August 3, 2004 -- Inexpensive travel this fall is looking better and better for you early bookers, with major carriers jockeying for customers like taxis at last call.
United Airlines thinks big, "putting the world on sale." The global carrier is offering consumers savings to any destination the airline flies. Travel must be booked by August 13, 2004 and is good through December 15, 2004 for U.S. travel with dates varying for worldwide destinations. Sample fares include Chicago to New York for $99 one way. The popular Los Angeles to New York route costs $99 as well. For you politicos tired of Washington D.C. in an election year, you can head to New Orleans for less than a dinner for four at the infamous Commanders Palace. Round trip from our nation's capital to the Big Easy will run you $208 plus the appropriate taxes. Book on www.united.com and get 1,000 Mileage Plus miles from the carrier. Also, in a partnership with Marriott Hotels, United fliers who book accommodations at one of 1,500 participating hotels will get a third night free if they book three consecutive nights and stay a Saturday night.
Midwest Airlines is also stepping up to the plate with low fares. Flights out of the airline's main hub in Milwaukee include a get-out-of-the-freezing-cold flight for $204 plus minimal taxes to beautiful Orlando. Elvis fans living in Kansas City can head to BBQ shacks and Graceland in Memphis for $174 plus taxes, roundtrip. Fares are available from August 1, 2004 to August 6, 2004 with travel good through December 17, 2004 if booked seven days in advance. Thanksgiving dates are blocked out. See www.midwestairlines.com for details.
One airline is going the opposite way with its fares. We've all heard of fare decreases, but fare hikes? What is this an oil crisis? According to American Airlines it is. Passing on what an American Airline press release called an "increase to help offset the continuing high price of jet fuel." Effective immediately, the carrier will increase one-way fares by $5 and round-trip fares by $10. Similar fare hikes usually fail, sending consumers to competing airlines and forcing the fare-hiking airline to rescind the cost increase.
Enjoy the skyways and book early. Why pay more?