THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 12, 1996 TAG: 9611120354
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: 27 lines
The major airlines have announced fare sales for selected domestic and international routes throughout the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
But travel agents in Hampton Roads said the cut-rate fares may be a boon only to a handful of travelers due to the ``fine print'' of the offers. Many of the fares specify that travelers must leave Nov. 28, Thanksgiving Day, and return the following day.
``It's a good fare if you want to go there and have dinner,'' said Elnora Phillips, a CI Travel agent speaking of a $196 round-trip fare to Seattle.
Other fares are equally enticing: a holiday traveler could fly Delta from Norfolk to New Orleans and back for $126, or from Norfolk to Denver and back for $156.
But there's a second catch: Even if someone would want to make a one-day visit, many of the flights are already booked solid.
``It's really hasn't done too much to stimulate business,'' said Mickey Hawks, vice president of retail operations for CI. ``It's stimulated phone calls.
``I think people realize, if they read the fine print, there isn't a whole lot to work with,'' she added. by CNB