Internet travel sellers joining the fee-for-all

Buying airline tickets free on the Web is becoming a thing of the past.

Internet travel seller Expedia recently began charging a $5 booking fee for airline tickets.

Rival Travelocity plans to match the move next year. The airline-owned Orbitz site first imposed a fee in December 2001.

The fee for Expedia, www.expedia.com, is designed to help the site “maintain the high quality of service” despite reductions in airline commissions, a spokeswoman said. The $5 charge is waived when the ticket is part of a travel package.

Travelocity, www.travelocity.com, will start charging up to $5 per ticket in early 2003, said spokesman Al Comeaux. He declined to be more specific.

He said the fee “will help us accelerate innovation ... and provide even better consumer offers.”

Orbitz, www.orbitz.com, charges a $5 booking fee for tickets from airlines that pay it a fee or commission and $10 for all other airlines. When Orbitz first imposed fees, Expedia criticized the move as anti-consumer.

Check out this suite deal for teddy bear fans

Ready, teddies? Fans of the toy bears may want to stop by the Presidential Suite at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas in the next 10 days.

There they’ll find hundreds of teddies prowling the premises, lounging in bathrobes in the bedroom, “singing” carols around the grand piano, relaxing in the Jacuzzi or working out on the treadmill, among other activities.

The display, created by FAO Schwarz and interior designer Charles Gruwell, is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Dec. 24. Admission to the suite is free.

Marriott lands in Arizona with 950-room resort

The JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, one of the largest resorts in Arizona, has opened about 20 minutes north of the Phoenix airport. It has 950 guest rooms, two 18-hole golf courses, a spa and fitness center, nine restaurants and lounges and four acres of swimming pools and waterways. Winter rates begin at $429 per room, per night. (888) 236-2427, www.jwdesertridgeresort.com.

Traveler’s notes

United Airlines will honor its agreements on code shares, frequent-flier miles and lounge access with 13 foreign partner airlines, despite filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week, the Star Alliance announced. United said it will operate while it develops a plan, expected to involve reducing routes, to pay creditors.... The State Department on Dec. 6 warned Americans to defer nonessential travel to Venezuela. It said it is “gravely concerned” about possible escalation of political unrest.... New York City’s “Paint the Town” discount travel program runs through March 31. It offers savings at hotels, restaurants, shows, stores, museums and other attractions. You also can buy packages that combine hotel stays with a Broadway show or other activities. Restrictions apply. (800) 692-4843, www.nycvisit.com.

DEAL OF THE WEEK

L.A. to Seattle for $53 by train

You can travel on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train from Los Angeles to Seattle for $53.40 one way between Jan. 6 and Feb. 28 by buying your ticket on its Internet site, www.amtrak.com. (Click on “Rail Sale.”) By comparison, regular fares typically range from $125 to $178. Sleepers are extra. You must purchase your ticket, which is nonrefundable, by Jan. 5. Availability is limited. There are other restrictions; see the Web site for details.

FREE FOR THE ASKING

Wining, dining in California county

A 10-page section on the local wine industry is a new addition to the 2003 “San Luis Obispo County Official Destination Guide.” There’s also information on lodging, dining, arts, outdoor activities, attractions such as Hearst Castle and more. (800) 634-1414, www.sanluisobispocounty.com.