AAA memebership

[seaboy4hire]

I have a question about AAA membership. Those who are or were memebers did or do you find it worth the small fee at least on the travel part of the services? With a certain someone most likely going on tour I am planning on a lot of traveling and it looks like they offer some good deals.

 

Hugs,

Greg

Greg Seattle Wa [email protected]

http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/gregseattle.html

http://seaboy4hire.tripod.com

[Guest skrubber]

I joined AAA and used it once. I got a flat tire in some very cold weather and while usually I would change my own I called AAA and stood there and watched the guy change my tire. I drive an F150 so the tires are rather large and the lugs were on tight so I probably would have never gotten it done myself. The "professional" had a hard time and he broke out tools I didn't even have. That small fee paid for itself that one time and I will continue to renew.

[ted]

I find them useful for auto breakdowns, for driving vacations and their guidebooks. Also they do have negotiated discounts to a lot of travel related attractions, theme parks, Amtrak, even the parking lot at the airport I use gives a dollar off a day to AAA members. What I do find strange is that their AAA rates at a lot of hotels are not particularly good deals, often you can do much better on your own, and I'm not even talking Priceline or hotwire. They also come in handy for passport/visa photos.

[bigguyinpasadena]

I have been a member for ten years.In that time I have called them twice to change tires,3 times to jumpstart a car,been towed to a garage 3 times,and I use their office in liue of the DMV(many times)

and have gotten many guidebooks fro free.So yes,I feel it is money well spent.

Also remember that if you are you can use the services for someone elses vehicle as well as your own-you just have to be present.

[Samai139]

I've been a memeber for nearly 20 years and have used their services for a jump start when my battery died; a tire change on a friend's car while I was traveling with him, in Canada; Trip Ticks (??) for all kinds of places; brochures; discount rates at hotels--although I agree their discounts can probably be beaten by 'net services---hotels.com, et. al.; tips on travel from the magazines; help in researching purchase of a new car.

One thing you need to be careful of if you join---towing for regular AAA, NOT AAA Plus, is only 5 miles. If you join AAA Plus, you get towing for up to 100 miles I think. Also, sorry I said "one thing"--they do NOT do repairs, so if you break down, only expect them to tow you or give you gas, or change a tire, or jump start you---no mechanical stuff.

Bottom Line? I think it's worth the small annual fee, I always feel re-assured that I have help available. Another hint? When traveling be sure and have a cell phone with GPS.

[Guest bighugbearphx]

As others have said, I think the main value in the membership is the 24 hr emergency road service, where just one or two calls can easily recoup what the annual membership cost you.

 

As for their travel service, I believe their agents are available to non-members as well, although some vacation packages are discounted for members only. There are, indeed, discounts on a lot of tourist destinations, theme parks, etc., and their AAA Guide Books to each geographical area are excellent. If doing a lot of driving, their website lets members print a custom "trip tik" (strip maps) that are much more detailed and useful than the standard MapQuest results, and even give you info such as local construction delays. On the AAA hotel rates, I am also a member of AARP, and I've found that sometimes AAA rates beat AARP, and vice versa.

 

Bottom line: If you will do a lot of driving, either your own car or a rental, likely the membership is a no-brainer. If not, it's kind of a coin toss, as most of the bargains are likely available elsewhere.

[JT Brooklyn]

Seaboy... Very Good to Join Up. They are a Good Back Up, for any Road Problems. I worked at one time for them as a Route Planner! I think the State Tour Books and "Route Trip-Tiks" are also still Included in Membership, along with Great Area Books! Happy Motoring! LOL :+

[Guest DallasObserver]

Greg - I've travelled approximately 3500 miles during the pat 3 months and used AAA for their trip kit service, guide books and in case I needed road side assistance.

 

With mapquest and like sites one wonders why a trip kit is needed these days. However, I've found several errors in mapquest and like sites directions. Thankfully I had the trip kit maps to confirm the correct path.

