Airfares just keep on skyrocketing

Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, Jan, 1998 by Lynn Woods

Northwest Airlines tried to put a damper on promotional sales by slashing prices on 21-day advance-purchase tickets by up to 40%, a move that was matched by its competitors. But industry analysts predict that such moves won't eliminate fare sales -- and it only takes a competitive strike by one of the seven major airlines to draw a response from everyone else.

* Check out special fares. If you're 62 or older, most airlines will give you 10% off the published fare. Sometimes a companion, regardless of his or her age, qualifies for the discount as well.

But that may not be the best deal available. Some airlines sell special senior fares that don't automatically appear on a computer reservations screen, says Parsons. You have to ask for them. For instance, the discounted round-trip senior fare between Dallas and San Francisco is normally about $400, compared with a senior fare of $198 offered by Northwest, TWA and United.

College students sometimes qualify for special fares -- available from American, America West, Delta (which sells a youth coupon booklet) and United -- that don't have the same restrictions as published discount fares. Eager to gain the loyalty of tomorrow's business travelers, some airlines have teamed up with credit card issuers to offer limited airfare discounts to college students. Citibank's student card is tied in with American Airlines, and American Express is paired with Continental. models are e