Spainish Airline and Train Deals

Discount travel to and within Spain, which is gearing up for the 1992 World’s Fair and Summer Olympics, is now available through Iberia, the national airline, and Renfe, Spain’s rail line.

Iberia is offering a “Family-A-Fare” promotion that takes $200 off the round-trip fare from Los Angeles to Madrid for children 2 to 25, accompanied by at least one parent. Children under 2 years fly free.

The offer is good on both regular and advance-purchase fares, and on any class of service. Until the end of August, lowest round-trip fare from LAX to Madrid, with 14-day advance purchase, is $1,182. Beginning Sept. 1, the fare will be reduced to a nonrefundable $944, based on 30-day advance purchase.

Iberia also has a “Visit Spain Airpass” that’s good for flights to any of 24 destinations within Spain, including Majorca and Ibiza in the Balearic Islands, during a 30-day period starting with the first flight. The cost is $249. Flights from the Spanish mainland to and between the Canary Islands are $299. Children from 2 to 12 receive a 50% discount off these rates, while children under 2 pay only 10% of the fare.

The “Visit Spain Airpass” has to be purchased in the United States in conjunction with round-trip transatlantic flights aboard Iberia.

Renfe has both non-consecutive and consecutive-day rail passes. The 15-day Spain Flexipass allows unlimited rail travel during any four days out of a 15-day period. The pass costs $109 for first-class travel, $83 for second-class.

Consecutive-day passes include an eight-day pass for $159 first-class and $116 second-class, and 15 days for $259 first-class, $182 second-class.

Children 4 to 11 pay half-price; under 4 travel free. Each pass has to be bought in the United States.

On some major routes, such as Madrid-Barcelona, you may need to make seat reservations. If made in the United States, the charge is $8 per person. Figure on a charge of $2.50 to $3 if you make the reservations at train stations in Spain.

These pass rates are valid through Dec. 31. However, since the passes are good for six months from the date of purchase, you can buy a pass at the end of 1991 at 1991 rates and use it during the first part of 1992, thus avoiding higher costs if the prices go up next year.

Contact travel agents, Iberia at (800) SPAIN-IB or Rail Europe at (800) TGV-RAIL.