April 25, 2003 -- This week, the airfare action seems to be wildest in the West. Alaska Air, Southwest and Jetblue are all making crisscrossing the country look cheap and easy, and two foreign airlines are duking it out with sales from the West to Western Europe.
First, Vertically
Alaska Airlines is selling tickets up and down the West Coast for as little as $68 round trip, when you include a $10 discount for buying on alaskaair.com. We tried a few fares and while we didn't turn up fares quite as low as advertised, they're still pretty low. If you live in the Northwest, one of Alaska's advantages is that they serve many small, convenient airports throughout Washington and Oregon. Make sure to compare against other airlines, as Southwest and United are fighting this sale aggressively. Sale fares on Alaska include (without tax, but with the $10 discount):
- Portland to Sacramento: $68
- Seattle to Sacramento, Reno or the San Francisco Bay Area: $118
- Reno to Spokane, LA, Lewiston or Pullman: $128
- Various Washington and Oregon airports to Las Vegas: $138
- Various Washington airports and Portland to the LA area: $148
- Various Washington and Oregon airports to Phoenix and Tucson: $168
Buy by April 30 for travel by October 16. These fares require a 7-day advance purchase and generally apply Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. See the full details and book at www.alaskaair.com/www2/Promo/FarePromos/SpringonFaresWUS.asp
Now, Travel Horizontally
Today's the last day for America West's super-low $79 one-way fares from New York to Long Beach or Oakland, CA. See this past column for details. But JetBlue continues to offer aggressively discounted cross-country fares. Tickets from Atlanta or Fort Lauderdale to Long Beach, CA; from Atlanta to Oakland, CA; from Washington, DC to Long Beach or Oakland; and from New York City or Buffalo, NY to Seattle are all $99 each way. Depending on the route, you must buy by either April 30 or May 8 and travel by June 12 or June 25. Purchase and find full details at Jetblue.com.
Southwest has also started another one of its nationwide fare sales. Travel anywhere in Southwest's network (except to Houston and Orange County, CA) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays for no more than $99 plus tax each way; flights on other days cost up to $129. A 14-day advance purchase is required, and you have to buy by May 1 for travel after May 6. Buy at www.southwest.com. While other airlines will match or beat many of these fares, Southwest's sales are always a good backup.
Euro-Savings From San Francisco and LA
Under $400 for a flight from the West Coast to Europe? Sounds insane, but that's the fare war that Air France has incited.
Specifically, tickets from San Francisco to Amsterdam, via Paris, are going for a mere $296 plus taxes. Tickets from LA to Amsterdam are $372 plus tax. Buy by April 30, fly by June 18. Flights on Fridays-Sundays cost an extra $20 each way, and a Saturday night stay and 7-day advance purchase is required. This isn't just lower than everyone else's fares to Amsterdam, it's hundreds of dollars lower than Air France's own fares elsewhere in Europe; tickets to Paris are $602 plus tax. Needless to say, we're sure this one has been selling out pretty fast. Book at www.airfrance.com or call 800-237-2747.
Northwest/KLM has decided to match these fares and even beat them. Tickets from Los Angeles to Paris are now $292 plus tax on KLM's site, and we found a fare from San Francisco to Amsterdam of $396 including tax on Expedia that we couldn't duplicate on KLM's site. Buy by May 2 for travel by June 19. A 14-day advance purchase is required, and these fares only apply for travel Monday-Thursday. A Saturday night stay is required, and you can't stay more than 30 days. Book at www.nwa.com or www.expedia.com.
