VIDEO: AAA releases holiday travel predictions

41 million Americans are expected to travel more than 50 miles from home this Thanksgiving.

But that’s not as many as traveled last year thanks to a rough economy.

The good news? The federal government is trying to ease air congestion and gas prices are still on the way down, according to experts.

Tough economic times are taking a toll on holiday travel.

“We chose to stay home strictly because of the prices of airline tickets,“ said consumer Melinda Dejong.

According to AAA, about 600,000 less people will be traveling over this thanksgiving holiday than did last year.

The first decline since 2002.

But even with less travelers, flights may be just as crowded.

Airlines have cut some 3,000 flights per day meaning most planes will be 90 to 100 percent full leaving little room for error if there is bad weather or delays.

“Will traveling home for the holidays be “it’s a wonderful life,“ or will it be “the nightmare before Christmas,“ said President Bush.

On Tuesday, the President announced the expansion of a plan to ease congestion by opening up military airspace.

“This year, we’re going to expand what we call the Thanksgiving Express Lanes” to areas of the Midwest, the Southwest, and the west coast, including the skies over Phoenix and Los Angeles,” said Mr. Bush.

And even though gas prices continue to fall down over a dollar from this time last year, AAA predicts the number of drivers will drop this year as well off more than a percent from last year.

Even so, more than 33.2 million Americans are expected to hit the highways this holiday.

“Grandma matters. In that tug of war between purse strings and heart strings. Heart strings win out,“ said AAA President Robert Darbelnet.

For many, time with family, more important than tough economic times.

According to AAA’s leisure travel index, Thanksgiving holiday travelers can expect to pay more for airfares and car rentals this year but experts say there are still deals available if your travel plans are flexible.