NEED TO KNOW

One way to fly through security

Maverick Southwest Airlines is looking more like the suits these days, pampering high-mileage, higher-paying fliers while sending bargain customers to the back of the line. The latest perk is faster access to security checkpoints for people who pay Business Select fares or qualify for the Rapid Rewards A-List by logging at least 32 flights a year. In California, the “Fly By Security Lanes” service will land later this month at Los Angeles International, John Wayne and San Francisco. At LAX, Fly By customers will be funneled to the Transportation Security Administration lane used by employees; at John Wayne, they will join other airlines’ priority fliers in an existing program, a Southwest spokeswoman said.

-- Jane Engle

Swing, vote

Presidential contenders John McCain or Barack Obama can save you two sawbucks in Sin City. In a program that began Oct. 1, Vegas.com is offering a promotion that will save you $20 when your purchase of hotel rooms, entertainment and the like totals $200. It may not be a bailout, but it counts for something. All you have to do is put in the name of the candidate of your choice when you check out. If you’re still undecided, you can enter “none of the above.” It’s part of a promotion called Vegas Crapshoot ‘08, an effort to lighten up this year’s election. Offer is good through -- when else? -- Nov. 4.

-- Catharine Hamm

French lessons

Author Polly Platt has been telling us for years that the French are different, which is why I always recommend her books, “French or Foe?” and “Savoir Flair,” to Americans headed for the land of Colette and Coco Chanel. Now she’s back with “Love a la Francaise,” a book about how that difference comes into play when American women fall for French men. In her 30-plus years as an American living in France, she has seen too many ingenues from Pittsburgh fall in love with Jean-Paul, Claude or Etienne and then run into trouble. In “Love a la Francaise” she tells us what really happens when, as the subtitle says, “Herve meets Sally.” Platt uses her wicked sense of humor and insider’s knowledge to warn American women that they’d better be willing to wear high heels and learn how to whip up a souffle if they want to make a lightning love affair with a Frenchman stick.

-- Susan Spano

Got budget tips?

Economic misery loves company, and we’d like yours. We’d like to hear your best budget travel ideas, whether they involve how to save for a vacation, how to avoid blowing your budget on the road, or where to find fun, low-cost food or entertainment, either in the U.S. or abroad. The tips have started coming in since we first asked for them, and we’re hoping to add to the storehouse. To send us your ideas, go to latimes.com/budgettips. Please include your name and city of residence. If chosen, your tip will appear in the Oct. 26 Travel section.

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For more travel news, go to latimes.com/travelblog.