Unadvertised United Weekend Fares
Every week United Airlines (tel. 800/241-6522; www.united.com) announces its weekly e-fares. Often, they seem pretty expensive, although they're usually the best you can do for last minute travel. However one thing you should know is that United's site sometimes only tells a fraction of the story. They also have unadvertised weekend deals, and that's especially true right now as the Airfarewatchdog research team discovered by poking around Travelocity. This week, there are dozens of fares between many smaller Midwestern airports and larger cities in the East, for travel departing this Saturday and returning the following Monday or Tuesday. Cities involved in this sale include Appleton WI, Ft. Wayne IN, Dayton OH, Kalamazoo MI, Lansing MI, South Bend IN, Madison WI, Traverse City MI, Flint MI, Peoria IL, Lexington KY, Louisville KY and many others.
For example, you won't see Newark/Ft. Wayne listed in this week's advertised sale, but that route on Travelocity was $160 roundtrip plus tax when we checked yesterday (as always, we hope and pray that these fares will be available when you look). Nor will you see Traverse City, MI/Washington, D.C. listed (the UA site only lists a fare to Chicago from Traverse City this week). But there it is on Travelocity for $196 round-trip including tax. From White Plains, NY the United site lists just two fares, one to Chicago and the other to Washington for $181 and $110 roundtrip respectively. But there's a $137 roundtrip fare to Roanoke, VA that you'd never know about if you merely looked at United's site and assumed it was complete. So the lesson here is simple: don't rely solely on airline weekend deal sites or third party sites and newsletters that simply report what the airlines tell them. Look around yourself and you may be pleasantly surprised to find some under-the-radar deals.
Los Angeles to Tahiti from $495
Air Tahiti Nui (tel. 877/824-4846; www.airtahitinui-usa.com) is in the news again with a sale to Papeete, Tahiti at up to 50 percent off normal fares, on select October, November and December flights from Los Angeles; but don't gloss over this sale if you don't happen to live in LA. Let's say you live in Denver and want to visit Tahiti during this sale. We see a lowest fare of $2,186 (gulp!) on Travelocity including taxes for Denver/Papeete leaving October 28 and returning November 5. But Denver to LA, where you can pick up the Air Tahiti sale fares, is just $254 roundtrip on those dates. So buy two separate fares and save money. Depart on October 28, 30, November 11, 13, 24, December 1, 4 and 31, 2005; and return on November 3, 5, 16, 23, 29, December 14 and January 9, 2006. There is a minimum stay of three days and a maximum stay of 21 days. All tickets must be ticketed and issued the day they are booked -- at least three days prior to departure and by November 15. Book on Air Tahiti's site and click on the "Flexible" button to find these fares more easily. They seem to be readily available at the present moment.
Thanksgiving Fare Sale on the District
Independence Air (tel. 800/359-3594; www.flyi.com) is having a sale for travel over Thanksgiving to and from Washington, D.C. Dulles. Fares start as low as $39 one-way (to/from Charleston, WV), and go up to $99 one-way (to/from Las Vegas). Even though this sale is billed as a Thanksgiving sale, it's valid for travel between November 17 and 30. This is a good sale, since the lowest fare between Washington, D.C. and Charleston is $138 round-trip on Continental right now. Chicago/Washington at $59 one-way compares favorably to a next lowest $159 round-trip on United. Availability is pretty good as of this writing, and other airlines may be matching by the time you're ready to book. Tickets must be booked by October 26.
