This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by psa188@juno.com. America West Takes New Swipe at Fares October 1, 2002 By JOE SHARKEY America West Airlines, which gave the major domestic carriers an advanced case of the vapors in March when it cut business fares and eliminated Saturday-night stay requirements on most advance-purchase tickets, continues to punch away at the competition. Yesterday, America West announced a fare sale - seven-day advance purchase and one-night minimum stay required - in four new markets that it begins serving today. Sample round-trip fares, through Dec. 31: Denver-Medford, Ore., $278; Los Angeles-Pittsburgh, $318; Phoenix-Calgary, $288; Dallas-Billings, Mont., $278. Airport surcharges and federal security fees can add as much as $30 to those fares, depending on the itinerary. Test Under Way to Streamline Security Signaling a growing acknowledgment that airport security has become a serious impediment in air travel, the Transportation Security Administration last week began two test programs to improve check-ins. At Los Angeles International Airport's Terminal 4 and at the municipal airport in Long Beach, passengers who are flying on American Airlines and JetBlue Airways, respectively, will not be subjected to the random extra searches at the departure gate. Such searches have been a source of major complaint from frequent fliers, who hate being pulled aside for additional pat-downs just before boarding. Instead, all search and identification procedures will be confined to the primary security check-in points. The project represents a step in "reducing the hassle factor of flying today," said JetBlue's chief executive, David Needleman. Continental in Link With British Carrier Linking with a fast-growing low-fare airline network in the British Isles, Continental Airlines said yesterday that it had agreed on a code-sharing agreement with Flybe, formerly known as British European. Continental flights linking New York/Newark and Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow are included in the deal, which gives members of Continental's frequent-flier program, OnePass, mileage-bearing access to Flybe's low-fare connections in Britain, Ireland and elsewhere in Europe, including connections through Gatwick Airport near London. US Air and Delta Answer New Shuttle Now that American Airlines has jumped into the East Coast shuttle business against US Airways and Delta Air Lines, they have responded with jackpot-like offers intended to grab a bigger share of the business-travel market. Already, both US Air and Delta offer triple frequent-flier miles on shuttle flights through Dec. 31. On Friday, US Airways announced the latest bonuses: for a shuttle flight that leaves the gate more than five minutes late, passengers belonging to its Dividend Miles frequent-flier program get 1,500 bonus miles that count toward elite status. A flight canceled for any reason on the day of departure yields 10,000 bonus miles, though these do not count toward elite status. Let's say you arrive to the gate at least 10 minutes before your scheduled departure, but the plane is full and US Air cannot accommodate you on another flight within 30 minutes. You get a $200 travel voucher for that. Passengers unable to get from check-in to the gate in 20 minutes or less also get a $200 voucher, the airline said. Delta offers 20,000 bonus miles to shuttle passengers unable to get from check-in to the gate in 20 minutes or fewer. And for scheduled flights that are full, Delta says it will roll out another aircraft within 15 minutes or give a free one-way shuttle ticket to a passenger unable to board a flight. The offer is not valid for backups caused by weather, air-traffic control or "other factors beyond Delta's control." Northwest Is Set for Detroit-Madrid Run Northwest Airlines said yesterday that it was planning new daily summer seasonal service between its Detroit hub and Madrid, effective May 1, using DC-10-30 aircraft. It is a further sign that Northwest sees growing potential to position its new WorldGate terminal against O'Hare International Airport in Chicago for international flights. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/01/business/01MEMO.html?ex=1034478211&ei=1&en=0455f656e038e544 HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales@nytimes.com or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@nytimes.com. Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company