The Auto Club

Southern Californians who plan to travel this summer will take a greater number of summer trips than two years ago when the recession was starting to take full effect, but they are tightening their budgets and seeking out vacation deals and discounts, according to the third annual summer travel poll conducted by the Automobile Club of Southern California.

On their first trip of the summer, local travelers are more likely to drive to their destinations than during the past two years (63 percent this year vs. 58 percent in 2009 and 52 percent in 2008), and more likely to be visiting family or friends as a primary purpose for their trips (63 percent this year vs. 57 percent in 2009 and 35 percent in 2008), according to the survey.

In all, 87 percent of the Auto Club members who participated in the poll said they plan to take at least one overnight trip this summer, down from 88 percent last year and 89 percent in 2008.

Two years ago, just 20 percent of Southern California travelers surveyed said they intended to take three or more summer trips. Last year and this year, that number increased to 31 percent.

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Southern California will see a 7.8 percent increase in the number of residents who will travel over this Memorial Day holiday, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s holiday travel projections. About 2.5 million Southland residents are expected to take holiday getaways.

Among Southern California travelers, about 2.1 million, or 84 percent, will go by car to their destinations. That’s an increase of 8.3 percent from 2009. Air travel among Southland residents is projected to increase by 4.9 percent to 227,000 flyers, while travel by cruise, bus, train or other means will be up 5.6 percent to 173,000.

Statewide, nearly 4 million are expected to make Memorial Day getaways, also a 7.8 percent increase over last year. About 3.3 million will go by car, an 8.3 percent increase over last year, while almost 400,000 are expected to fly – a 4.9 percent increase.

Nationally, AAA is projecting the number of Americans traveling over the holiday weekend will increase 5.4 percent from 2009, with approximately 32.1 million travelers taking a trip away from home. Memorial Day auto travel nationwide is expected to increase by 5.8 percent to 28 million, while 2.15 million nationwide are expected to fly – almost the same number as last year.

Memorial Day travel in 2008 and 2009 suffered locally and nationally from the continued effects of the recession and increased unemployment, so the projected increase for this year represents a partial rebound for travel and tourism as the economy recovers.

“Our AAA Travel agents are seeing increased activity in the branches and an increased number of advance bookings for tours and cruises compared to this time last year,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “Consumers are still seeking more value for their travel dollar than prior to the recession, but the Memorial Day projections indicate that more of them may be taking long-postponed vacations.”

The top five Memorial Day destinations for Southern California travelers, according to a poll of the Auto Club’s AAA Travel agents, are:
1) San Diego
2) Las Vegas
3) Grand Canyon
4) San Francisco
5) Central Coast

The top cruise destination is Baja California, while the top air destination is Hawaii.

Although this Memorial Day weekend’s gas prices will be higher than this time last year, AAA travel projections do not indicate that gas prices are a big deterrent to travel this holiday. Prices may continue to drop as the holiday approaches in response to recent dramatic decreases in crude oil prices.

Because of numerous regional highway projects that are underway because of federal stimulus funding, the Auto Club advises travelers to check their planned route for closures along the way. Motorists can call the California Highway Information Number at (800) 427-7623 for interstate and state route lane closures and highway closures. The information is updated hourly.

AAA’s holiday travel projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.

The Automobile Club of Southern California and AAA have launched an innovative new service for mobile phone users this month making access to the nation’s largest motor club and its roadside assistance even easier. AAA FindMe allows any Auto Club or AAA member who is a Sprint® subscriber with a newer phone to have their GPS location instantly transmitted to AAA Roadside Assistance.

For the first time in the wireless industry, the Auto Club and AAA have teamed with Sprint to allow members to provide AAA with their GPS location without additional charges, special devices or required downloads.

“Suffering a car breakdown is bad enough, but it can be made worse when you’re in an unfamiliar location and have trouble relaying to AAA where to send assistance,” said David Lang, the Auto Club’s Automotive Services vice president. “AAA FindMe will enhance member safety and security by providing AAA roadside service operators with stranded motorists’ GPS locations so roadside technicians can locate and assist them.”

AAA members who subscribe to Sprint must register for the AAA FindMe service in advance at AAA.com/AAAFindMe by providing their Auto Club or AAA membership number and Sprint mobile phone number. Subscribing to the service is free of charge and doesn’t require any downloads or added services to the mobile phone.

AAA members can also press *AAA (*222) from their Sprint wireless phone to call directly for AAA Roadside Assistance.

The AAA Discounts app, which has been downloaded nearly 800,000 times, helps users identify more than 110,000 locations offering AAA Show Your Card & Save® (SYC&S) discounts. The AAA Roadside app allows members to request AAA Roadside Assistance directly from their iPhone. Launched more than eight months ago, AAA Roadside continues to be one of the top-25 most popular free travel apps.

AAA Mobile Web offers a variety of Auto Club and AAA tools and features on your web-enabled wireless device for free including turn-by-turn directions, local gasoline prices, access to roadside assistance phone numbers and AAA Approved Auto Repair locations, SYC&S locations and AAA Approved hotels and restaurants. AAA content on mobile phones can be accessed by entering aaacalif.mobi into your wireless browser. AAA TourBook® and SYC&S information also is available on select Magellan® personal navigation devices.

The Auto Club

The Automobile Club of Southern California and AAA released its top vehicle picks for commuters today. Long commutes have become an increasingly common daily activity for many Americans, and having the right vehicle for those long drives is key not only to saving money and being environmentally-friendly, but also staying safe and comfortable during many hours on the road.

