high expectations

Texas predicted to be No. 1 destination tourists will hit for the eclipse

Everyone will have their eyes on the sky on April 8.

Photo by Jongsun Lee on Unsplash

Texas, prepare for the eclipse onslaught: A new study predicts that the Lone Star State will be the top destination for eclipse tourists, with more than a million visitors expected to travel here to catch the total solar eclipse on April 8.

According to a model developed by the Great American Eclipse team, Texas is anticipated to see 1.08 million tourists - the highest number out of 48 continental states (Alaska and Hawaii excluded).

For context: The report predicts between 931,000 and 3.73 million people will travel from some part of the United States to an area inside the path of totality on eclipse day.

Nearly 31 million people in the U.S. already live inside the eclipse's path of totality, Great American Eclipse says, with more than 12.78 million residing in Texas.

Their findings show that people who live near the eclipse's path are more likely have an interest in witnessing the solar spectacle; and those who do travel will simply go to the spot that's nearest to them on the path of totality.

Texas' eclipse tourism estimates far outweigh the remaining 14 states with areas along the eclipse's path. Indiana (No. 2) is expected to see between 131,000 to 522,000 out-of-state visitors, followed closely behind by Ohio (No. 3) with an estimated 125,000-500,000 tourists.

Great American Eclipse Texans should prepare to see a lot of tourists on April 8.greatamericaneclipse.com

Texas cities within the eclipse path

The report suggests the Hill Country and Central Texas area will have the highest influx of tourists. Kerrville is expected to see a high influx of travelers due to its close proximity to the eclipse path's center. San Antonio is also highlighted on the destination list.

The entire Dallas-Fort Worth area - which consists of approximately 7 million people - is also within the path of totality.

"Our model does not predict a particularly large visitation to Dallas because other destinations may be closer, but expect these numbers to be greatly exceeded for Dallas simply because of the large numbers of people who will host relatives and friends for the eclipse," the report says.

Great American Eclipse Kerrville is nearly in the center of the eclipse's path of totality.greatamericaneclipse.com

If Texans are looking to get away from the top tourist-heavy cities, they should head to more rural parts of the state.

"While visitation estimates are lower for the Uvalde and Eagle Pass areas, we expect additional eclipse chasers because of the superior weather odds," the report says. "A bonus in rural Texas will be a spectacular night sky."

The report used U.S. Census data, ArcGIS software, and a "digital road network" of the country to determine eclipse destination points inside the path of totality and the shortest drive paths to a destination. The study also factored a state's typical weather patterns to determine the likelihood of higher visitation.

eclipse texas solar eclipse

Holiday News

American Airlines expects record-setting travel on Thanksgiving 2024

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

American Airlines ready for takeoff.

The holidays are looming and American Airlines is ramping up. Over the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, the Fort Worth-based airline expects to process nearly 8.3 million customers across more than 77,000 flights.

According to a statement from American's COO David Seymour, the airline is having a good fall season and canceled fewer flights than its peers during October.

“Thanks to the hard work of our 130,000 team members, we canceled fewer flights than any of our major competitors this October and beat our own records for on-time departures and arrivals,” Seymour says.

That's surely good news. One hates to rain on their parade, but in June 2024, the only flight I booked this year, my flight was canceled less than 24 hours before take-off. I had made hotel reservations, scheduled a pet sitter, planned events, and arranged for a friend to pick me up at the destination airport. One employee speculated that it may have been "insufficient crew." Their only solution offered was: Feel free to reschedule your flight.

Thanksgiving facts and figures
The travel window runs from November 21 to December 3, and the airline expects to carry more than 500,000 more customers than it did last year.

The most-traveled day will be Sunday, December 1. The second most-traveled day will be Monday, December 2.

The peak of peak: 1,035 mainline and regional aircraft will be enroute at 10:45 am on Sunday, December 1 — the highest number of flights handled at any given time during American’s travel period.

The airline expects to serve more than 6.8 million Biscoff cookies on board from November 21 to December 3.

Travel tips
Download the American Airlines app and check in for your flight, noting added any bags to your trip. This will save you time at the airport.

If traveling internationally, download the Mobile Passport Control app, which can speed up your entry into the U.S. Global Entry members can download the Global Entry app, which allows you to submit your entry and go straight to the officer.

Upon arrival at the airport lobby, scan your mobile boarding pass to print bag tags quickly at a kiosk. If you’re not checking bags, go straight to TSA security with your mobile boarding pass.

holidays