Headline News

Ted, United's new low-fare service, celebrated on May 24 2004 its inaugural flight out of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, United's home market and largest hub. Tampa is Ted's first destination from Chicago. By late summer, Ted will offer Chicago-area travelers a robust schedule with five daily roundtrips to Tampa, eight daily roundtrips to Las Vegas, seven daily roundtrips to Orlando, six daily roundtrips to Phoenix and four daily roundtrips to Ft. Lauderdale.

Thrifty Car Rental kicked off its Blue Chip Rewards program as a new facet of its popular Blue Chip Express Rental Program. Blue Chip members will earn credits through the program that can be redeemed for free rental days throughout the U.S. and Canada. Normally, one free day is earned after 16 credits are earned (usually one credit per rental day), but now through Sept. 30 2004, Thrifty is giving members double rewards when bookings are made through the company Web site www.thrifty.com. Single credits will be earned when bookings are made through other channels.

The Travel Industry Association of America says the U.S. should be prepared for long lines, delays and gridlock this summer, when it expects leisure travel to rise by 3.2 percent from last summer. Suzanne Cook, TIA's senior vice president of research, says, "For the first time in years, the summer travel season will start off with a bang, and we expect it to stay strong through August." Consumers, however, are concerned with rising prices of travel. But Sandra Hughes, vice president of AAA Travel, believes rising fuel costs will not stop driving vacationers. AAA predicts a record number of Americans will travel for the Memorial Day holiday; its agents say they are seeing dramatic increases in travel interest for this spring.

United Airlines has low fares on domestic and international flights to and from Washington, D.C. United's every day one-way fares are now as low as: $79 to Atlanta(4), $59 to Boston(1,2), $59 to Columbia, SC(3), $79 to Ft. Lauderdale(6), $79 to Orlando(6), $69 to Portland, ME(3,4), $59 to Rochester, NY(3), $59 to Syracuse(3,5), and $79 to Tampa(6). Plus, United also offers customers the opportunity to fly to exciting international destinations at great low prices. Sample fares on United to international destinations are each way based on required roundtrip travel and are as low as: $289 to London, $229 to Mexico City, $129 to San Jose, Costa Rica and $359 to Zurich(7).

United Airlines is also announcing an exciting bonus mile offer for travel to or from any of Washington, D.C.'s three major airports. Passengers who fly qualifying roundtrip travel to or from Washington/Dulles, Reagan- National or Baltimore/Washington International airports and any destination served by United, United Express or Ted earn 2,500 Mileage Plus bonus miles for each qualifying roundtrip.

USA3000 Airlines will add Newark-Bermuda flights to its schedule on Sept. 3 2004 with fares as low as $79 one-way. Flights will depart on Tuesdays and Fridays. The airline offers free meal service and in- flight entertainment. Reservations can be made in English or Spanish on the telephone or online. Reservations can be made through an agent, or by calling 877-USA-3000 or at www.usa3000.com.