Holiday Travelers Face Higher Gas Prices, Busy Roads
22 December 1999
Holiday Travelers Face Higher Gas Prices, Busy Roads
HOUSTON--Dec. 21, 1999--Texas motorists traveling this holiday will find gas prices an average 26 cents higher across the state than last year at the same time, according to AAA Texas. The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in Texas is $1.236. This compares to $1.188 on November 16 and to prices a year ago that were about 97 cents," said Patrick O'Reilly, a spokesman for AAA Texas.Nationwide, AAA estimates that a near record 44.6 million Americans are expected to travel 100 miles or more from home this Christmas-New Year's, the second highest number of travelers for any holiday period, according to AAA. That figure represents a one percent slip from last year's record 45.2 million travelers.
Christmas air travelers should expect airports to be busier than normal during these two days and nights. They should arrive at the airport at least two hours early to allow for longer luggage check in and more thorough security checks. Add an extra half an hour for heavy traffic to the airport.
Air travelers can take precautions to reduce delays and inconvenience in the wake of tighter security checks by using the following tips:
-- Personally pack your luggage so you will be able to answer
questions about the contents when asked by airline
personnel. If you say you did not pack the luggage,
belongings may be subject to a search.
-- Never leave luggage or carry on items unattended at the
airport. They could be stolen or become a target for someone
to sneak an illegal item on board an airplane. Also, luggage
that appears to be abandoned may look suspicious to airport
security personnel and be confiscated.
-- Carry at least one government issued photo I.D., such as a
driver's license or passport. Most airlines will want to
verify that the person checking in is the person to whom the
ticket is issued, especially in the case of electronic
ticketing.
Since many families with young children will be traveling by car this holiday the Auto Club offers the following tips:
-- Pack a special backpack with inexpensive toys, games,
reading or coloring books. Provide a child's favorite
stories or music on cassette tapes and play them during the
trip.
-- Take food or rest breaks at least every two hours; with
younger children, it may be necessary to stop more often for
them to stretch or release energy.
-- To avoid dangers to children from deployment of air bags,
all passengers aged 12 and under should travel in rear seats
and be properly secured in a child safety seat or with lap
and shoulder belts.
AAA Texas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, has been serving Texans since 1905. Today, AAA Texas offers its members a full service travel agency, financial services, public safety programs, and auto-related services. AAA Texas' Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered by the Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information.