Nine Little-Known Airlines With Get-Acquainted Fares

This column is devoted to nine airlines with names you may not recognize. None of them will take you to London in luxury (or at all). None has hourly shuttles between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Most offer only coach class, and service and frequent-flier benefits tend to be minimal. But once you’ve contemplated the fares offered by these small, mostly young companies--especially the one-way and short-notice fares--you may find yourself ready for a relationship involving seat backs in upright positions.

Their names are American Trans Air (ATA), Carnival, Frontier, Presidential, Reno, Sunjet International, Tower, Tristar and Western Pacific. Their prices can be low, with fewer restrictions than major carriers. Their seating plans are about the same as the cramped coach-cabin arrangements on most major carriers--sometimes more comfortable. (In a February airline survey by Consumer Reports Travel Letter, the major U.S. carriers earned an average score of 72 out of 100 for their coach-seat legroom, width and configurations; all of these smaller carriers fell within a few points of that, above and below.)

Seven of these airlines fly from LAX; two operate out of the smallish Long Beach Airport. Some of the carriers maintain relatively extensive route systems; others touch down in only a handful of cities. Consumer Reports researchers have praised the roominess, cabin service and prices of Frontier, Presidential and Reno airlines, and also the fact that Presidential and Tower airlines have no advance-purchase requirements.

Be warned, however, that travel agents may be reluctant to recommend these carriers. Since their fares are lower than those of the major carriers, agents earn smaller commission payments from handling their tickets. Furthermore, several of these carriers aren’t listed on computerized reservation systems; that means an agent must make a phone call instead of hit a few keystrokes to make a reservation, spending more time to make less money.

All the carriers listed here meet federal safety requirements. But some do fly smaller aircraft. If that’s a concern for you, be sure to ask what size plane you’ll be in. Finally, because business failures do happen among small, young carriers, travelers in most cases should buy tickets through a credit card. That way, if a carrier should cease operations before your departure you can stop payment through the card.

One last note: All the sample fares here were quoted March 13 and exclude taxes; prices may have changed since then, and are always dependent on availability.

American Trans Air ([800] 225-2995). Nonstops from LAX: Indianapolis, Chicago, Maui, Honolulu. In all, 22 cities served. In business 26 years. Sample fare: LAX-Honolulu $163 and up each way. Consumer Reports seating comfort score: 66-64, depending on aircraft and configuration.

Carnival Airlines. ([800] 824-7386). Nonstops from LAX: Miami and Fort Lauderdale. In all, 17 cities served. In business eight years. Sample fare: LAX-Fort Lauderdale $149 and up each way. Consumer Reports comfort score: 75. Owned by the parent firm of Carnival Cruise Line, this carrier exists basically to get New Yorkers and Californians to and from Florida.

Frontier Airlines ([800] 432-1359). Nonstop from LAX: Denver. In all, 13 cities served. In business two years. Sample fare: LAX-Denver $74 and up each way, with 21-day advance purchase. Consumer Reports comfort score: 66-71.

Presidential Air ([800] 474-6404). Nonstop from Long Beach: Houston. In all, three cities served (Atlanta is the third). In business since October 1995. Sample fare: Long Beach-Houston $198 round trip, flying on Mondays and Thursdays. Not in computerized reservation systems. Consumer Reports comfort score: 78.

Reno Air ([800] 736-6247). Nonstops from LAX: Reno, Albuquerque, Tucson and San Jose. In all, 16 cities served, with Fairbanks to be added April 4. In business since July 1992. Consumer Reports comfort score: 77. Affiliated with American Airlines Aadvantage frequent flier program. Sample fare: LAX-Albuquerque: $49 and up each way, with seven-day advance purchase.

Sunjet International ([800] 478-6538). Nonstop from Long Beach: Dallas. Six cities served. In business three years. Sample fare: Long Beach-Dallas $99 each way. Not in computerized reservation systems.

Tower Air ([800] 348-6937). Nonstops from LAX: New York (Kennedy International Airport). In all, eight cities served, including Paris and Tel Aviv. In business 12 years. Sample fare: LAX-New York, $145-$181 and up each way. Consumer Reports comfort score: 69-72.

Tristar Airlines ([800] 218-8777). Nonstops from LAX: Las Vegas; Aspen; Eugene, Ore., San Francisco. In all, seven cities served. In business since July 1995. Sample fare: LAX-Eugene $69 and up each way. Consumer Reports comfort score: 64.

Western Pacific ([800] 930-3030) Nonstop from LAX: Colorado Springs. In all, 19 cities served, in all corners of the continental U.S. In business since April 1995. Sample fare: LAX-Colorado Springs $74 each way, with 21-day advance purchase. Not in computerized reservation systems. Consumer Reports comfort score: 66.

Reynolds travels anonymously at the newspaper’s expense, accepting no special discounts or subsidized trips. To reach him, write Travel Insider, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053; telephone (213) 237-7845.