Delta to Make Half-Off Fares a Little Costlier : Airlines: Saying it needs to cover the cost of the summer promotion, it announces an increase of $10 to $20 per ticket.

After participating in the airline industry’s half-off sale for one week, Delta has changed course, announcing that it will boost prices of heavily discounted round-trip tickets by $10 to $20, beginning today.

The unusual fare hike announced by the nation’s third-largest airline Tuesday came as other carriers were also taking steps to squeeze more money out of travelers rushing to buy discounted tickets.

Delta said the price of round-trip fares of less than 750 miles will rise by $10, while those 750 miles or longer will increase by $20. The extra fees will apply only to fares that were cut by 50% during an industrywide price war that expires Friday.

Under the Delta hike, a round trip between Los Angeles and Atlanta that had been $190 under the half-off sale will rise to $210. After Friday, the round-trip fare will return to $380.

The Atlanta-based carrier said the fare increase will help offset the loss of revenue and the additional costs--such as employee overtime--associated with the sale.

“This is a minimal increase,” said Delta spokesman Clay McConnell, that is aimed at bringing fares “closer to covering the expense of providing the service.”

The Delta hike got little support from the industry. America West Airlines said it will raise fares only on certain routes, while American Airlines refused to go along with the increase. Traditionally, airlines have backed off from fare increases if most competitors do not go along.

Travel and airline industry observers were also critical of the hike, which was derided as either too small to do any good or as opportunistic. They also noted that it is unusual for an airline to raise fares before a promotion expires.

“Now that they captured the market, they are going to try and milk it for as much as they can,” said Jim M. Roberts, president of Uniglobe Regency Travel in Rancho Cucamonga.

Delta is not the only carrier to boost fares after joining in the half-price promotion last week. In addition, some airlines have prohibited passengers from receiving either cash or credit card refunds after rebooking tickets at the lower fares.

Northwest, for example, raised fares on some routes from Minneapolis and Detroit, cities where the airline is by far the largest carrier. The round-trip fare between Los Angeles and Minneapolis fell to $195 after Northwest joined the fare cut Wednesday. Northwest later increased the fare to $293.

“It was a means to enhance revenues,” Northwest spokesman Doug Miller said. “The demand has so far outstripped our capacity in those markets that we went in and raised fares.”

USAir also cut fares in certain cities for a short time, then raised them, spokeswoman Susan Young said. The carrier exempted from the half-off fare its flights between Los Angeles and San Francisco and its shuttle service between New York and Washington.

“We never specified that (the promotion) would be in all markets,” Young said.

In a separate development Tuesday, two airlines tried to appease travel agents upset over the loss of commissions as a result of the fare war. The chairman of the 900-agency Uniglobe Travel chain said it planned to bill American Airlines--which launched the half-price sale--for commissions lost during the promotion.

Air Fare Bargains

As of Tuesday, these are the best round-trip air fares for travel between Los Angeles and New York and Chicago. Restrictions include: Tickets must be purchased at least seven days in advance of travel; tickets must be purchased within 24 hours of making a reservation or by Friday; fares are non-refundable; a Saturday night stay is required and travel must be completed by Sept. 13.

L.A. to L.A. to Airline New York Chicago Exceptions America West $200 $165 Saturday departures require no Saturday night stay; Sunday through Friday departures can return as early as 2 p.m. the following Saturday. American $200 $145 Seven- or 14-day advance purchase required. Continental $200 $145 Travel must be completed by June 30. Delta $200 $145 none Northwest $200 $145 none Southwest Not available $144 Three-day advance purchase with stay over Saturday night or 21-day advance purchase with no Saturday stay required; departure must be between 7 p.m.-6 a.m. weekdays or any time on weekends; valid for one-way travel. TWA $200 $145 Travel must be completed by Sept. 12. United $200 $145 none USAir $200 $145 none

Sources: Travelmation and Travel Edge Solutions