2020 evolved into a year of many “new normals” for family and friends, co-workers and colleagues, communities and businesses. AAA Western and Central New York is adapting to ensure we continue to serve members in the most optimal ways.  

So how can we be of better service to you? In the year of the pandemic, this translates to providing virtual options. 

As foot traffic decreased in our brick-and-mortar locations, we quickly revamped operations and developed exciting new ways to meet you virtually. As part of this change, our Ithaca Travel & Insurance Center is closing. However, this does not mean we can no longer fully service our Ithaca area members. 

We created this FAQ to help AAA members in the Ithaca area gain insight into the closure. We also want to introduce members to the new ways of interacting with AAA with no disruption to services. 

Remember, AAA is a simple phone call away for members! Call 1‑800‑AAA‑HELP for Emergency Road Service, 1-800-836-2582 for member services, or 1-800-937-1222 for travel agency services.  

Travel materials, TripTiks®, maps, and TourBooks® can be preordered and mailed to the member’s residence. 

Q: When is the last day the Ithaca office will be open? 

A: November 30, 2020. 

Q: What will happen to the AAA travel or insurance agents I worked with in the past? 

A: All AAA associates who worked in the Ithaca office will be reassigned to another position within the organization. AAA members can continue to work with our loyal travel and insurance representatives, simply out of a new office, or by phone or by email. Our Virtual Travel Agency offers video conferencing and video chats with insurance agents are available as well. 

Q: What will happen to the trip I booked? Will this impact my insurance policy? 

A: The Ithaca office closure will not affect AAA Travel or Insurance services. 

Q: Will this impact my Emergency Road Service? 

A: No. AAA will continue to provide Emergency Road Service 24/7 for our members in the Ithaca area or anywhere else. Simply request roadside assistance at any time via the free AAA Mobile app, on AAA.com, or by calling 1-800-AAA-HELP. We continue to utilize local contractors for roadside assistance to ensure AAA members remain totally satisfied.   

Q: Why is the Ithaca AAA office closing?  

A: After careful and thoughtful evaluation, we made this decision based on our members' growing preferences for conducting business with us through virtual appointments, via AAA.com and through phone services.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the way our members conduct business. Walk-in traffic at our offices is down significantly since the pandemic began, and we are finding new ways to offer services to our members. 

In July 2020, we unveiled a new AAA.com experience to assist members from a remote environment. It was developed with a member-led user experience as our top priority. We are confident that our Ithaca area members will enjoy a totally satisfying experience with membership, travel and insurance. Our members’ favorite services are now available from the convenience and comfort of home. 

We are being responsible while shifting services to the digital landscape. AAA’s main source of revenue is membership dues. We are accountable to our members and pride ourselves on prudent attention to how that money is spent and invested. We have learned that we don’t need an office of this size in today’s landscape. With the lease up for renewal, we made the decision to close the Ithaca office. As with any business, we must maximize the efficient delivery of services without compromising attention to sound financial decisions. This does not, in any way, indicate instability for AAA currently or in the foreseeable future. AAA is more than 60 million members strong in the United States. 

Q: How else can I obtain AAA services without visiting an office?  

A: Popular product lines – including Internet TripTiks®, online travel reservations, insurance, and even requests for Emergency Road Service are all available at AAA.com and the AAA Mobile app. Remember, AAA is a simple phone call away for members. 

Call 1-800-AAA-HELP for Emergency Road Service, 1-800-836-2582 for member services, or 1-800-937-1222 for travel agency services. We can even mail materials to your home. 

We thank our members for their understanding during this change, and we encourage you to continue to take advantage of AAA services conveniently through AAA.com and the AAA Mobile app.

AAA Mobile App