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Recession pains translate into traveler gains with web specials nationwide
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It’s very clear that the summer travel season is turning out to be very disappointing for the nation’s air carriers. Leisure travel is down dramatically from historic summer levels, and business travel is extremely weak. The fall looks even worse based on current advance booking predictors, so one by one the airlines are concocting fare sales, hoping to entice an American public that is used to being on the go.
The severity of the recession is keeping people closer to, or in many instances, actually at home. With unemployment expected to break the 10% level in the near future, more and more people are hunkering down to ride out the storm. But, with sale fares popping up for as little as $34 one-way on Frontier Airlines and others, the air carriers are hoping to stimulate some pent-up demand. While a $34 airfare surely isn’t a profitable one, it at least puts some revenue into what would otherwise be an empty seat. It also gives the airline, with the exception of Southwest, the chance to pick up additional revenue for checked baggage, in-flight meal and beverage purchases, and so on.
Frontier’s just-announced webLynx sale offers one-way tickets from $34 - $199. These prices are for off-peak travel with a 14-day advance purchase, for travel between August 10, 2009 and January 15, 2010. Reservations may be made on Frontier’s website, www.frontierairlines.com, and must be paid for with a major credit card at the time of booking. Airport and security fees are not included in the sale airfares. Travelers who choose to book with a Frontier Airlines reservations agent or at the airport will incur a $25 per person booking fee. Other restrictions may apply.
If your travels are taking you to the south or east, check out AirTran’s just announced Net Fares at www.airtran.com. Additionally, Southwest Airlines (www.southwest.com) will be starting service at Milwaukee in November. Special introductory airfares are now available for this new service.
And last, but certainly not least, if you are a Northwest or Delta frequent flyer and earning miles are important to you, be sure to check out www.nwa.com or www.delta.com. There is a very good chance that whatever is being offered by Frontier, AirTran, Frontier, Sun Country and so on is being matched, albeit somewhat selectively, by Northwest and Delta.
The consumer is definitely in charge when it comes to air travel for the rest of this year, and probably well into 2010.
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