 

In addition to hotel discounts use of the card at certain book stores, record shops, movie theaters, and restaurants will also result in a discount. The only issue I had with the discount program was hotels. The hotels play so many games with rates that it's hard to determine if a AAA discount is truly being applied.

 

Over the years I've used the card when my vehicle broke down (i.e. tow service, flat tires, engine problems) without much issue.

 

Two things to be alert to are: If you use the card over X amount of times in one year for roadside assistance they charge you additional money. If you need to be towed the free distance is limited. Regarding the latter I believe they now offer a new membership tier that allows for unlimited tow distance.

 

-Dallas Observer

[SAdler]

>I have a question about AAA membership. Those who are or were

>memebers did or do you find it worth the small fee at least on

>the travel part of the services? With a certain someone most

>likely going on tour I am planning on a lot of traveling and

>it looks like they offer some good deals.

 

I have a shrine to them SOMEWHERE in my apartment.

 

Seriously, worth the fee and then some. If you've ever locked your keys in your car, gotten a flat, needed a jump etc ..... just think about it. Especially as an escort where time = money. The time you save having them do it and help you out is priceless.

 

In addition ... most shopping outlets give you a coupon book when you show them your AAA card. There are a LOT of AAA discounts in general like Jiffy Lube and many other places, even some theaters.

 

Definite must have accessory this winter

[Guest skrubber]

And Lenscrafters gives a AAA discout

[Guest justme]

I have AAA strictly for car problems. Only used it once but, it came in VERY, VERY handy. I've done much better at Liberty Travel for my travel arrangements than at AAA Travel. As a matter of fact they were the highest of any travel agent I went to.

[JT Brooklyn]

skrubber. I think Lenscrafters& Assoc Dr's... give a AAA Discount on both Eye exams and Lenses & Frames. It definitely comes in Handy, Their Prices(Markups) on Frames are really High! :+

[jeanclaude44]

RE: AAA membership

 

I've been a member for 35 years.

Like all those who have posted, I think it is good value.

I love maps and they give good maps.

They take care of some DMV stuff like re-registering license plates.

When your car has problems, it is a great life-saver.

And my barber used them for a tour to China that sounded like a good bargain.

 

After all the positive comments here, do you think they might take out a banner ad on this site?

[BigK]

RE: AAA membership

 

Been a member for 25 years. All of the above plus free travelers checks.

[curious2000]

I have been a member for years and think it's worth the fee alone for the occasional times you need a flat tire fixed or jumpstart. Now, tonight I learn for the first time you can use them instead of standing in line at the DMV to renew your license! Awesome! I just checked their website and it looks like you can do it online! Wow, I would never have know that unless I read it here! Thanks!!!

:-)

[SAdler]

RE: AAA membership

 

>After all the positive comments here, do you think they might

>take out a banner ad on this site?

 

LOL. All the other product placement hasn't resulted in ads and those are for gay directed products....something tells me AAA aint going anywhere near the XXX

[OneFinger]

Had AAA for years and I've never regretted paying the small yearly fee. Have used them to change tires, bring me gas, open the car when I've locked the keys inside, etc. I have the RV+ package so I've also got coverage when using my camper or trailer. One time I got a flat at 2:00 a.m. on a dark and lonely road when my camper was on the truck. No way I could have changed that tire on my own in the dark.

 

Have also used travel benefits and their Trip Tix maps are great. Also get a $1/day discount for airport parking.

 

Another benefit is the AAA benefits are linked to the member and not a specific vehicle. So, I've used AAA to tow my relatives when they've had problems.

 

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"We need to have more respect for each other. Things have just gone really crazy, out of control. ... We're on a very weird kind of cycle." Stevie Wonder

[+ Charlie]

I have been a member for many years and can remember only two occasions when I used them for car problems. However, I have done a lot of US travel (for example, seven cross-country trips in the past four years), and I figure that what I have saved on all the free guidebooks and maps, motel discounts, fee-less traveler's checks, theater tickets, even discounts on train tickets (10% off Amtrak), has more than paid for the annual fee. I have never used their travel service, however.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Membership Has

 

Like everyone else on here, I have used AAA for battery jumps and tows, in several states. The membership is totally worth it for that alone.

