21 November 2012 Last updated at 14:22 ET

Thanksgiving getaway hit by weather

Rail passengers at Union Station in Washington DC

Bad weather and union disputes are hampering the big getaway for an estimated 43 million Americans travelling on the eve of Thanksgiving.

Fog in Chicago has grounded 200 flights, while heavy rainfall has drenched the US Pacific Northwest.

Airport union workers were meanwhile planning a protest near Los Angeles' airport.

For the 39 million Americans travelling in vehicles, heavy traffic was expected in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

But there was some good news for motorists: the national average price for petrol was down $0.28 (£0.18) cents per gallon from a month ago, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

In Los Angeles, airport workers were planning to march on Wednesday in a dispute over contracts and health insurance benefits.

BBC Weather's Thanksgiving forecast for the US

Union officials said that choosing such a busy travel day to protest would have consequences for employees as well.

"It's a national day about being with your family and taking care of your family, and these workers are not able to do that," Andrew Gross Gaitan, of the Seiu United Service Workers West, told ABC News.

After being hit by the recession, Thanksgiving travel returned to 2007 levels last year, according to the AAA.

In 2012, the number of Americans travelling at least 50 miles (80km) between Wednesday and Sunday was expected to increase to 43.6 million, which would be up 0.7% from last year.

Obama turkey pardoning

Those heading out over the holiday are flying less, driving more and covering shorter distances, says the AAA.

At the White House, Barack Obama carried out the traditional US presidential duty for Thanksgiving: pardoning a turkey.

Since taking office, he has created his own custom of sparing an extra turkey.

This year, Mr Obama showed mercy on Cobbler and Gobbler, who will live out their days on George Washington's estate in Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Forty-six million other turkeys will not be so lucky - that is how many of the poultry will be consumed across the US on Thursday.

Thanksgiving will be a more low-key affair for those New Yorkers still recovering from the effects of the recent super storm, Sandy.

Macy's the department store has set aside 5,000 seats along its Thanksgiving Day Parade route for families affected by the deadly cyclone.

And Occupy Sandy, the storm-relief offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street movement, will host a Thanksgiving dinner in lower Manhattan.

Retailers are also preparing for Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving that is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year.

Thanksgiving, which celebrates the Pilgrims' first harvest in what is now the state of Massachusetts, is widely regarded as America's most popular holiday for family-oriented feasting.

Source : bbc[dot]co[dot]uk