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Cost of Leisure Travel Dips, New AAA Survey Shows

27 October 1999

Cost of Leisure Travel Dips, New AAA Survey Shows

    ORLANDO, Fla.--Oct. 26, 1999--The overall cost of leisure travel dipped $5.52 in October to $405.88, down 1.3 percent from the previous month, according to AAA.
    The first monthly AAA Leisure Travel Index reflects the sum of a monthly national average in three categories: airfares, car rental rates and lodging rates. In September, the overall cost reflected by the index was $411.40; August, $392.98; July, 409.47; and June, 403.10.
    Airfares and lodging room rates dipped slightly more than 2 percent in October while car rental rates rose nearly 7 percent.
    The national average cost of a roundtrip airline ticket in October was $232.98, down $5.17 from September's national average of $238.15. Lodging room rates averaged $133.82 per day nationally, down $2.90 from $136.72 the previous month.
    The daily cost of renting a car was $39.08 in October, up $2.55 from September's national average of $36.53. The national average for leisure airfares for the last four months were: September, $238.15; August, $223.04; July, $243.93; and June, $233.85.
    National average lodging rates for the same period were: September, $136.72; August, $132.61; July, $125.37; and June, 129.08.
    Car rental rates were: September, $36.53; August, $37.33; July, $40.17; and June, $40.17.
    The October report is based on data from more than 10,000 AAA two- and three-diamond lodging room rates, 3,800 intermediate-sized car rental rates and 1,000 domestic airfares for 20 major U.S. destinations. The software used in the survey was designed specifically for AAA by Galileo International for use with the Apollo(R) computer reservation system.
    Leisure travel usually requires an advance purchase; travel during off-peak hours; and a minimum stay, such as a Saturday night stay. Airfares include sales tax but not other charges. Hotel and car rental rates do not include taxes or other fees.
    AAA is the largest leisure travel agency in North America with nearly 1,100 travel offices in the United States and Canada.
    AAA news releases can be downloaded from http://www.aaa.com/news