AAA Offers Advice for Holiday Air Travelers.

Business Editors/Travel Writers

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2000

With five price increases this year, Christmas - New Year's travelers will find airfares up an average 10 percent over a year ago and typically heavy volumes at airports as the holiday nears, according to AAA.

"Airline check-in counters and gates will be extra busy," said AAA Travel Vice President Sandra Hughes. "Congestion could increase even more if the recent labor problems at several major airlines continue through the holiday.

"Travelers also should consider alternatives to driving and leaving their car at the airport," Hughes said, "since airport traffic and parking will be difficult in many cities."

AAA advises air travelers the following tips when flying this holiday:

-- Arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes early for domestic flights and two
hours international. You are considered a "no-show" if you have not checked in
with the airline 20 minutes prior to departure and you will lose your seat on
that flight.

-- Ship your holiday gifts and other articles to your destination several days
in advance of your trip, and do the same on your return. If you plan to check
luggage and already have your airline ticket, use the Skycap service offered at
most airports. The longest lines at the airport are at the airline ticket
counter.

-- Make sure both your carry-on and checked luggage have identification tags
inside and outside so you can easily identify them.

-- Most reservations systems used by your travel agent are equipped to tell you
the on-time record for the flight that you plan to book. You may wish to avoid
flights that have poor on-time performance. If your trip requires you to
connect, make sure you have enough time at the connecting airport and try to
obtain seating as forward in the aircraft as you can.

-- Call the airline the day of departure to reconfirm that your flight is
leaving as scheduled and remember to bring your legal photo ID.

-- If you are at the airport, your flight cancels and the airline has not
advised you about being protected on another flight, proceed directly to a
telephone and call the airline immediately. Tell them what happened, have them
look at your reservation and ask them to book you on another flight. Those who
are standing in line at the customer service desk will find that there are
often no seats left when their turn comes.

-- If your flight is delayed, stay close to the boarding area.

-- If you are being picked up at the airport, arrange in advance where you will
meet your party. The best places to meet are at the baggage claim or at the
arrival gate for the flight.

AAA is the largest leisure travel agency in North America with more than 1,000 accredited, full service travel agency offices serving more than 43 million members and the public. Travel services include worldwide air, cruise and rail tickets; tour packages; hotel and car rental reservations; and a variety of travel insurance programs.

AAA news releases are available from http://www.aaa.com/news