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Prices Dip on Airfares from the Shivery North to the Sun-Drenched South

There are great fare sales on right now for flights to Chinese cities and anywhere that AirTran flies, kids' tix to Tahiti dip to ridiculous lows; plus look for discounts on Osaka, Las Vegas, the Bahamas and most of Canada.

There's are great fare sales on right now for flights to Chinese cities and anywhere that AirTran flies, kids' tix to Tahiti dip to ridiculous lows, plus look for discounts on Osaka, Las Vegas, the Bahamas and most of Canada.

Northwest Slashes Fares to China from United Hubs

On Tuesday afternoon, Northwest (tel. 800/22-2525; www.nwa.com) launched an unadvertised assault on United by slashing fares to Shanghai and Beijing from United's stronghold airports in Chicago, Denver, San Francisco and Washington. Fares suddenly plummeted to $379 round-trip (with about $70-$90 extra in taxes and fees) from their previous level in the $800 and up range (and those higher fares are only good for travel though December). This is no doubt in retaliation for United's having slashed fares last week to Asia from Portland, Oregon (Portland to Tokyo was down to $299 round-trip; and United still has Portland/Shanghai at the same $379 round-trip). These Northwest fares are offered for travel Monday to Thursday only. Last day of travel is April 27, 2006. There is a three-day advance purchase, a three-night minimum stay and 30-day maximum stay requirement. As is the case with all of these "retaliatory" fares, there's no telling how long they will last, and seats may not be available for every day during the validity period, but when we spot checked on Tuesday seats were easy to find at the sale fare. And of course, United flies Chicago/Beijing nonstop, whereas you'll have to make connections on Northwest. But for $400 or more in savings, why not? Good luck.

Cheap Las Vegas Fares

United (tel. 800/241-6522; www.united.com) recently lowered fares to Las Vegas from various cities, perhaps in response to American's low $118 round-trip fares between Vegas and Washington, San Francisco and Denver, which are no longer available. Las Vegas/Tulsa is $118 round-trip on United compared to $157 each way on Southwest or $198 round-trip on Delta. Buffalo is also $118 RT with no minimum stay required, travel any day of the week (although some days will be sold out). Same deal for Kansas City, Omaha, and Nashville. Travel is valid clear through September 2006. These fares work in both directions (i.e., Vegas/Nashville and Nashville/Vegas). These are unadvertised deals and may not last long.

Kids Fly to Tahiti for Only $197 Round-Trip

Last week we told you about some super low fares to Tahiti. In addition, Air Tahiti Nui (tel. 877/824-4846; www.airtahitinui-usa.com) is having a promotion allowing children between the ages of two and 17 to fly from either Los Angeles or New York JFK to Papeete, Tahiti for only $197 round-trip. The child must accompany an adult traveling on the same itinerary, and only one child per adult is permitted at the sale fare. Travel from Los Angeles is between November 28 and December 12, 2005; and travel from New York JFK is between November 13 and December 12, 2005 or between January 10 and April 31, 2006. A 3-day minimum stay and 14-day maximum stay is stipulated. Tickets must be purchased before December 15, 2005.

AirTran's Big Winter Sale

AirTran (tel. 800/247-8726; www.airtran.com) is having a huge sale covering all their destinations (including Cancun and Grand Bahama Island), with fares starting as low as $39 one-way (round-trip purchase not required). As always, the AirTran sale is typically very good (with a few clunkers thrown in here and there), with big savings on some routes and just a few dollars on others: Baltimore to/from Boston is $49 one-way for the sale versus $108 round-trip on American, Delta, United and US Airways; Denver to/from Atlanta is $104 one-way versus $288 round-trip on American, Delta, Frontier, Northwest, United and US Airways; Los Angeles to/from Dallas is $89 one-way versus $218 round-trip on American, Delta, Frontier, Northwest, United and US Airways; and so on. For the lowest fares, travel Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday for travel through March 1, 2006. A 10-day advance purchase is required. Blackouts on November 22, 23, 26 to 28; December 21 to 23, 26, 2005; January 3, 16; and February 17 through February 20, 2006. Tickets must be purchased by November 10, 2005. We expect other airlines to match this sale on many routes, although they may require a round-trip purchase.