 

However, I also have requested and received, free of charge, a number of excellent maps for places I drive to regularly, such as Orange County (Laguna and Newport Beach), San Diego and the Palm Springs area. The maps are available to non-members, but for sale. The Trip-Tiks are great, when you are planning a road trip, because unlike Map Quest or Google Maps, Triple A has an entire department who works on finding out about road constructions and other potential set backs and gives you that information if you know your perspective dates. In this respect, it can be an invaluable addition to other information.

 

As for travel, I have clients who have bought cruises and other trips with them. I also agree with the posters on here that some of these trips were not as discounted as they could be and I generally prefer to make my own travel arrangements. However, if you like the full service treatment of a travel agency, that is basically what you get and you can avail yourself of these services without being a member.

[buckguy]

Have had a membership ever since I was a student (it was much cheaper, then!). When I had unreliable cars or had an accident, the emergency road service was a life saver. The AAA Plus is definitely worth it if you have a long commute or if you travel long distances on a frequent basis. The Tour Books (for motels, etc.) are great help, as are the maps. I have used the rental car discounts many times, as well as the guaranteed motel rates (handy for trips where you don't know when you'll stop). I usually avoid travel agnecies, but the AAA in DC had someone who was able to get me onto obscure airlines I needed for a Middle eastern trip a number of years ago. AAA also has services like notaries (which you can never find when you need it), international drivers license endoresments, passport photos at a discount, free traveler's checks, etc. It's not difficult for me to make the membership pay for itself just about every year.

[twinkboylover28]

AAA sucks ass. Not worth it.

[OneFinger]

I'm interested in your reasons and experience. Please post more details on your negative opinion.

 

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"We need to have more respect for each other. Things have just gone really crazy, out of control. ... We're on a very weird kind of cycle." Stevie Wonder

[twinkboylover28]

I'm biased because I use to work there. I feel you can save money by using MapQuest, Priceline, and the 3year/36,000 service offered with most new cars. Again, I admit I'm biased because I did win a harrassment case against them. I'm sure many people may feel that they perhaps benefit from their "services."

[OneFinger]

As a former employee you do have more insight on the organization than I do. I'm sure you have seen things that usually is not known to the casual user (like me).

 

There is one problem with AAA services that I did should have previously mentioned. I've known people who work in the towing industry. They say it is common for them to handle non-AAA calls before providing services to a AAA member. This is because AAA reimbursement is usually at a negotiated rate that is less than what the service normally charges.

 

In some large cities where I've lived it's not uncommon for there to be a 60-90 minute wait before the tow service showed up. (This was particularly true in the mid-west states during the winter.) Where I currently live I usually get service within 10-15 minutes.

 

Prior to getting AAA I did use a tow option through my insurance company. But, that required me to pay the bill at the time of service and submit a claim to the insurance company. I do like that there is no out-of-pocket money when I call AAA.

 

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"We need to have more respect for each other. Things have just gone really crazy, out of control. ... We're on a very weird kind of cycle." Stevie Wonder

[Guest]

Well, one can get roadside assistance insurance for less, but to me that's not AAA's biggest membership value. Although their tourbooks aren't the best guidebooks around for sightseeing, they are quite useful for hotel planning, especially in smaller cities. Yes, in larger cities, I often use Priceline or Hotwire, and sometimes one can get bigger discounts in other ways. If you visit smaller towns (i.e. driving tours to National Parks, etc.), however, you will probably save money with AAA discounts on hotels. You will also get discounts on entrance fees to a lot of attractions, as well as discounts on airport parking, which can add up quickly. It's also very handy to get maps of places ahead of time. So if you travel more than three times a year, I think the savings add up quickly.