4.6 Million California Residents and 2.85 Million Southlanders Will Take Thanksgiving Car Trips

LOS ANGELES--Nov. 2, 20042, 2004--More than 2.85 million Southern Californians are expected to get away this Thanksgiving, a 3.4 percent increase over last year, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. The Auto Club predicts that this weekend's number of Southland travelers will push past pre-9/11 Thanksgiving travel volumes for the first time.

In 2000, 2.77 million Southern Californians took Thanksgiving trips. After the September 11 attacks, the number of local Thanksgiving travelers dipped to 2.6 million in 2001 and has been steadily increasing since then.

More than 79 percent of this year's holiday travelers, or 2.26 million Southern Californians, are expected to drive to their destinations -- a 2.9 percent increase compared to last Thanksgiving. Almost 443,000 are projected to fly, which is a 5.7 percent increase over last year.

Statewide, 4.6 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more this weekend, 3.6 million by car and 710,000 by air. Nationally, 37.2 million people -- including 30.6 million car travelers and 4.6 million air passengers -- are expected to take holiday trips, which is a 3.1 percent increase over 2003.

"This year has unleashed a pent-up demand for travel that was first reduced by 9/11, and then by economic concerns and the war in Iraq," said Carol Thorp, Auto Club spokesperson.

The most popular destinations for Southern California residents, according to a survey of the Auto Club's AAA Travel agents, are:

    1) Mexico (driving, cruises and flights)
    2) Hawaii
    3) Grand Canyon
    4) Las Vegas
    5) San Diego

Car travelers to the top destination, Mexico, should be aware that they must purchase Mexico auto insurance to legally drive in the country. Drivers who do not have Mexico auto insurance face possible arrest and may have their vehicles impounded if they are involved in a collision there. Both Auto Club members and non-members now can purchase Mexico auto insurance online at www.aaa-calif.com and print out the policy at home before taking their trip.

Travelers will pay more for their weekend getaways. AAA calculated that the average cost of flights and hotel rooms has risen 3.2 percent compared to last year. And for drivers, California gasoline prices have increased by an average of 35 percent compared to last Thanksgiving.

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. Also, be ready to quickly remove outerwear like coats and sweaters prior to the security inspection.

-- 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.

The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services and highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.