Gas Prices Down, Air Travel Up for Holiday Travel, AAA Reports

BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 16 -- Fuel prices in Washington have decreased three cents since Thanksgiving to $1.38 per gallon for self-serve regular unleaded, AAA reports. The nationwide average has dropped 8.6 cents since mid-November and currently averages $1.378 per gallon.

                  Sample Self-serve Regular Unleaded Fuel Prices*
      City                  Holidays 2002   Thanksgiving 2002    Holidays 2001
    Bellingham                  1.362             1.353             1.205
    Bremerton                   1.309             1.325             1.224
    Olympia                     1.229             1.251             1.227
    Seattle-Bellevue-Everett    1.392             1.416             1.347
    Spokane                     1.367             1.405             1.134
    Tacoma                      1.296             1.341             1.241
    Tri-Cities                  1.449             1.470             1.237
    Vancouver                   1.306             1.326             1.197
    Wenatchee                   1.404             1.439             1.167
    Yakima                      1.364             1.376             1.251

HOLIDAY TRAVEL PROJECTIONS

This holiday season 59.1 million Americans plan to travel 50 miles or more from home, down about one percent from last year. A total of 11.2 million travelers plan to go by airplane, nearly seven percent more than last year. Another 45.9 million are expected to take a trip by motor vehicle. This is the second straight holiday Americans are returning to the skies in increased numbers, encouraging news AAA says.

If you are traveling over the holidays, here are tips to make your trip worry free:

    Air Travel:

    -- Don't wrap gifts. All packages may be opened for security purposes,
       wait until you arrive at your destination to wrap them.
    -- Don't pack film in checked baggage. Carry on film, many security
       machines will damage film.
    -- Arrive early and check the list of prohibited items before leaving
       home.

    Road Trips:

    -- Consider leaving a day early and returning a day late to miss holiday
       traffic.
    -- Prepare your vehicle in advance. Winterize your vehicle yourself or
       take it to a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility.
    -- Pack an emergency kit that, at a minimum, includes a cell phone, warm
       clothing, hat, gloves, blankets, food, water, abrasive material, ice
       scraper, tire chains, flashlight, booster cables, snow shovel, first
       aid kit and warning devices.

AAA provides more than 815,000 members in Washington and northern Idaho a full range of products and benefits, including travel agencies, personal lines insurance agencies, a range of auto-related services, and member discounts on many consumer products and services. More information about AAA is available on the company's website at www.aaa.com.