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Frommers.com Airfare Deals and News for the Week of December 5, 2008

This week's roundup of budget fares, special offers, and industry news includes a today-only sale from Air New Zealand, spring and summer deals from Eurofly, domestic holiday bargains from AirTran, and more deals and news.

Air New Zealand December Sale

Okay, so by now you've already missed out on the $750 round-trip fares, but cry not sad traveler. There's still time to take advantage of Air New Zealand's (tel. 800/262-1234; www.airnewzealand.com) December sale to Auckland. Below, we've listed the lowest available seats in Economy, but holiday high-rollers take note: this sale includes seats in Business and Premium Economy as well, and for about the same as what other carriers are charging for coach this time of year.

All purchases must be made by midnight, December 5.

10% Off from Alaska Airlines & Horizon Air

It's not much, but every little bit helps.

Save 10% on Alaska Airlines (tel. 800/426-0333; www.alaskaair.com) and Horizon Air flights in the select markets listed below when traveling between January 6 and February 12, 2009. Simply enter the Discount Code EC141908 when you make your reservation and ticket at Alaska Air's website. This Discount Code offer ends December 7.

Eurofly Sale: JFK to Italy

Who said good things come to those who wait? Book early with Eurofly and save! The Italian based airline is currently offering lower non-stop fares from New York's JFK Airport to such cities as Rome, Palermo, and Naples.

Here are some of the fares advertised right now on their website (round-trip; taxes and fees included):

  • Friday, April 3-Friday, April 10: Rome (FCO), $859 (Delta is charging $1,143)
  • Saturday, May 9-Sunday, May 17: Palermo (PMO), $959 (Alitalia is charging $1,335)
  • Friday, July 10-Thursday, July 16: Naples (NAP), $1,159 (Iberia is charging $1,472)

This is just a small sampling of the fares they are offering online right now. But you must book by January 19, 2009 in order to lock in these lower prices. Travel is good between April 1, 2009 and October 31, 2009. Go to Eurofly's website for full terms and conditions.

AirTran Winter Sale

Give someone you love (or preferably yourself) the gift of travel this Christmas. AirTran (tel. 800/AIR-TRAN; www.airtran.com) is offering some great fares right now on their website. You must book by December 11 however to lock in the low prices. Fares include:

Travel is good through March 11, 2009. Blackout dates include: December 20, 22-24, 26-28, 2008; January 3-4, and February 13, 14, 16, 20-22, 2009.

Midwest System-Wide Sale

Midwest (tel. 800/452-2022; www.midwestairlines.com) is having a system-wide sale, good for most cities through May 20. Travel to/from Ft. Myers, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Seattle is good through February 11, 2009, while travel to Orlando, Phoenix, and Tampa is valid from December 16 through 18, and again from January 5 through February 11, 2009. Got all that? Good. Fares are valid for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday travel and include:

All tickets must be purchased by December 9, so get moving!

Icelandair Package: Deal or No-Deal?

Icelandair (tel. 800/223-5500; www.icelandair.is) is currently advertising a "Scandinavia Fly and Hotel" package on their site, but is it any good? Before we booked our flight to Oslo, we did a little comparison shopping.

Searching both Icelandair and Orbitz, we plan to depart Boston's Logan Airport on Monday, February 3 (arriving Tuesday February 4) to Oslo, Norway. We will return Sunday February 8. Let's compare:

Icelandair: Solo passengers can expect to pay $1,447.97 round-trip with taxes and fees included. The hotel chosen was the Anker Hotel, which Icelandair rates as a 2½-star hotel. And for couples, the total comes to a mere $1,875.94. That's only an extra $427.97 to bring along a friend along! Not too shabby.

Orbitz: Solo travelers will pay $1,132.79 round-trip with taxes and fees included. Anker Hotel was used when checking out this rate, but Orbitz considers it a 3-star hotel. For couples, the total comes to $1,943.30. That's an increase of $810.51. Here's the breakdown, folks:

  • Singles on Icelandair: $1,447.97
  • Singles on Orbitz: $1,132.79

That's a difference of  $315.18 in favor of Orbitz.

  • For couples on Icelandair: $1,875.94
  • For couples on Orbitz: $1,943.30

A difference of $67.36 in favor of Icelandair. Not such a big savings, but why pay more? A wise traveler is the one that spent less than the guy sitting next to him.

Additional Reporting by Andrew Hickey and Tracy W. Stewart


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