‘Welcome Home’ Fares Don’t Fly, Enlistees Say

The special “welcome home” air fares for Operation Desert Storm troops are not getting a big welcome from military families.

As many in the military have discovered, the “welcome home” fares are generally higher than the spring and summer sale fares available to anyone. In some cases, the military fares are 75% higher.

One Navy officer said that after checking out various military fares to Hawaii--including United Airlines’ special “Aloha R&R;” fare--he decided to get there on a military transport, flying standby.

“It’s certainly a PR ploy,” said Navy Lt. Douglas Mikatarian of the “welcome home” fares. “I think the airlines are looking for a way to thank us, but I think they are looking for a way to fill planes, too.”

The airlines introduced the special military fares at the end of the Persian Gulf War to thank U.S. troops. The special “welcome home” or “yellow ribbon” fares provide discounts of up to 70% off regular coach fares--a break from the regular 50% military discount.

But the discounts offered in the industry’s spring and summer ticket sales are, in most cases, much deeper than the military discount. For example, the military fare for a round-trip ticket between San Jose and Newark is $700. A “summer sale” air fare for the same round trip is $398.

USAir was the first to come out with the “welcome home” fares on Feb. 28, and the rest of the industry matched the promotion. The fares are for domestic travel only, although several airlines offer military fares to a handful of international destinations, such as Frankfurt, Germany.

The airlines say the “welcome home” fares are a good deal because--unlike the “supersaver” fares--the military fares require no advance purchase and are fully refundable. “It is not possible for many in the military--especially those arriving from the Gulf--to plan their trips seven to 14 days in advance,” said Delta Air Lines spokesman Dean Brest. “The whole point behind the fares is to let military (personnel) get together with their families as quickly as possible” after returning to the United States.

The airlines also point out that the military fares are available for one-way fights, while the supersaver fares are for round trips only. The military fares are also “on sale” through August or September, depending on the airline. The new supersaver “spring and summer sale” fares must be purchased by April 8.

A random check of air fares shows that while many of the military fares are higher than the sale fares, there are some exceptions. For example, USAir’s military round-trip fare between San Diego and Norfolk, Va., is $378--$20 less than the summer sale fare.

But travel agents who have many military clients said military fares are usually no bargain. “People know that they can usually get a better deal, unless they have to travel right away,” said San Clemente travel agent Jamie Henderson.

Henderson said the military fares “really had the phones ringing” at her agency near Camp Pendleton two weeks ago when the fares were announced. But few callers bought tickets when she quoted the military fares.

The airlines are pushing the fares through ads in military newspapers. A recent issue of Navy Times, for example, has a full-page Delta Air Lines ad. The ad describes the fares as “a small token” of appreciation to U.S. troops, and features a large American flag.

Martha Faller, wife of a Navy lieutenant, said she thought the Delta ad promised a great bargain, but was disappointed to find that she and her husband cannot afford the military fares to Washington from the Bay area.

“I think it’s a shame that the families of people serving this country can’t get a break,” she said. Her husband, Lt. Craig Faller, said: “What do I think? I think the fares are a joke.”

COMPARING FARES

Sample round-trip fares:

Summer Airline Route Coach Military sale American San Jose-Newark $1,404 $700 $398 United Los Angeles-Washington $1,434 $338 $258 Delta Los Angeles-Boston $1,462 $438 $258 USAir San Diego-Norfolk, Va. $1,258 $378 $398