Thanksgiving Travel in Texas Expected to Rise for Auto and Air, Predicts AAA Texas

HOUSTON--Nov. 2, 20034, 2003--Texans are expected to drive and fly in increased numbers this Thanksgiving holiday compared to the year before, according to AAA Texas.

Approximately 3.3 million Texans will take a trip 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, compared to 3.23 million who traveled in 2002 -- that's an overall increase of 2.2 percent.

Of those, about 2.9 million will be traveling by car to their destinations, compared to 2.86 million last year. AAA Texas expects 348,000 people to travel by air, compared to 337,000 who flew to their destinations last Thanksgiving. A projected 33,000 vacationers will go by train, bus or some other mode of transportation, compared to 32,000 vacationers last year.

"The travel season finished strong this summer and we expect the trend to continue through the Thanksgiving holiday," said Rose Rougeau of AAA Texas. "Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time of the year, and travelers should allow plenty of time for crowded roadways and busy airports."

According to a AAA Texas travel survey, the most popular destinations for Thanksgiving weekend travelers are:

           2003                                      2002
          ------                                    ------
1.  Orlando, Florida                      1.  Galveston Cruises 
2.  Galveston Cruises                         (Western Caribbean)
    (Western Caribbean)                   2.  Orlando, Florida
3.  Las Vegas, Nevada                     3.  San Antonio, Texas
4.  Mexico                                4.  Galveston, Texas
5.  Colorado Ski Resorts                  5.  New York City, New York

Texas motorists can expect prices averaging about $1.36 a gallon, down about 23 cents from the all-time record high of $1.62 reached in March of this year. The national average of $1.50 for a gallon of regular self-serve is 24 cents lower than the pre-Labor Day high of $1.74.

Nationally, cities top the list of preferred destinations this holiday with 38 percent of the travel volume. Towns and rural areas are the destination for 31 percent of travelers, followed by oceans and beaches, 10 percent; mountains, 8 percent; lakes, 3 percent; and theme/amusement parks, 2 percent. Another 4 percent responded with other, and 4 percent said they didn't know.

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. AAA Texas offers these guidelines 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.

-- 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.

AAA Texas, an affiliate of AAA National, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance service, insurance and financial products, travel agency, automotive pricing, buying and financing, trip planning services, and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' Web site at www.aaa-texas.com.