Total Holiday Travel To Rise Nearly 2%; Air Travel To Climb 6 Percent, AAA Survey Shows

    ORLANDO, Fla.--Nov. 12, 2002--Americans are expected to take to the skies in larger numbers this Thanksgiving period than they did a year ago with overall travel also projected to be up this holiday, according to AAA.
    AAA estimates that 35.9 million Americans will take a trip 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, 1.7 percent higher than the 35.3 million who traveled last year.
    A total of 30.8 million people plan to go by motor vehicle, a nearly 1 percent increase from a year ago when 30.6 million traveled by car. AAA expects air travel to climb 6 percent as 5.1 million Americans plan to fly this holiday compared to 4.8 million last Thanksgiving.
    "Despite an economy that still shows only sporadic signs of recovery, holiday travelers are returning to the skies in numbers almost as heavy as during the Thanksgiving periods prior to 2001," said AAA Travel Vice President Sandra Hughes. "This is definitely is a positive sign for an airline industry that has struggled mightily in the last year."
    "Since nearly all major airlines have reduced their flight schedules at least 10 percent in the last year, there are fewer seats available and travelers expecting to find space at this late date will need to be flexible and most likely travel during off-peak hours," Hughes advised.
    Overall, 86 percent of holiday travelers will go by motor vehicle - down slightly from the 87 percent a year ago, the highest percentage of auto travel ever recorded by AAA.
    Motorists will find the nationwide average price of gasoline at $1.458 per gallon, up more than one penny from last month and about 25 cents higher than last year's pre-Thanksgiving price.
    "The higher gas price should not alter travel plans since most Americans who expect to travel have already made their plans and will not cancel or postpone them because they have to spend more for fuel," Hughes said.
    AAA's holiday travel projections are based on a national survey of 1,300 U.S. adults by the Travel Industry Association, which conducts special research for AAA. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percent.
    The greatest number of Thanksgiving auto travelers will originate in the Southeast with 8.8 million, followed by the West with 6.8 million; Midwest, 6.7 million; Great Lakes, 6.1 million; and Northeast, 2.4 million.
    Travelers plan on visiting the following destinations during the Thanksgiving holiday: city, 39 percent; town/rural areas, 34 percent; ocean/beach, 9 percent; mountain area, 5 percent; state/national park, 2 percent; lake area, 2 percent; theme/amusement park, 1 percent; and other or don't know, 8 percent.
    A total of 59 percent intend to stay overnight with relatives or friends while 26 percent expect to stay in a hotel or motel. Other overnight plans include: cabin/condo, 6 percent; camper/trailer/RV or tent, 3 percent; and other, 2 percent. Four percent are undecided or don't expect to stay overnight.
    As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its more than 45 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.