Times are tough, the economy is down and airline prices are soaring as crowds flock to airport terminals and highways during the holiday season.

According to the AAA Holiday Travel Forecast Model for the Thanksgiving holiday released last week, some 41 million people will travel at least 50 miles, a 1.4 percent drop from 2007 and the first slump since 2002. It is estimated that 4.54 million [11 percent] holiday travelers plan to travel by airplane, which is a 7.2 percent decrease from last year, when 4.89 million travelers flew.

Airfare also is expected to increase by 8 percent over last year.

While many students are travelling well over 50 miles for the Thanksgiving holiday, those flying are finding it hard to get home economically.

Instead of making long, expensive treks home for the relatively short break, some students decided to feast with friends closer to Norman.

Meteorology sophomore Cory Martin is spending the holiday in Texas. But his family is celebrating at home in South Dakota, 13 hours [by car] from Norman.

He said he wishes he could be home with his family, but he is grateful to have found an alternative.

“I was graciously invited to have Thanksgiving with a family in Plano,” Martin said. “Last year I flew home for Thanksgiving, but I can’t afford it this year.”

Martin drove home to South Dakota in October, and is flying home again in December.

Energy management sophomore Samuel Walker is traveling to Tulsa with some friends for Thanksgiving, as opposed to his home in California.

“I would rather be at home, but its fine, it’s only a few days,” Walker said.

He said he only goes back to California for Christmas break, and travel expenses are the main reason he’s staying in Oklahoma for Thanksgiving.

“It costs too much money for plane tickets,” Walker said.

Martin said he often has a difficult time being so far from home, but he is getting used to it.

“It was my choice to come down here, so I have to learn to live with it,” Martin said.

Students traveling home for the holidays should not wait until the last minute to book a flight, in case all flights fill up. Flights to Houston and Dallas are no longer available on some airlines for Thanksgiving break, and as the holiday gets closer prices increase.