AAA Predicts Decline In Holiday Travel

Economic Slowdown, Fewer Flights Expected To Curb Thanksgiving Trips

(AP)  Travel over the Thanksgiving holiday will drop for the first time in six years due to the economic slowdown and fewer airline flights, the auto club AAA forecast on Tuesday.

The travel club says 41 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home. That's down from 41.6 million last year.

AAA President Robert L. Darbelnet said the economy makes Thanksgiving travel a challenge for some Americans, but they'll get help from the recent decline in gasoline prices, which have tumbled from their summertime highs.

A gallon of self-serve regular gasoline has fallen 88 cents in the past month, to $2.07 a gallon. A year ago, it cost $3.10 a gallon.

Car rental prices are 4 percent higher than a year ago, but midrange hotel rooms are 10 percent cheaper, according to AAA.

AAA, which said it surveyed 8,500 people, forecast that four-fifths of holiday travelers, or 33.2 million, will go by car. That would be a 1.2 percent decline from last Thanksgiving.

The auto club expects 350,000 fewer Americans to travel by air, a 7.2 percent drop, to about 4.5 million. They will also pay more - average fares are 8 percent higher than a year ago, AAA said.

Airline industry officials said, however, that flights will still be packed because there will be fewer of them.

The Air Transport Association forecast last week that 24 million passengers would fly on U.S. airlines over the 12-day period around Thanksgiving, down 2 million from 2007 and the first decline since 2001.

"That will still translate to full planes because capacity has been reduced about 10 percent," David Castelveter, a spokesman for the airline trade group, said Tuesday.

This summer, when jet fuel prices were at record highs and the economy was showing signs of slowing, U.S. airlines announced flight reductions that took effect in the fall. So even with fewer passengers, Thanksgiving-period flights should average about 80 percent full, and 90 percent full on the three busiest days, according to the transport group.

Anticipating a holiday travel crunch, President George W. Bush announced Tuesday that the Pentagon would open unused military airspace for commercial airliners during the Thanksgiving and Christmas travel periods.

Last year, two military flight corridors were opened to commercial jets along the East Coast. This year, additional lanes will be added in the Midwest, Southwest and the West Coast, Bush said.

Airline industry officials said the moves helped last year, but not as much as good weather.

"Every little bit helps," said Tim Wagner, a spokesman for American Airlines.

[Gary Kempf]

I Predict A Decline In Holidays period.

[slim1h2o]

Enthusiasm anyways.......

[sorceress62]

We are not seeing a decline in people travelling to a major ski resort on the east coast..poeple are staying closer to home rather than going out west to ski.

[miriambk]

It''s much nicer to stay home, anyway.

[cheetah-man7]

For obvious reasons, more people are staying closer to home. As more and more people lose their homes, they are having an even more difficult time going anywhere at all. Otherwise, those of us with homes are more worried about being away from the job for too long in fear of losing said job. It''s gotten more and more crazy to be an American!

[slim1h2o]

It''''s gotten more and more crazy to be an American!

Posted by cheetah-man7 at 03:45 PM : Nov 18, 2008

It''s always been that way. Where have you been in the last 10 - 20 yrs?

[cheetah-man7]

It''''s always been that way. Where have you been in the last 10 - 20 yrs?





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Posted by slim1h2o --------------

I''ve been in the same place for the past 20 years. The big difference is back then I had more time to relax, hang out with friends, family, etc... I did my job and shared a mutual respect with my employer. Now I am suspicious of my bank, my boss, and everyone else out there - most especially the government who have let things get out of control. No, the craziness has come over time, but the past year has been especially noteworthy.

[slim1h2o]

No, the craziness has come over time, but the past year has been especially noteworthy.

Posted by cheetah-man7 at 04:10 PM : Nov 18, 2008

For me, the crazyness started in 2003, when I 1st became ill, and has not let up since.

I guess you are one of the lucky ones....

But I do see your point,,Good luck,,we''ll all need it.

Oh,, and the mistrust you feel, I feel it 10 times worse. Trust no one.......

[downsteamjim]

Gas prices are down and hotel rates are down. Come Sunday morning I''ll be on the road.

[barbaram99]

I will be right here at home. I don''t travel for holidays.

[fiberglass3]

Well we sure learned one thing these past few years.
Play with the price of Gasoline and watch the Dominos of our economy fall over.

[nojoy01]

AAA Predicts Decline In Holiday Travel

DUH!!!

[hitoyou1]

Lets get to the point. No body, not many, are going any where because they don''t want to get rip off be the high cost. I don''t know why companues don''t ubderstand people are not going to spend there maoney n things that are not worth more then half what some people want you to pay. The sooner these compamies under stand that they can''t rip off the people anymore the sooner things will get back to normal.

[hitoyou1]

I see we have all the samrt ASSSSSSSSSSS on here today. I wish you would find something to do. Go olay in the street