Despite Uncertainty About Fuel, Plans For Holiday Stay On Course

TAMPA - Despite the high price of fuel and shortages at some gas stations throughout Florida, the Labor Day weekend is shaping up as a typical holiday travel period - sort of.

`` `Uncertainty' is a fair way to describe the situation,'' Gregg Laskoski, managing director of public & government relations for AAA Auto Club South in Tampa, said Friday.

No one knows from one day to the next which gas station will have fuel and what the price will be, travel industry observers agree.

They believe people with long-held plans, such as attending the first weekend of college football games or an attraction, are unlikely to change them.

``But if you have someone who might have traveled to get together with friends or family, maybe they will put those plans off for another time,'' Laskoski said.

About 10,000 Miami Hurricane fans are expected to travel to Monday night's game against the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee, many of them on the highways from south Florida, said Scott Moody, an assistant sports information director at the University of Miami.

Most airline passengers also have long-held plans.

``Tampa International Airport is looking at 75 percent capacity [or seats filled] for airlines,'' said airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan, typical for Labor Day.

The weekend also is shaping up well for beach hotels.

``We are at 90-odd percent for [tonight],'' said Russ Kimball, manager of the Sheraton Sand Key Resort on Clearwater Beach. ``We expect more last- minute bookings.''

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.