Thanksgiving Travel Predictions Reflect Continued Recovery for Travel Industry
LOS ANGELES--Nov. 8, 2001--About 4.2 million Californians -- 2.6 million from Southern California -- plan to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday, reflecting an overall 6 percent decline projected for travel nationwide compared to last year, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.The vast majority of the travel drop is in air bookings, which are projected to decrease 27 percent nationally compared to last year's holiday weekend. Air bookings through the Auto Club's AAA Travel Agency for all future trips (not just Thanksgiving) were down 22 percent as of the week of Oct. 20-26 (the latest figures available).
About 2.3 million, or 87 percent of the 2.6 million Southern California travelers, are expected to go by car. That is about a 1.6 percent decrease from last year.
"Because so many Thanksgiving travelers traditionally drive to their destinations, the drop in air travel does not have as much of an impact on overall travel for the holiday," said Tim Irwin, the Auto Club's vice president for travel. "Also, the sharp downturn in air travel we saw right after Sept. 11 has started to turn around, so the overall decline in Thanksgiving travel is not as significant as it could have been."
Auto Club members are spending about 20 percent less on Thanksgiving travel arrangements than they did in 2000, both because of increased bargain prices and decreased travel. More than half of the spending reduction is because of reduced air bookings and lower airfares.
"For the first time in recent memory, last-minute Thanksgiving travelers can actually find some bargains instead of having to pay a premium for waiting to book their vacation," Irwin said. "Hotels, airlines and even cruise lines are offering reduced-price packages for Thanksgiving."
Among the AAA Travel Agency bargains still available for those who want to travel on the Thanksgiving holiday (not including taxes and other surcharges):
| -- | Airfare from Los Angeles to New York to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: $318 per person roundtrip |
| -- | Airfare from Los Angeles to Orlando to visit Disney World: $239 per person roundtrip |
| -- | Five-night Western Caribbean cruise departing from Galveston on Nov. 23 on the Royal Viking "Serenade:" as low as $410 per couple |
| -- | Three-night Carnival "Ecstasy" cruise from Los Angeles to Mexico, departing Nov. 23: as low as $220 per person |
| -- | Five-night "Baja Riviera" cruise on the Carnival "Celebration" to Baja California, departing Nov. 24: as low as $280 per person |
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services and highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
