Millions head home for Christmas on busiest day of festive getaway

On what is predicted to be the busiest day for Christmas visits, festive visitors are expected to thronge Britain's roads, railways, and airports. On Friday, the AA has warned of gridlock, with a report predicting as many as 24 people in total. 4 million cars could hit the roads. With 460,000 journeys planned, it is also expected to be the busiest day of the Christmas season for airports. Travelers have also been advised by Network Rail to plan their journeys and book a seat if possible.

Drivers told to allow extra time

This Christmas, the AA predicted that this Christmas would be the busiest on record for UK highways, and that drivers should plan extra time to complete their journeys. The most people driving during the holiday season travelled less than 100 miles, according to the insurance company, so congestion is likely around motorway interchanges and retail destinations. The M3/M25 interchange in Surrey, the M25 near Heathrow, and the M20 in Kent are all expected to be hotspots for congestion near and far outside of London. Visitors outside of London should expect traffic jams along the M8 and Glasgow highways, the M5/M6 junction near Birmingham, the East and South Midlands, and the M4 between Cardiff and Newport. From Christmas Eve to 4 January, the M27 will be blocked between Junction 9 (Whiteley/Park Gate) and Junction 11 (Fareham East/Gosport), so anyone traveling in Hampshire should plan alternate routes. Will be your best presenter this year, AA patrol expert Shaun Jones said behind the wheel.

Today marks one of the busiest days of the holiday journey,

he said, with millions of drivers expected to hit the roads.

Our recommendation is straightforward: with more than 24 million car journeys planned today: plan ahead, check live traffic updates before you set off, and allow extra time for your ride.

Drivers should plan long delays at peak times on Friday,

RAC mobile service and repairs lead Nick Mullender said. From 4:30 p. M. To J19 Watford and anticlockwise from Kingston to East Grinstead, we're expecting lines of more than half an hour.

The M60 clockwise from J7 Altrincham to J18 for Leeds would be jam this afternoon," he said.

Airports expecting record Christmas periods

The busiest day of the holiday season for airports is also Friday. Heathrow Airport is expected to record its busiest ever December and Christmas Day, with around 250,000 passengers per day passing through the airport. Manchester Airport is also on schedule for a record Christmas period, and the busiest day for nearly 100,000 passengers is likely to be Friday. Several things passengers could do to ensure a smooth journey in the lead up to the busy season, including checking in ahead of time and giving gifts through security were among the things passengers should do to make sure they had a pleasant experience.

You want your presents to be opened by your loved ones, not our security staff,

he said. According to Edinburgh Airport, over 250,000 people will pass through the airport between Friday and Christmas Eve, heading to destinations including Tenerife and Paris. Staff at Gatwick Airport are scheduled 741 scheduled flights on Friday, just shy of a record of 757 flights on December 28th. According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), flying on Christmas Day was getting more popular. Customers were advised to know their rights if their flight is cancelled or postponed. Airlines are expected to assist passengers if this occurs. This can include: If your flight is cancelled and it is covered by UK legislation, your airline must offer you a refund or a transfer to another flight. You can see if your flight is covered in the United Kingdom.

Rail closures

Passengers were also advised by Network Rail to plan extra time for train travel. Several routes will be blocked or restricted as a result of the ongoing construction projects over the Christmas period. On theNetwork Rail website, there is information about which routes will be closed for repairs. National Rail trains do not operate on Christmas Day, and only a small number of them will run on Boxing Day.

We encourage travelers to book seats where possible, bring only luggage that is convenient to carry and fits in designated storage areas, and allow extra time for their journeys,

said Daniel Mann, director of industry operations at Rail Delivery Group. "Get all the headlines you need to start the day with our flagship newsletter. Sign up here.