The average motorist spends about 41 minutes a day traveling about 22.5 miles roundtrip to/from work in personal vehicles, according to the National Household Travel Survey.

The AAA’s team of experts, who test drove and reviewed hundreds of vehicles, has compiled a list of the top vehicle picks for commuters based on practicality, safety, comfort, fuel efficiency and affordability. The Auto Club’s Car Buying Service online research tool is a resource for those in the market for another car or truck.

Southern California car owners also have a new green tool to help them become more knowledgeable about low-polluting cars with the Green Car Guide, just-published by the Auto Club’s Automotive Research Center (ARC). At least six vehicles in the green car report are on the AAA list of top commuter vehicles, including the Ford Fusion and Honda Insight.

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With attention focused on Toyota and its recall of more than 8 million vehicles in the U.S., it’s easy to overlook the fact that numerous safety recalls are issued annually.

In fact, the latest recall involves Honda Motor Co., which said this week that it will recall more than 410,000 Odyssey minivans and Element small trucks for braking problems that, if not repaired, could make it difficult to stop the vehicles.

Over time, brake pedals can feel “soft” and must be pressed closer to the floor to stop the vehicles, Honda said in a statement.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported three crashes due to the problem. Honda notified NHTSA of this particular recall this week.

How to Find a Recall

How should consumers determine if a safety recall CONTINUED »

The Auto Club

The Automobile Club of Southern California is hosting a job candidate information session in Los Angeles as part of an effort to hire 70 insurance sales agents.

The event will be held Wednesday, March 10 at the Auto Club’s Los Angeles headquarters, 2601 S. Figueroa St., at 6 p.m. Candidates will have a chance to receive more information about the job opportunities and will meet Auto Club sales managers. Candidates should bring their professional resume and dress in business attire.

Qualified candidates will possess at least two years of proven sales experience, excellent communication skills, computer proficiency, a good driving record and commitment to providing superior member service.

“The Auto Club is fortunate to be able to grow its insurance sales force at a time when new jobs are needed in the economy,” said Jim Philipp, the Auto Club’s vice president for human resources.

The positions offer paid training and insurance licensing, and after training the compensation is 100 percent commission-based. Benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance, 401k and pension plans, and continuous training and career development.

Candidates are encouraged to submit a resume online prior to the event. For other employment opportunities, visit http://aaa.com/jobs.

The Auto Club

(LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18, 2010) –Southern California gas prices dropped to their lowest levels since just before Christmas as the 2010 downward streak at the pump continued for a fifth straight week, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.950 per gallon, which is 2.5 cents less than last week, ten cents less than last month, and 68 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.938, which is 2.7 cents less than last week’s price, 12 cents below last month, and 63 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.002, down two cents from last week, 11 cents lower than a month ago, and 64 cents above last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $2.941, which is 1.8 cents less than last week, 10 cents less than last month, and 67 cents more than last year.

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Public television personality Huell Howser will be on hand to meet fellow travel enthusiasts at the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Travel Show on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The show will take place in Building 5 of the Fairplex in Pomona, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. Attendees should enter at Gate 3 on McKinley Avenue. Admission is $3 for those without reservations and free for those who RSVP by calling (888) 345-9961 and pressing option 4. The show is open to both Auto Club members and non-members.

The AAA Travel Show will feature nearly two dozen tour, cruise and other travel providers, as well as experienced and knowledgeable AAA Travel agents. Consumers who book their trips at the show will receive special showtime offers providing discounts, upgrades or credits on their travel. Auto Club members qualify for additional member benefits on select travel packages.

Travelers can prepare for their journeys by visiting the show to obtain passport photos and applications, browse through the AAA BookStore’s travel publications, watch luggage packing demonstrations, and enjoy live presentations from travel providers.

Howser, who hosts the Auto Club-sponsored “Road Trip With Huell Howser” and “California’s Gold” series featured on PBS television stations, will meet and greet fans. Westways Magazine Travel Editor and AAA Travelviews blogger Elizabeth Harryman will host the show and offer travel tips and experiences with her husband and travel partner, Paul Lasley.

While attending the Auto Club show, travelers can enter a drawing (no purchase necessary) to win travel-related prizes.

“Travelers are seeking value now, and travel providers are coming out with some exciting new offerings,” said Alice Holguin, the Auto Club’s La Verne/Pomona branch manager. “The travel show will provide a rare opportunity for vacation-seekers to get detailed information about a wide variety of travel companies and take advantage of special deals.”

More information about the show is available at local Auto Club offices and on the Auto Club’s Web site, www.AAA.com

The Auto Club

Southland gas prices are dipping slightly after six weeks of increases, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.042 per gallon, which is 2.4 cents less than last week, 12 cents more than last month, and 99 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $3.049, which is 1.5 cents less than last week’s price, 14 cents above last month, and 97 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.098, down 1.1 cents from last week, up 11 cents from a month ago, and 96 cents above last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $3.029, which is two cents less than last week, 12 cents more than last month, and 97 cents more than last year.

“As volatile as gas prices are, it’s hard to point out a pattern, but usually in January there is somewhat of a downturn,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “It’s typically a low point of the year for gas prices because of lower demand and refineries managing their product to ensure they don’t have a surplus of the ‘winter blend’ of fuel they must stop selling each spring. California air quality regulations require that each April, gas stations must begin selling the ‘summer blend’ of fuel that burns more cleanly in warmer temperatures.”

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