and big backpack on board. His mother, Alexandra, had recently suffered through an air travel nightmare herself, including two delayed flights to Chicago.
The federal government shutdown earlier this year exacerbated the issues at New York City's airports, causing widespread delays and cancellations. The Port Authority estimates that 3.3 million people will pass through JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and Stewart airports during the Thanksgiving period, a 1% increase from last year.
In contrast, Amtrak officials are expecting an influx of passengers, with Jason Abrams stating that they anticipate more than 1.1 million riders between November 22nd and December 1st, which is significantly higher than last year's numbers.
Not everyone shares the confidence expressed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who claims air traffic controller staffing levels are back to normal after a 43-day shutdown. Many travelers, including Atlanta resident Brenda Fisher, are opting for trains due to concerns over delays and wait times.
While trains may be less desirable for cross-country trips that can last several days, the option remains a viable choice for shorter journeys within the region. Comedian Amy Janes opted for a 32-hour Greyhound bus trip instead of flying after being unable to secure a Real ID for domestic travel.
As the Thanksgiving weekend approaches, it's clear that air travelers are facing significant challenges this year. With trains and buses becoming increasingly appealing alternatives, New Yorkers may be looking beyond their city's airports for a stress-free holiday journey.
This year's busiest Thanksgiving weekend for domestic air travel has brought out a surprising trend in New York City: many travelers are skipping flights altogether. The cause? Air travel riddled with delays and cancellations, rendering the traditional holiday air journey a stressful ordeal.
For Allan and Alexandra Gibson, their decision to leave for Washington, D.C. by train was a no-brainer. "I like the food and spending time with my family," said their 10-year-old son Grant, lugging a heavy scooter and big backpack on board. His mother, Alexandra, had recently suffered through an air travel nightmare herself, including two delayed flights to Chicago.
The federal government shutdown earlier this year exacerbated the issues at New York City's airports, causing widespread delays and cancellations. The Port Authority estimates that 3.3 million people will pass through JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and Stewart airports during the Thanksgiving period, a 1% increase from last year.
In contrast, Amtrak officials are expecting an influx of passengers, with Jason Abrams stating that they anticipate more than 1.1 million riders between November 22nd and December 1st, which is significantly higher than last year's numbers.
Not everyone shares the confidence expressed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who claims air traffic controller staffing levels are back to normal after a 43-day shutdown. Many travelers, including Atlanta resident Brenda Fisher, are opting for trains due to concerns over delays and wait times.
While trains may be less desirable for cross-country trips that can last several days, the option remains a viable choice for shorter journeys within the region. Comedian Amy Janes opted for a 32-hour Greyhound bus trip instead of flying after being unable to secure a Real ID for domestic travel.
As the Thanksgiving weekend approaches, it's clear that air travelers are facing significant challenges this year. With trains and buses becoming increasingly appealing alternatives, New Yorkers may be looking beyond their city's airports for a stress-free holiday journey.
I'm not surprised at all to see people ditching flights for trains. Delays & cancellations can ruin the whole travel experience 
. My cousin used to love flying, but after 2 cancelled flights in a row, she switched to trains and now she's hooked 
. The government shutdown must've made things worse, I mean who wants to deal with that stress on Thanksgiving? 
Train travel might not be as fast, but at least you know what you're getting, right? 
train travel is where it's at especially with all the delays and cancellations this year 
no thanks! trains are def the way to go, especially if you're just going to dc or chicago like in this article 
and btw have u seen amy jan's story on greyhound? girl needs a break from flying lol 
and yeah, the gov shutdown did mess w/ air traffic 
hopefully they get it sorted out but for now, trains seem like a viable solution 
. I had planned to fly last year but my flight got cancelled due to "mechanical issues"... meanwhile they were just sitting around doing whatever 
. This year, I'd rather take a 20-hour bus ride or even walk if it means avoiding those delays 
The government shutdown was a total disaster, folks! I'm all for people wanting to get home safely and enjoy the holidays with their families. Air travel is supposed to be convenient, not chaotic 
It's like they say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" 
, but in this case, I think the system was broken from the start. The government needs to step up its game and provide better infrastructure for our transportation systems. Maybe that's why people are flocking to trains... because they're a more reliable option! 