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Possible Chicago airport strike could impact holiday travel

Thanksgiving travel plans
Gearing up for Thanksgiving travel 01:55

AAA says more than 48-million Americans are traveling at least 50 miles from home this holiday week. That’s about a million more travelers than last year. 

And pack your patience, especially if your holiday travel brings you through Chicago. 

Travel site Orbitz.com predicts O’Hare International Airport will be the busiest airport this Thanksgiving holiday.

And Monday, about 500 workers, including aircraft cabin cleaners and janitors, could walk off the job.

Workers voted to take action over wages and working conditions there last week.

Almost four million people will fly Wednesday through Sunday. Some are already on their way.

CBS News spoke to a father and son who are already on their way. 

“You know, today, is easy. A lot lighter than I expected. But come Tuesday and Wednesday it’s gonna be massive,” said father, Jim. 

Nearly 90 percent of Thanksgiving travelers will drive to grandmas this year.

Thanksgiving travel forecast 01:04

Drivers will see savings at the pumps, with gas prices expected to be the second-cheapest since 2008 when the national average was just $1.85. Today it’s $2.14 per gallon. 

Google checked travel times and found Sunday was the best day to hit the road.

If you want to avoid gridlock coming home, the search engine said to leave on “Black Friday” at 6 a.m.

If you’re hitting the rails, remember the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after are the busiest days to travel.

Nearly 750,000 people will take Amtrak to and from their destination.

After long lines and major complaints, the TSA said it has added staff. The agency said it’s ready for the additional 55,000 passengers a day over the Thanksgiving holiday, but, they still recommend arriving two hours early for domestic flights.

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