Labor Day weekend travelers are experiencing unusually high fuel prices and airfare costs. The national average for gas has surged to $4.14 per gallon, which is 33 cents above the previous record. In Charlotte, the average stands at $3.86 per gallon, while domestic flight prices are up about 20% compared to last year.
Despite the high costs, Charlotte Douglas International Airport expects over 920,000 passengers to travel through its terminals by September 8. Many drivers along Interstate 85 express the financial strain caused by fuel prices. For example, Justin Faile from Lancaster has decided against a holiday road trip to Florida due to the expense.
To save money, some motorists are using mobile apps to find cheaper fuel prices. Greg and Jaden Jones, college students from Greensboro, waited to refuel in Grover, utilizing a gas-finding app during their trip to Georgia. Even crossing into South Carolina, where prices are about 10 to 20 cents lower per gallon, fuel costs remain significantly higher than last year.
Driver Klaus Werner shares that he tries not to dwell on the high prices and simply pays at the pump. Air travelers face similar economic challenges, with Charlotte Douglas anticipating that 220,000 of its holiday travelers will originate from Charlotte, while many others will be on connecting flights.
