We've compiled a compendium of awesome fare sales for North America and the Caribbean with most for flights through January. While booking deadlines vary, most sales go kaput within the next couple of weeks.
Dominican Republic Intro Sale
Spirit Airlines (tel. 800/772-7117; www.spiritair.com) is starting service to Punta Cana on December 10, 2005, and is offering an introductory fare from Atlantic City; Chicago O'Hare; Dallas/Ft. Worth; Detroit; Ft. Lauderdale; New York LaGuardia; Orlando; Providence RI; Tampa; and Washington, D.C. Reagan National ranging from $98 to $198 round-trip. Needless to say, this is an excellent fare (even though you'll be saddled with over $100 in taxes and fees). The fares are easily found on the site. For example, a round-trip fare (with taxes and fees) between Ft. Lauderdale and Punta Cana departing on December 30 and returning on January 6 comes to $215.10, while the next lowest fare on those same dates is on US Airways at about $742 round-trip (with taxes and fees). And a fare from Dallas/Ft Worth departing January 10 and returning on January 17 comes to $329.10 versus $725 on Delta Air Lines. Keep in mind that service from Tampa starts on December 15 and from Dallas/Ft Worth on January 10. These introductory deals are valid for travel through February 9, 2006, and must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. EST November 21, or until sale seats are sold out.
Big Sale on Nashville
The weekly Click 'n Save specials from Southwest Airlines (tel. 800/435-9792; www.southwest.com) are highlighting Nashville, but many other destinations are included and some competitors are matching or even doing one or two better. Seattle to Nashville is $99 each way, no round-trip purchase required (that route is $238 round-trip on Northwest Airlines and Continental Airlines; Southwest flies non-stop, whereas Northwest and Continental don't). Fares range from $34 to $109 one-way in this sale, and as always you may do better with a Southwest Ding fare. Purchase by November 10, midnight PST; travel November 29 through March 31; 21-day advance purchase required. These fares (all before taxes/fees) are available only on Southwest's site.
Weekly Denver Sale for Five Cities
Frontier Airlines' (tel. 800/432-1359; www.frontierairlines.com) weekly sale to/from Denver includes the following cities: Albuquerque, Fresno, Houston Intercontinental, Salt Lake City and Spokane. The fares are still easily available and are pretty good. For example, the sale fare between Denver and Houston is $188 round-trip, versus $248 round-trip on Continental for the same travel dates; and Denver and Salt Lake City is $178 round-trip versus $210 round-trip on Continental. Travel Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday through February 15. Blackouts on travel occur December 17, 21-24, 26-28, & 30-31, 2005, and January 1-3, 6-7, 12-14, & 16, 2006. Tickets must be purchased by midnight, MDT, November 9.
Spirit's System-Wide Sale from $58 Round-Trip
Spirit is also having a system-wide sale, starting from only $58 round-trip. A majority of the fares are really good (although some are lower by just $10), are still available, but are harder to find around the holidays.
Sample round-trip fares before taxes and fees:
- Chicago O'Hare to St. Thomas, USVI: $198 (vs. $358 on US Airways)
- New York LaGuardia to San Juan, Puerto Rico: $218 (vs. $268 on Delta)
- Tampa to Kingston or Montego Bay, Jamaica: $138 (vs. $148 on Delta)
The fares listed are for travel Tuesday or Wednesday only and about $20 more for travel during rest of the week, except Sunday. A 3-day advance purchase is required. Travel through February 9, 2006. Blackouts on November 21 to 29, and December 21 to January 8. Tickets must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. EST on November 13.
Sale Between New York and Vancouver
The "Deal of the Month" from Cathay Pacific (tel. 800/233-2742; www.cathay-usa.com) is different for November. Instead of having a sale to a particular destination in Asia, this month it's a sale fare of $223 round-trip between New York JFK and Vancouver. This is a good fare, since the next lowest fare on Travelocity right now is $290 round-trip, also on Cathay Pacific, but with longer travel dates (fares quoted are not inclusive of taxes/fees). Travel Monday through Thursday, with departures through November 30. No minimum stay is required, but all returns must be no later than 30 days. Tickets must be purchased by November 30, or until sold out. Take note, however, that even though the rules state travel Monday to Thursday only, using November 13 as a departure date and November 20 as a return (both Sundays), the fare with taxes is still only $277 round-trip with the sale, as opposed to a next lowest $358 round-trip on Travelocity.
Last-Minute Fares to Kona and Maui from California
Aloha Airlines (tel. 800/367-5250; www.alohaairlines.com) is having a last-minute travel sale for $99 one-way from Santa Ana/Orange County to Kona, Oakland to either Kona or Maui, San Diego to Maui, and Orange County to/from Las Vegas ($39 one-way versus $98 round-trip on United). This is an excellent sale, but you have to act fast, as you can only travel through November 20. However, finding the fares is another question as most of the dates are already sold out. But if you're very flexible, you may get lucky and find seats. Round-trip purchase not required. Last date of sale is November 11.
Fall Travel to Caribbean
US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322; www.usairways.com) is having a sale to Grand Bahama Island, Montego Bay, Turks & Caicos, St. Lucia and St. Maarten from multiple U.S. cities starting from $184 round-trip. However, this sale isn't all that great, as you can find lower fares on other airlines via Travelocity, Orbitz and their ilk. For example, Boston to Montego Bay is $311 round-trip at the sale price, but you can get that route on Travelocity for $250 round-trip with Northwest. Same goes for Philadelphia to Providenciales: it's $426 round-trip under the sale, but ironically we found a $381 round-trip on Travelocity on US Airways with a last date of travel of December 13, whereas the last travel date for the sale is December 1. A two-night minimum and 30-day maximum stay is stipulated. Travel Monday to Thursday and purchase by November 30.
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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