Aug 29, 2008 6:02 pm US/Central
High Gas Prices Cause Decline In Labor Day Travel
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
-
-
The number of travelers is expected to decline this Labor Day weekend due to soaring gas prices.
CBS
Gas is not cheap, which may cause people to think twice before hitting the road this Labor Day weekend. The roads in Chicago are jammed despite this decline, and airports are busy too.
CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli reports that for the first time since 2006, the number of travelers this Labor Day weekend is actually expected to decline.
AAA says the number of people taking trips at least 50 miles from home this holiday weekend will drop by nearly 1 percent. Analysts say that is due in part to the skyrocketing cost of gasoline. Prices are up 33 percent from last year.
People say soaring fuel prices have forced them to change their plans.
"We're going down off-roading with our Jeeps and instead of towing we're packing up the Jeep and stuck driving it ourselves," said Justin LaFaive, motorist. "Instead of having that insurance policy, being able to tow it home - it's kind of a risk, but it's cheaper."
It's not just highways. Flyways too, are being affected by soaring fuel costs, which have caused airlines to cut costs any way they can. That has caused a number of air travelers to drop by 4 percent this weekend. Experts say blame it on gas and much, much more.
"Not just gas prices, but all the extra fees that people are having to pay now," said Jeanenne Diefendorf, Orbitz. "Whether it's for extra baggage, if you want food or drink on the plane. I think all of those things are really factoring in people's decisions. They are looking at those things very closely when they are deciding where they are going on vacation and when they're going to go."
Train and bus travel is expected to increase by more than 12 percent this weekend. Although travel is declining on the road and by air, traffic from O'Hare Airport was absolutely brutal today. Part of that might be because Orbitz says Chicago is actually the number four destination in the country this Labor Day weekend.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Jewish Celebrities
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
