Airfare sale joined by major carriers

September 14, 2000
Web posted at: 11:52 a.m. EDT (1552 GMT)

CHICAGO (CNN) -- Several major airlines joined United in a fare sale Wednesday, just days after instituting a fuel surcharge.

United, the world's largest carrier, announced fare cuts Tuesday. At least seven other carriers made similar moves by Wednesday afternoon.

United said many domestic fares are slashed to nearly half off for flights through December 14. For international flights, some prices are down 25-percent. Further discounts are available to passengers who book their flight online.

Tickets must be purchased by September 22. A newly-instituted $10 one-way fuel surcharge does not apply to the sale fares.

"In the wake of some of our operational difficulties this summer, loads have been down," said United spokeswoman Chris Nardella, explaining the carrier is trying to win its customers back.

"This is a very good sale," said Terry Trippler, a travel analyst at onetravel.com. "We're not going to see one this good for a long, long time."

Trippler said American Airlines, America West, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, TWA, and US Airways have all matched the sale in some capacity.

Noting that several major airlines still have the fuel surcharge in place on regular-priced fares, despite the difference in sale fares, Trippler added, "only in the airline industry can we do both."

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