‘Euro Flyer’ Offers Savings and Flexibility

Four European airlines--Air France, Air Inter (a domestic French carrier), Sabena (the Belgian airline) and Czechoslovak Airlines--have combined to offer a “Euro Flyer Pass” that provides significant savings and flexibility over regular point-to-point economy fares.

Travelers can buy three to nine coupons at $120 each. They can be used on one-way economy flights on any of the four airlines, which serve more than 100 cities in Europe. The passes are sold only in the United States, in conjunction with round-trip flights to Prague on Czechoslovak, Brussels on Sabena or Paris on Air France (or any other airline flying from Los Angeles to Paris, though the pass still must be purchased through Air France).

The first use of the pass must originate in either of these three gateway cites. Thereafter, travelers can make flight reservations as desired, with the pass good for two months from the date of its first use in Europe. The minimum stay in any city is seven days. Travel between any two points may take place only once in each direction. The return flight to the United States must be through the same city as the point of arrival in Europe.

The pass is available for children 2-11 at a 33% discount, and for infants at a 90% discount.

As an example of savings, a traveler could fly into Paris, then use the pass to fly from Paris to Nice on Air Inter, from Nice to Rome on Air France, from Rome to Prague on Czechoslovak, from Prague to Brussels on Sabena, then Brussels back to Paris on either Sabena or Air France. The five coupons would cost a total of $600, considerably less than the sum of one-way economy-class fares between those cities.

Since many one-way economy flights between European cities cost more than $120, the pass makes sense if your itinerary includes several cities. But it’s still a good idea to check the one-way economy fares on cities to be visited before buying the pass.

If you cancel your travel plans prior to leaving the United States, you will be charged $120. After departure from the U.S., the cancellation fee is doubled to $240. However, a full refund will be made before or after departure in cases of death/hospitalization of the passenger or a member of the passenger’s immediate family. Documentation is required.

Contact travel agents or Air France at (800) 237-2747, Czechoslovak at (800) 223-2365 or Sabena at (800) 955-2000.