Holiday travel up from 2008

We're traveling more this year than we did in 2008 during the Christmas and New Year period.

AAA predicts an extra 3.2 million Americans will hit the roads, rails and airports this holiday, despite higher gas prices.

In 2008, 84.5 million people traveled 50 miles or more away from home compared to an estimated 87.7 million this season, an increase of 3.8 percent.

It's a sign consumers are opening their wallets and feeling a little more confident about their bank accounts, AAA Chicago Regional President Brad Roeber said in a release.

"The moderate projected rise in the number of air travelers this holiday period is especially welcome since the airline industry was hit especially hard by the recession," he said.

Fliers will increase by 3 percent, with 4.2 million going by air this year compared to 4.1 million in 2008.

The AAA expects that vehicle travel will go up by 4.4 percent with 77.7 million people driving in 2009 versus 74.4 million over the last winter vacation.

Fuel prices are hovering around $2.59 for a gallon of regular gas nationwide and $2.63 in Illinois, which is $1 more than in 2008.

There was a slight dip in people taking boats, trains, buses or other modes of travel with 5.8 million anticipated this December instead of 6 million in 2008.

Travel experts are advising people traveling by air to get to the airport two hours in advance and to remember restrictions for carry-on luggage that limit fluids to 3 ounces or less.