Airlines Slash Fares for Fall Travel : United, American Join Delta in Cutting Prices Up to 35%; Experts Say Industry’s Profitable 2nd Quarter Enabled Reductions

Seeking to stimulate travel in the traditionally slow fall period, major airlines such as United and American on Thursday joined Delta Air Lines in cutting fares as much as 35% for flights through mid-December.

While the discounts are not nearly as dramatic as those offered last summer or fall, they nonetheless provide some of the best deals this year and should entice many travelers to pack their suitcases, travel industry officials said.

“It’s still inflated, but it’s some of the lower fares we’ve seen in a while,” said Jim Roberts, president of Uniglobe Regency Travel in Rancho Cucamonga. “This appears to be a genuine sale; the restrictions are very minimal.”

Roberts said he sent faxes to 250 of his top customers Thursday so they can start thinking about getting the best fare.

Airlines can offer discounts now because many recorded profits in the second quarter of 1993--their first black ink in some time, analysts said. While passenger loads have been lower than last year, airlines are benefiting from higher fares both nationally and in Southern California.

Consumers will see higher rates after the latest round of fare wars is over, as airlines seek to bolster profits, analysts predicted.

“This offers (consumers) the opportunity to see (fares) at a substantially lower rate than they are going to see in the coming years,” said Barbara Beyer, president of Avmark, an airline consulting firm.

Others predict fare hikes for tickets purchased after Sept. 16.

“The airlines have raised fares nine times since last July,” said Tom Parsons, editor of Best Fares magazine. He predicts that fares will go up by 5% once the sale is over.

Airlines advise fliers not to wait too long.

Parsons advises consumers to check around--especially with travel agencies--to learn about additional special discounts. For instance, consumers can save 15% to 20% on special discounts for special programs on America West and Southwest airlines which can give consumers fares of $244 per person for flights from LAX to Chicago O’Hare.

Delta initiated the latest fare war on Wednesday, and was matched the same day by Northwest, Continental and America West. On Thursday, American, United and USAir joined in the action, while Northwest Airlines--followed by others--took the discount one step further by extending the special rate to flights as early as Aug. 23, up from Sept. 15 in Delta’s action.

The new discounts will not apply for flights from the Los Angeles area to most major West Coast destinations like Reno and Seattle, because those fares were discounted as recently as three weeks ago.

The lowest round-trip fares from the Los Angeles area to New York will now be between $376 and $433, compared to between $418 and $504 before the cuts.

Round-trip fares to Chicago, which had ranged between $360 and $504, are now as low as $320 out of Burbank and $328 for other major Southland airports, if purchased by Aug. 17. Consumers can even get a $292 fare to Chicago for travel Monday through Thursday.

Consumers who purchase their tickets by Aug. 17 for travel between Aug. 23 and Dec. 15 will receive the biggest discounts. Tickets bought between Aug. 18 and Aug. 31 will carry a 30% discount and those purchased between Sept. 1 and Sept. 15 will have a 25% cut.

Children between the ages of 2 and 17 traveling with an adult will receive an additional 20% off the discounted adult fares.

Tickets purchased under the new discounts are non-refundable and require a Saturday night stay, but are good for Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Columbus Day holidays.