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Delays are reported across the East Coast, but things are running pretty smoothly in Charlotte.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- Weather did have an effect on some trips back from grandma's thanksgiving dinner. There were delays all across the East Coast because of the rain. But, because there were fewer travelers this year, the trip back for many was still pretty smooth.

The tradition is as old as Thanksgiving itself, the hustle to get home being snagged by some delays. "There were very long lines, lots of people with bags," says traveler Dawn Owens-Watterson. "It looks about what I expected," says Brad Gaddy. Rain up and down the East Coast slowed flights to New York, Atlanta and Philadelphia.

"We actually had it pretty smooth, we left at 6," says Owens-Watterson. The Watterson’s were flying from New Orleans, and proved the early birds get the punctual flights. This isn't really that bad, compared to previous holidays that we have travelled," says Larry Watterson.

"The good thing is that we had a family line, so we could go through it with our son," says Watterson. Prices were steep for some, but convenience was worth it. "Distance, I have a 900 mile flight instead of a drive so the time factor," says traveler Brad Gaddy

Amtrak saw good numbers this holiday season. "I was a little bit delayed when we started off, I guess there was a lot more people than normal," says train rider Douglas Poole. Large crowds streamed out of trains Sunday morning coming into Charlotte’s N. Tryon Station. "It's cheaper, probably the most important thing.  And it's just easier, you don't have to worry about fighting the traffic or any of that kind of stuff, you can just kind of relax," says Poole.

Whether by plane or train, overall travel numbers are down this Thanksgiving. AAA says about 6,000 less people traveled more than 50 miles from home.