Sale to Osaka, Japan

America Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com) is having a sale to Osaka from over 70 cities in the US. Most of the fares are pretty good, compared to what else is available out there, and availability is relatively easy to find, although some travel dates are sold out. For example, departing on December 7 and returning on the 17th, from Dallas to Osaka, the price is $644.20 (taxes included) on American whereas the next lowest fare we could find on another airline was $930.70 (taxes included). Using the same dates, the total fare from Chicago to Osaka was $633.20, with the lowest alternate fare $814 on Northwest. Depart from November 1 through December 8, 2005, with all return travel completed by March 8, 2006. A 3-day advance purchaseis required along with a 4-day minimum and 3-month maximum stay. Tickets must be purchased by November 4, 2005. Keep in mind that you won't receive AAdvantage mileage credit with this sale.

Winter Travel to Canada

Delta Air Lines (tel. 800/221-1212; www.delta.com) is having a sale to various cities in Canada from select cities in the U.S. including Boston, Cincinnati, Salt Lake City, Miami, Honolulu and more. Included are Fredericton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver. This isn't a mind-blowing sale, but you might save a few bucks. For example, under the sale you'll pay $298 round-trip from Salt Lake City to Calgary, whereas Travelocity showed the next lowest fare at $330 on United. The same goes for the fare from Miami to Montreal -- $298 on Delta's Web site sale, and $330 on Travelocity on all the major airlines. Travel is valid starting November 6, 2005, and must be completed by January 31, 2006. A 7-day advance purchase and 1-night minimum stay is required. Blackouts are December 21-31, 2005 and January 1-3, 2006. Tickets must be purchased by November 14, 2005.

One-Way Sale for Florida

Delta also is offering a one-way sale between cities in Florida and Atlanta, Boston, Akron, Moline, Richmond, Los Angeles and New York LaGuardia. Most of the fares would be considered pretty good, if it weren't for AirTran's big sale that undercuts most of Delta's deals by around $10. For example, Atlanta to/from Ft Lauderdale, Miami or Orlando is $79 one-way in the Delta sale, whereas AirTran is offering $74 one-ways. Travel begins November 7, 2005, and must be completed by February 1, 2006. Travel to Florida on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday; and from Florida on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. A 10-day advance purchase required. Blackouts on November 21-28, December 17-31, 2005, January 1-4, 12-13 and 16, 2006.

Southwest's (tel. 800/435-9792; www.southwest.com) weekly "Click 'n Save" specials are highlighting Midland, Texas this week, but many other destinations are included and some competitors are matching or even doing one or two better. Chicago to Reno is $99 each way, no round-trip purchase required (that route is $178 round-trip on US Air although Southwest flies nonstop and US Air doesn't). Fares range from $34 to $109 one-way and as always you may do better with a Southwest Ding fare. Purchase by November 3, midnight Pacific Time; travel November 22 through March 31; 21-day advance purchase. And these fares (all plus taxes/fees) are available only on Southwest's site.

Spirit's $18 Caribbean Sale: Good Luck

You may have seen, either on other airfare deal sites or in a newsletter, that Spirit Airlines (tel. 800/772-7117; www.spiritair.com) was offering $18 round-trips to the Caribbean on Tuesday. Well, good luck. As you can imagine, Spirit's site was swamped with traffic, and it was nearly impossible to log on, let alone find the fares. We don't doubt that there were some seats available, but this strikes us as somewhat gimmicky. Even with taxes of over $100 round-trip, the fares would have been amazing -- if only Spirit had arranged for more bandwidth.

George Hobica is a syndicated travel journalist and blogger whose website, www.airfarewatchdog.com, tracks unadvertised airfare wars and other fare sales.

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