AAA iPhone app brings even more travel discounts to your fingertips

Maybe AAA should change their slogan from “Show Your Card & Save” to “Show Your iPhone & Save”, as the travel service giant has just announced the 500,000th download of its very own free iPhone application: AAA Discounts.

The application allows iPhone holders to find Show Your Card & Save® vendors and services based on GPS functionality. With over 110,000 location being served digitally to over 51 million AAA members throughout the states, that is a lot of money being saved while on the road.

“At a time when saving money is a top priority, this free application is just one more way AAA is helping members save,” said Gail Acebes, director, AAA Partnership Programs. “We are pleased so many are taking advantage of an easy way to find discounts.”

The AAA Discounts iPhone app acquires the user’s location automatically, displays nearby AAA Show Your Card & Save locations and allows users to pan and zoom on a regional map. It also displays key information including the name, address, phone, distance from location and a summary of the discount details. Users can filter listings by category and have one click access to a route map and narrative directions. The AAA Discounts app works on the iPod Touch as well when the user has access to WiFi.

First in a series of AAA applications planned for the iPhone, AAA Discounts can be obtained in two ways: via an iPhone by clicking on the App Store icon and searching “AAA Discounts” or by downloading iTunes on your computer and searching “AAA Discounts” in the App Store. The application uses components of AAA’s TripTik(R) Travel Planner in combination with iPhone GPS capabilities.

While all users can view locations offering discounts, only members can take advantage of savings and access RESPONSE-based AAA roadside assistance. When members use the iPhone to place a call to AAA, their GPS location is transmitted along with the call. More than 2,000 roadside assistance requests have been made since the app was launched. Non-members also can apply for membership via the AAA Discounts app.

AAA’s Show Your Card & Save program is the largest member discount program in the world offering more than 164,000 locations for savings worldwide including 110,000 retail locations in North America and popular online retailers including Target.com, FTD.com, The UPS Store, BlueNile.com, Lens Crafters and more. Visit www.AAA.com/discounts for a complete list of retailers and offers.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.