April 12, 2004 -- Under-12s and over-65s are the focus of discount airline ATA's current sale (www.ata.com/sales/general/040405_pg1.html), which ends today and offers discounted fares for kids and seniors. It's good for flights all spring and summer, so if you're planning a family trip this summer, it's definitely worth checking out. ATA flies to a slew of popular destinations like New York, San Francisco and Orlando, but also to a bunch of smaller airports in the Midwest -- making it a good option for Hoosiers and Michiganders looking for a getaway.
Unfortunately, budgeteers, there's one big catch to this sale: each minor must be accompanied by an adult at a considerably more mediocre fare. For instance, the kids' fare from Seattle to DC is a very pleasant $198 roundtrip. But that requires buying a $258 adult ticket, bringing the average fare to $228. That's pretty good, but nothing to go dancing in the streets about.
Similarly, the kids' fare from Grand Rapids, Mich. to Miami is an unbeatable $158. But that's paired with a so-so $238 adult fare, making for a pretty good but not extraordinary $198 average.
Fares are best on this sale from ATA's core airports in the heartland. You'll have no trouble finding a great fare from Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Madison, WI or Dayton, OH. For example, a roundtrip for a parent and child between Dayton and New York City averages out to $178, a pretty good fare.
The senior tickets don't have this restriction, and in fact, each senior can bring along a non-senior companion at the lower fare. Senior fares are very good -- for instance, you can fly from Cedar Rapids, Chicago, Dayton, Des Moines, Flint, Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Lexington, Madison, Milwaukee, Moline, South Bend, Springfield (IL) or Toledo to New York City for a very friendly $158.
ATA also fares well with tickets to Florida. For a family vacation this summer, they're offering the following fares to Orlando:
- From Chicago: Kids $138; Seniors $158; Adults $188
- From Dayton: Kids $138; Seniors $158; Adults $178
- From Ft. Wayne: Kids $158; Seniors $168; Adults $198
- From Indianapolis: Kids $118; Seniors $138; Adults $148
- From Springfield, IL: Kids $158; Seniors $168; Adults $198
- From Toledo, OH: Kids $158; Seniors $168; Adults $198
Fares on this sale may not show up on major travel agency sites (because of the age restrictions), so if you're flying out of an airport served by ATA this summer, check out ATA's Web site at www.ata.com/sales/general/040405_pg1.html.
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