shaprkg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Bob Shapiro) (01/24/85)
When I gave my domestic fare tutorial the airlines had not yet announced
their new special supersavers. These fares which are between most but not
all continental city pairs are similar to existing supersavers but do not
replace them.
Basically the following rules apply:
1. Advance purchase of 30 days
2. Minimum stay of a Sat night max stay of 21 days.
3. Unlike normal supersavers if you have a ticket with this fare you may
NOT stand-by and extend or shorten your trip within the rules of the min
and max stay. The only leeway they give you is a 2 hour grace period if you
miss the flight and then you must go out on the next available flight.
4. These fares have a 25% cancellation penalty. This penalty goes in
effect the day the ticket is written. Therefore you have an interesting
problem on your hands. If you ticket early to guarantee against a fare
increase you could get nailed for the penalty even though you cancelled
more than 30 days away.
5. Most airlines are selling these fares in a very restricted inventory of
seats so you better get your request in quick if you want one. (Remember
you only pay the penalty if you write the ticket not if you only make a
reservation but don't write a ticket).
6. These fares are mileage oriented. It costs more to travel to New York
from LA then it does to go LA to Cleveland. this is very different from
other fares which are competitive in competitive markets and expensive
in non-competitive markets.
7. These fares are seasonally oriented. They go up in the latter part of
May. Typically about $40 round-trip.
8. They are dirt cheap so check your local travel agent for your particular
needs.
9. Other than the above the rules tend to be the same as other supersavers.
Open jaws OK, circle trips OK, and they even can be combined with a normal
supersaver if there is no space left to that city or there is no cheap
fare available to that city. (However most restrictive rules apply to the
whole trip).
The other thing you should be looking at is TWA's Polaroid special runs
out at the end of this month. Great deal - 25% off of most fares including
their APEX fares to Europe in most countries. (I know England is excluded)
Once you apply by the end of this month they are good for the rest of this
year. Once again check with your local Polaroid dealer.
By the way rumor has it that other airlines are taking these certificates
to stay competitive with TWA. I have heard that Pan Am is one of them.
Bob Shapiro