Hawaii Sale
Delta Air Lines (tel. 800/221-1212; www.delta.com) is offering a sale to the three main cities in Hawaii from select cities around the US, starting as low as $438 round-trip. Sale cities are Kahului Maui, Kona and Honolulu and the sale works in reverse. This sale is pretty good, considering it's for travel through February 14, and not the typical December 15 deadline typical at this time of year but if you're traveling before then you may find lower fares elsewhere. For example, the Delta sale fare between Los Angeles and Kahului Maui is $438 round-trip, but the lowest fare available on Travelocity right now is $264 round-trip (both before taxes). Some but not all airlines have matched Delta's fares on various routes. Travel for this sale is between October 31 and February 14, except for fares to/from Kona, which begin December 16. Travel to Hawaii is not permitted on November 18 to 20, and December 17, 21 to 29. Travel from Hawaii is not permitted on November 25 to 27, December 23 to 26, 30 to January 2 and 7. Tickets must be purchased by November 9.
Southwest's Sale on San Antonio
The weekly focus sale from Southwest's (tel. 800/435-9792; www.southwest.com) shines its light on San Antonio this time around, with fares ranging from $49 one-way (to/from Dallas Love Field, Harlingen and Houston Hobby) to $114 one-way (to/from Baltimore, Oakland, Philadelphia, Seattle and other cities). Most of the fares are slightly higher or are being matched by other airlines if you're flying roundtrip, but they're good if you're only going one-way. For example, to/from Kansas City and Nashville, the sale fare is $94 one-way, but American and Delta are offering the same routes for $188 round-trip. All the major airlines are offering $168 round-trips between San Antonio and Baltimore, $198 round-trips between San Antonio and both Oakland and Philadelphia, and $178 round-trips between San Antonio and Seattle, which are slightly better than Southwest's one-way fares doubled. Fares are readily available. A 21-day advance purchase is required for travel through February 3, 2005. Tickets must be purchased by Oct 27.
Two-Day Sale Between Denver and 42 Cities
Frontier Airlines (tel. 800/432-1359; www.frontierairlines.com) is having a huge sale between Denver and a multitude of American cities, ranging from $142 round-trip up to $268 round-trip. The fares are still available, but some routes you can find for less on other airlines (albeit only by a few dollars). For example, the sale fare between Denver and San Francisco is $208 round-trip, versus a next lowest $194 round-trip on American; Denver to Chicago is $198 round-trip on Frontier compared to $252 round-trip on United; and Denver/Philadelphia is $248 round-trip versus $242 round-trip on Continental. A 7-day advance purchase is required. Travel Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday through February 15. Blackouts on November 19, 22, 23, 25 to 29, December 17, 21-24, 26-28, 30, 31, January 1 to 3. Tickets must be purchased by midnight, Mountain Time, October 26.
Take 20 Percent Off Fares to Guadalajara and Alaska from West Coast
Alaska Airlines (tel. 800/252-7522; www.alaskaair.com) is offering a 20 percent savings on fares to Guadalajara, Mexico from Los Angeles, Reno, and select cities in Oregon and Washington. And the 20 percent also applies to select cities in Alaska from Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose. A round-trip fare between Los Angeles and Guadalajara for departure on November 8 and returning on November 15 is $315.18 round-trip with taxes on American Airlines, but you'll shell out just $281.18 round-trip on Alaska with the 20 percent discount. Another example: San Jose to Anchorage on the same dates is about $440 round-trip on American, Delta, Frontier, and US Airways versus $360.50 round-trip with the discount. Valid for travel through February 9. Enter the e-Certificate code EC06805 when making your reservation on Alaska's site. Blackouts on December 20 to 23, 26 to 27, and January 1 to 3. Tickets must be purchased by October 30.
Los Angeles to Taipei for $499
Malaysia Airlines (tel. 800/552-9264; www.malaysiaairlinesusa.com is having a great sale between Los Angeles and Taipei. However, the downside is Malaysia Airlines' unyielding online booking engine: we had a difficult time trying to book the fare. The lowest fare we found was $660 round-trip with taxes for departures on February 7 and returns on February 14, which is still better than the $765.20 all-in round-trip fare we found elsewhere. Travel through November 30 and from January 16 through March 31. No minimum stay and 30-days maximum stay. Tickets must be purchased by November 15.
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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