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CNN Live Saturday

Higher Gasolines Prices Will Have Minor Effect on Summer Travel

Aired May 26, 2001 - 17:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: If you have been to the gas station recently, you know that gas prices are on the rise. That leads some critics to say high prices have many Americans altering their holiday plans.

But joining us now is George Hobica, a travel expert with DigitalCity.com, and he says that is not the case. Mr. Hobica, thank you for joining us.

GEORGE HOBICA, TRAVEL EXPERT: Hi, Stephen, how are you.

FRAZIER: Has it been your experience, from where you are, that you see people throttling back on their travel plans because of the economy?

HOBICA: Well, when you do the math as far as driving goes, it really does not add that much more to the cost of a trip. I mean, gas prices this summer compared to last summer, yes, they are higher, but, say, on 1,000-mile trip, if you are, you know, if your car gets 25 miles to the gallon, and you know, you are probably going to spending about, I don't know, $20 more on gas, and you divide that by four people, and it's even less.

So, I don't really think that people are going to throttle back on their vacation plans. I mean, it does effect commuters over the term of a whole year, yes, but not so much for just a vacation.

FRAZIER: And a vacation is a special thing, and I think it would be a lucky family that could get 25 miles to the gallon, but even if you plant them into an SUV that gets 12, and there are plenty of those out there, it's still the event, it's still something you're looking forward to all season long.

HOBICA: Definitely. You know, we only get two weeks of vacation in the U.S., unlike in Europe where they get six weeks. I'm very jealous of them. I took five days last year, which I shouldn't admit, but...

FRAZIER: Typical American.

HOBICA: Yeah, I'm kind of a workaholic. But you know, you can also get great deals with flying. You know, the airlines are -- because the economy is so much slower -- the airlines are offering some great deals. I saw, for example, Memphis to Anchorage, Alaska -- I don't know if any of you here ever wanted to go to Alaska, but you can fly there for 275 round-trip, same thing from Houston to Anchorage. That's cheap, and it's no advance purchase. You can you walk up to the airport tomorrow and take off.

FRAZIER: In your experience, is it airline travel where you can find the best deals these days?

HOBICA: Well, I think -- you know, on the Internet is where you can find great deals on airline travel. If you look at the right site, if you really do your mouse clicks and do your shopping on all the difference sites, like Travelosity and Expedia, a there is a new site coming up, which I am sure you reported about, called Orbits.com, and then look at the individual sites like Southwest.com, United.com.

You know, you can get some great bargains. Southwest had $30 one-way fairs, you know, to dozens and scores of cities recently. And that's cheaper than driving.

FRAZIER: And is that only available through the Internet?

HOBICA: Well, some of the, you know, some of the great deals are like the ones I just mentioned to Alaska, you can just call your travel agent. You can find them easily on the Internet by going to Travelosity or Orbits and just, you know, type in "Memphis to Anchorage," and the fair will pop up.

But some of them are available just on the Internet. And it is confusing to many people, because you have to look in both places. You have to look on the airline Web sites and you have to look on the Expedias and the Travelosities, but there a lot a good deals you can get through a travel agent.

FRAZIER: I'm getting a sense, though, that we are now seeing a little bit of a digital divide when it comes to travel. If you happen to own a computer and if you know how to use it to get up on the Internet, you are going to find better deals than if not.

HOBICA: Right. And a lot of people, myself included, think that's very unfair. I actually have a column that -- a syndicated newspaper column -- and I expressed that view and I got some nasty letters from readers saying, you know, why should, you know, who says that life is fair, and, you know, who says that it should be a leveled playing field?

But I'm sure that if everything were sold like that, like gasoline or food or education -- you know, if you have a computer you get a discount, if you don't, you don't get the discount -- yeah, people would be up in arms. But you know, even if you don't have a computer, you can go to a library, and I'm sure there are many wonderful librarians out there who will help you, you know master the Internet.

But some of the best deals are only available on the Internet. And you know, for some people, that is unfair. FRAZIER: Well, we're grateful for those insights tonight. We didn't say that the background behind you is Boston, which is a fair destination of its own, and if you don't get a chance to travel, at least you can work in a great city. George Hobica, thank you for doing this.

HOBICA: Thank you.

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