ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 19, 1997 TAG: 9702190083
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: Associated Press
The strike that didn't quite happen has led to the fare sale that isn't quite what it seems.
American Airlines is touting fare discounts of up to 50 percent to lure back customers scared off by its brief pilots strike. But some of the savings from the airline and its competitors for mainland U.S. routes aren't much lower than fares offered as recently as last week.
``This sale is an out and out joke,'' Terry Trippler, editor and publisher of the Airfare Report newsletter, said Tuesday. Not only are some of the discounts not all that special, but it is getting tougher to find a seat on flights to warm spots.
The round-trip walk up fare from New York to Los Angeles was $388 under the sale announced by American. Last week, however, American had a walk-up fare of $398 round-trip.
Trippler claims the airlines are misleading the public with their 50 percent off claim.
``It's a vehicle to generate phone calls,'' he said. ``How many people would pick up the phone if they said, `New York to Los Angeles, $10 off?'''
But American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith said the sale is genuine.
``Specials come and specials go, and we make is very clear that it is a discount off the regular 21-day fare,'' he said.
LENGTH: Short : 35 linesby CNB