Could Be Cloudy Skies For Senior Airline Club

While other airlines are scaling back their senior programs, Northwest Airlines is beefing up its recently announced WorldHorizons senior travel club.

The Eastern/Continental Get-Up-And-Go senior passport has been flapping along on one wing since Eastern Airlines’ grounding. Flights are still available on Continental (which is also under Texas Air ownership).

Because Get-Up-And-Go is offered by both airlines, either airline’s passport is good for flights on the other carrier.

With Eastern’s flights severely limited, it means there are many passport holders but only a limited number of seats available as the peak summer months approach.

TWA is phasing out its version of the travel-all-you-want senior fare in favor of a 10% discount on a new Takeoff Pass.

Complex Package

The pass also offers a year of air travel, but only provides three round trips within the continental United States, plus one round trip to Hawaii, the Bahamas or Puerto Rico, and one round trip to any of 20 TWA destinations in Europe.

The Takeoff Pass is available for $1,995, but those 62 and older get it for $1,795.50.

Northwest’s WorldHorizons senior travel club is open to anyone 62 and older at $50 for an individual or $125 for a senior plus a companion of any age, from age 2 to 61. It can be a friend one trip, a relative the next, which is why the additional cost for the latter membership.

The club has been providing a 10% discount on TWA flights within the 48 contiguous states, but has broadened the program to include discounts on flights to England, Scotland, West Germany and the Netherlands.

In addition, members receive quarterly discounts up to 25% on select United States and international destinations. These are available only to members.

Coupon Offer

WorldHorizons also has announced that in addition to the standard 10% discounts, members will be able to buy Save and Fly coupon books for domestic flights.

There will be four-coupon booklets for $384 (or $96 per flight) and eight-coupon booklets for $640 ($80 per flight). Each booklet will contain a guest companion certificate good for a $192 round-trip ticket to accompany the member.

Other features include discounts at hotels and resorts. Additions this summer include the Quality, Comfort and Clarion inns chains and Radisson Hotels. Car-rental discounts are offered at Avis, Thrifty and National.

Also included: Discounts of up to 30% on selected Cunard cruises, discounts at Country Kitchens and other restaurants and a newsletter keeping members up to date on additions and offerings. Membership is available through travel agencies, in addition to Northwest ticket counters.

Cruise discounts are often available through cruise-only and regular travel agents these days. The same applies to the hotel discounts, which are usually available directly from the hotel chains or through membership in any of several senior organizations such as AARP.

Senior Programs

The test is in the air-travel savings. That takes a lot of checking. American, Delta and United also have senior programs, as does Continental.

Mature travelers, at least those 62 and over, are advised to take a look at these programs, and check the airlines and their routes for where you want to travel.

There is no sense in paying a lot for a year’s air-travel program that includes tickets to Europe, the Caribbean or other destinations if you have no interest in going there.

In recent years, airline supersaver and maxisaver advance-purchase discount programs available to all travelers have been lower than some low-cost senior fares.

There were a few more restrictions near travel time, and advance payment was required, but they were still cheaper. It will probably repeat this year.

More veterans’ tours: Two California groups are leading European tours this summer.

Bond Johnson, a retired Army colonel living in Long Beach, will lead a 24-day D-day tour to London, embarkation ports, the invasion beaches of Normandy, Paris and other sites. The tour leaves May 30 and costs $2,900 from Los Angeles. For more information, call (213) 426-3622.

Air Force veterans and aviation historians might be interested in two Flights of the Eagles tours visiting RAF and USAAF bases in England this summer--June 9-21 and Sept. 7-19.

The tours will be led by author Jeff Ethell and Dr. Jerry Curtis, an Air Transport Command pilot during World War II.

For tour prices and other information, call (703) 636-1816 or (213) 722-3142.

Correction: The address for National Retirement Concepts that appeared in last week’s Mature Traveler column by Hank Kovell should have been 1454 N. Weiland Court, Chicago, Ill. 60610.