Here Come the Wedding Guests, via Discount Fares

Weddings can be heartbreaking. I’m not talking about the ceremony itself--unless, of course, you paid for it--but about the burden on your poor guests. Not only are they buying expensive gifts, not only are many of them taking off a day or two from work, but many also are laying out a considerable sum just getting to the ceremony.

Since they’re doing all that to support the newlyweds, the least the newlyweds can do is help them save a little money on the way. Fortunately, a few airlines have spotted a business opportunity in this and offer discounts for groups of people traveling to the same destination for a wedding. It’s a savvy move; if they give marrying couples a reason to play travel agent and direct all their invitees to one airline, money can be made.

Generally, these deals don’t vary much from what the airlines offer other groups, such as conventions and family reunions, but that doesn’t detract from the mild incentives they offer. It works a little like a registry at a store. When guests call the airline for reservations, they need to give the agent the special code ascribed to the wedding. The discounts, which run 5% to 10% off the lowest available round-trip fare, also work on each airline’s sundry connecting partners, such as American Eagle for American Airlines. The airlines also will furnish complimentary cards that describe the program, which can be slipped into invitations or mailed out separately later on.

Here are the discount offers made by four airlines quick enough to spot the business opportunity in weddings:

* American Airlines, telephone (800) 221-2255. Passenger minimum: 10. Discount: 10% for 60-day advance sales, 5% thereafter.

Incentive for the bride and groom: At 10 bookings, they get $10 to $20 discounts with Avis car rental and four drink-and-headset vouchers for use on an American Airlines flight (for example, on the honeymoon). For every 10 people booked after that, the couple gets two upgrade certificates on American Airlines, to a maximum of four.

* Hawaiian Airlines, tel. (800) 367-5320. Passenger minimum: none. Discount: 5% to 10%, depending on the season.

Incentive for the bride and groom: After 10 bookings, they get two first-class upgrades on one leg of a round trip and two drink or movie coupons each. The airline encourages people to sign up online at https://www.hawaiianair.com/groups/weddings.asp.

* Northwest/KLM, tel. (800) 328-1111. Passenger minimum: 10. Discount: $30 off flights costing $200 to $299; $50 off flights costing $300 to $449; $75 off anything costing more. For Europe, the discounts range from $60 to $150, and for Asia, $50 to $200.

Incentive: For every 30 people booked, the bride and groom get one free ticket good within the continental U.S. or Canada. There’s online sign-up at https://www.nwa.com/services/wedding.

* US Airways, tel. (877) 874-7687. Passenger minimum: 10. Discount: Bookings made 60 days ahead of time get 10% off the lowest applicable fare, 15% off unrestricted coach fare. Guests must travel within three days on either side of the wedding date.

Incentive: For every 30 passengers booked, the newlyweds get a ticket good for one free flight within the continental U.S. or Canada. The ticket is good for one year from the date of the wedding. There’s an online sign-up form at https://www.usairways.com/groups/groups.htm.