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E L L I O T T' S TRAVEL NOTES
Travel news, opinion and analysis

May 19, 2004

AAA Predicts Record Memorial Day
Gasoline prices at all-time highs won't deter a record number of Americans from traveling during the Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA. About 36.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the May 31 holiday weekend, up 3.6 percent from last year, AAA said, citing a survey of more than 1,300 adults. Of that total, 30.9 million, or 84 percent, will travel by car or other motor vehicle, 3.4 percent more than a year ago. Travel is expected to increase because a strengthening economy is boosting employment, personal incomes and consumer confidence, AAA said. Fuel is also a relatively small part of total travel expenses, including lodging and food, the association said. Bloomberg | Posted 6:30 a.m.
-- YPB&R: Both leisure and business travel will grow
-- BW: While you're at it, why not take Fido?

• These surveys are meaningless, of course. Why? Well first, there's no accountability - no one to verify that the travel did or did not increase, as I observed in a recent commentary. Second (and this concerns me mostly with AAA) it's based on a relatively small sample size. So will travel actually increase? It's anyone's guess. Send us your comments.

American Reverses Less Legroom
More legroom in coach class is a good idea after all, say American Airlines officials in deciding not to move seats closer together again. The world's largest airline has been reconsidering passenger comfort, its fare structure and other issues in advance of Wednesday's annual shareholders' meeting of parent AMR Corp. In an effort to boost capacity with little cost, Fort Worth-based American had signaled it would return to less legroom in coach class on some planes. But airline officials have now decided that passengers value two to four inches of extra space, so the expanded legroom will be retained in the vast majority of jets. The carrier, after considering whether to provide satellite television at every seat and amenities, will focus its efforts on providing more passengers power ports. Although many passengers already carry their own entertainment aboard, electrical outlets could come in handy. AP | Posted 6:45 a.m.
-- Sun-Times: Couple sues American over legroom

Continental Raises Fares, Citing Fuel
Faced with soaring fuel prices, Continental Airlines Inc. is warning of hefty losses this year and beyond - plus possible employee furloughs and cuts to wages and benefits. The carrier announced a worldwide fare hike late Tuesday designed to help offset an additional $700 million in fuel charges the airline said it was facing this year because of surging crude oil prices. As a result, Continental said it no longer expects to break even in 2004 and could have a significant loss for the year because of the rising fuel costs coupled with low fares. The company is also predicting losses in the quarter ending June 30. AP | Posted 7 a.m.

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• And finally ... reader Darryl Musick took issue with my commentary about rude hotel guests. "First, the Orbitz ;hotel habits' survey: 'One-quarter confessed to throwing towels on the floor.' Lately, most hotels I've stayed in have a sign in the room telling you to throw any towel you want washed on the floor...'a towel on the rack means it can be reused, a towel on the floor means it needs to be washed.' Now they say that's bad behavior? That's just behavior that they explicitly ask for. Second: '13 percent left the TV on in the room when they went out.' A TV left on in the room is a cheap security device letting would be thieves think someone is in the room. I do the same thing at home (leave the radio on a talk station, volume up) to discourage thieves when I'm away." Posted 7:10 a.m. | Send us your comments.

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