America West, Continental Offer Discounts

Two airlines announced a round of leisure travel fare reductions Tuesday that could cut the price of some tickets for Southern California passengers by nearly half, but customers must act quickly.

America West Airlines is offering fares reduced by as much as 48% through Dec. 20, but travelers have only until Friday to buy their tickets. The reductions require a 14-day advance purchase and a Friday night stay. The deepest discounts are available on Mondays through Thursdays.

Continental Airlines also said Tuesday that it will offer discounts on ticket sales through Friday to inaugurate new service starting Oct. 30, including a route from John Wayne Airport in Orange County to Newark, N.J. The limited time fare for that route will be $318 round trip.

The America West discounts cut the round trip fare from Los Angeles to Chicago by 11% to $338, and from Las Vegas to Atlanta by 48% to $198. Rival airlines usually have matched the America West reductions in cities where they compete.

America West has offered discounts so often this year that they are receiving less attention from travel agents.

“It’s the sale that will never go away,” said Thom Nulty, president of Associated Travel Management in Santa Ana. “It appears to work for them. . . . Consumers are conditioned to wait for a sale.”