More Thanksgiving Travelers Will Take to the Roads and Skies Next Weekend, Predicts AAA

HOUSTON--Nov. 1, 20049, 2004--About 3.25 million Texans are expected to make Thanksgiving getaways next weekend - a 1.6 percent increase over last year, according to AAA Texas.

Almost 2.8 million residents statewide are projected to travel by car to their destinations - a 1.3 percent increase over last year - while more than 287,000 travelers are expected to fly, representing a 4 percent increase compared to last year. More than 174,000 people statewide are expected to take a cruise or ride a bus or train to their destinations.

"Nationwide, travel is expected to return to pre-9/11 levels on Thanksgiving for the first time," said AAA Texas spokeswoman Rose Rougeau. "Our AAA Travel agents are reporting increased bookings to leisure destinations like Disney World and the Caribbean, despite higher airfare, cruise, hotel and gasoline prices."

AAA estimates that 37.2 million Americans will take holiday trips of 50 miles or more next weekend, which is a 3.1 percent increase over last year. This year's Thanksgiving travel season is expected to surpass the 36.8 million who traveled during Thanksgiving in 2000. The record high for Thanksgiving travel was set in 1995, when 41.6 million people took holiday getaways.

According to a survey of AAA Texas travel agents, the most popular local destinations for Texas travelers this weekend are expected to be San Antonio, Branson, MO, and Galveston - where many travelers will board a ship for a Caribbean cruise.

For Texans flying to their holiday getaways, the most popular spots are Walt Disney World and other Florida destinations, Las Vegas, Mexico and Hawaii.

Thanksgiving auto travelers can expect gas prices that are 40 to 50 cents higher per gallon on average than a year ago. Prices have been slowly dropping in recent weeks but could briefly level off or tick upward prior to the Thanksgiving holiday as fuel demand peaks. As of 12:01 a.m. Friday, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel in Texas was $1.847, compared to $1.392 a year ago.

With tightened airline security and increased crowds at the airports, passengers should give themselves extra time to find parking and get themselves and their baggage through security checkpoints. The U.S. Travel Security Administration and AAA Travel agents offer the following tips for air passengers:

-- During the holiday period, arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.

-- Don't wrap gift packages that you are carrying with you in carry-on or checked luggage, because the wrapping may need to be removed during baggage inspection.

-- Wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off for inspection, and clothing without a lot of metal that will set off metal detectors.

-- All undeveloped film should be placed in carry-on baggage and not in checked baggage, because the checked baggage inspection system may damage the film.

AAA Texas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas' members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance service, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing, trip planning services, and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' web site at www.aaa-texas.com.