AAA Offers Tips for Travelers to Weather Holiday Travel Snafus

ORLANDO, Fla.--Dec. 2, 20047, 2004--Holiday travelers who got where they were going with minimal delays this holiday weekend can consider themselves fortunate following several days of airline snafus and bad weather affecting millions of travelers, according to AAA. With many Christmas travelers yet to return home and New Year's Eve travelers now preparing for their trips, AAA offers tips drawn from this past week's experiences.

"Travelers normally don't plan for airlines to cancel thousands of flights or for snow to strand them in their cars for hours, but both significantly impacted vacation plans for tens of thousands of people this past week," said Sandra Hughes, AAA Travel vice president.

AAA's holiday forecast calls for the largest number of Christmas-New Year's travelers in its 11 years of holiday predictions. Of the 62.7 million people AAA expects to travel this holiday, 50.9 million will drive and 8.6 million will fly.

Among the problems some yuletide travelers have encountered:

-- Comair's computer failure that led the airline to cancel more than 1,000 flights on Christmas Day. It could be late this week before the airline resumes a full schedule.

-- A pre-Christmas snowstorm that dumped more than 20 inches of snow on parts of the Midwest, prompting closure of a 30-mile stretch of Indiana interstate and stranding some motorists in their cars for nearly a day.

-- US Airways employees calling in sick in numbers that caused the airline to cancel hundreds of flights and left it unable to process thousands of pieces of luggage.

-- Snow and ice across the South and Gulf Coast states - from Texas across to Virginia - making roads treacherous for travelers who didn't plan to drive in snow during their trips.

"Even as airlines work to get back on schedule and highway crews try to clear roads, it's important that the millions of travelers yet to make their trips be prepared for any eventuality," said Hughes. "And despite headlines that highlight the horror stories, most holiday travelers will make it to the beach, ski resort, or Grandma's without any real problems."

AAA says travelers can learn several lessons from the weekend travel mess, including:

-- Watch the weather - Adjusting your schedule to travel a day earlier or later can spare auto travelers from the delays and dangers caused by traveling on wintry roads.

-- Buy airline tickets with a credit card - If your flight is cancelled, you will be more likely to get a refund.

-- Carry on luggage - Passengers became separated from thousands of bags this weekend. Pack medication, keys, travel documents, jewelry, toiletries, important phone numbers and other essential or expensive items in a carry-on bag.

-- Avoid the lines - If your flight is canceled, don't rely solely on your airport's ticket agents for information. Call the airline's reservation number, check its web site, or call your travel agent to make alternate plans.

-- Pack an emergency kit - Both air and road travelers need to be prepared for unexpected delays. In the airport, this means bringing books, toiletries, games for children and other things to help endure delays. On the highway, pack blankets, coats, mittens and food in case road conditions strand you in your vehicle.

-- Keep your holiday cheer - Yelling at airline employees won't fix flight delays. Cursing at other drivers doesn't make slick roads less treacherous. Being considerate can be contagious and it sometimes even helps get everyone moving a little sooner.

AAA Travel's more than 1,000 full-service travel agency locations serve members and other clients across the United States and Canada. With more than $3 billion in sales in 2004, AAA is the nation's largest travel agency dedicated to leisure travelers.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its more than 47 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services, and member-only savings. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.

AAA news releases can be found online at www.aaa.com/news