Dallas-area resident fills-up with 20 years worth of gas

NORWALK, Conn., Feb. 24, 2009 - An Arlington, Texas resident doesn’t have to worry about gas prices for the next 20 years.

Thanks to AutoVantage, a leading national auto club, Donald Hilgeman, a 44-year-old American Airlines flight attendant, has won the 20th Anniversary Great Gas Giveaway sweepstakes, filling his tank with free gas for two decades. AutoVantage awarded the Dallas-area resident with the 20 years worth of free gas as part of its 20th Anniversary Great Gas Giveaway sweepstakes. The giveaway was launched in April of 2008 as a celebration of the auto club’s historic milestone. More than 38,000 people entered the online sweepstakes at http://www.autovantage.com, which ran through December. AutoVantage also awarded nine GPS navigation devices and 10 $100 gas cards as part of the sweeps.

The free gas grand prize could not have come at a better time for Hilgeman, with the volatile economy, skittish stock market and high gas prices.

“It’s absolutely incredible,” said Hilgeman, who has worked for American Airlines for 17 years. “I didn’t believe it at first, but it is definitely a much-needed shot in this challenging economy. Gas has been so horrendously expensive - it is a huge relief.

“This has truly changed my life,” Hilgeman added. “It’s smooth sailing for me on the road for the next 20 years.”

The sweepstakes was a great way for AutoVantage to thank the thousands of motorists who have turned to its automotive services over the years. “As a leading automotive motor club, we pay close attention to the driving habits, behaviors and attitudes of American drivers, and clearly, one of the biggest issues facing the public today is the rising cost of fuel,” said Brad Eggleston, vice president of AutoVantage. “We wanted to celebrate by giving away 20 great prizes to help people navigate the highways and byways of America - and what better way for us to celebrate this historic milestone than to reward motorists with pain relief at the pump. We’re thrilled Donny is our big winner.”

In the last two decades, the auto club has provided timely roadside assistance to more than 1 million stranded motorists, navigated drivers on their trips in a snap with more than 123,000 AccuTrip Routing maps (Las Vegas is the most popular, most requested), delivered more than 118,000 new car summaries and 61,000 used car summaries to help consumers get the best deals on automobiles, and logged nearly 100,000 maintenance referrals to get everyone back on the road and on their way.

There was no purchase necessary to enter the sweeps which was open to legal residents of the U.S. who are 18-years-old or older.

In the 20 years since AutoVantage’s birth here are AutoVantage’s Top 5 problems on the road, garnered from more than 1 million roadside assistance dispatches:
1. Breakdowns requiring tows (60 percent)
2. Lockouts (12 percent)
3. Jumpstarts (10 percent)
4. Tire changes (9 percent)
5. Fuel deliveries (1 percent)

Here are the Top 20 destinations for motorists:
1. Las Vegas
2. Orlando, Fla.
3. San Antonio, Texas
4. Memphis, Tenn.
5. San Diego
6. Branson, Mo.
7. Nashville, Tenn.
8. Atlanta
9. Houston
10. Grand Canyon, Ariz.
11. Kissimmee, Fla., near Disney World
12. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
13. Washington, D.C.
14. Chicago
15. San Francisco
16. Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
17. Los Angeles
18. Niagara Falls, N.Y.
19. Jacksonville, Fla.
20. Miami

Other auto insights from the experts at AutoVantage:

• Car life spans continue to improve.  In 1977, half of the automobiles had a life expectancy of 10.5 years and 107,000 miles.  By 1990, 50 percent survived from 12.5 years and 127,000 miles, and now average car life expectancies are 13 years and 152,000 miles.
• It’s estimated that there’s nearly one car for every American of driving age
• Median automobile age is nine years
• Number of those reaching driving age is the largest since the Baby Boom.
• Average new car spend… $22,600
• Average used car spend… $9,000
• Average auto loan length… five years
• Estimated cars in use in the U.S.… 135 million
• Average annual car maintenance costs… $650

About AutoVantage
Members of AutoVantage (http://www.autovantage.com/ or 1-800-876-7787) can save from 5 to 15 percent on car care at some 17,000 service locations, including participating AAMCO, Jiffy Lube, Meineke and American Car Care Center locations. AutoVantage also offers 24-hour nationwide emergency towing, roadside assistance, and lockout protection from its network of more than 10,000 emergency roadside assistance providers. Trip routing for maps and door-to-door driving directions across the U.S. are also included. AutoVantage is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.

About Affinion Group
As a global leader with almost 40 years of experience, Affinion Group (www.affinion.com) enhances the value of its partners' customer relationships by developing and marketing loyalty solutions. Leveraging its expertise in customer engagement, product development and targeted marketing, Affinion provides programs in subscription-based lifestyle services, personal protection, insurance and other areas to help generate increased customer loyalty and significant incremental revenue for more than 5,550 marketing partners worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Stamford, Conn., the company has approximately 4,250 employees and markets in 17 countries globally. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO 27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI compliant and Cybertrust certified.

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