wigstheone
Sep 28, 02, 8:02 am
TRAVELERS planning to take advantage of senior discounts in their retirement years will find that at least one sector of the travel industry has scaled back on this kind of deal.
In the past few months, most major airlines have eliminated the discount coupon books they once offered travelers aged 62 and older, and have eliminated or narrowed the 10 percent senior discount on certain published fares.
Instead, United, American, Continental, Northwest and US Airways now offer "senior fares" to travelers 65 and older. Mostly, these fares, which are available on domestic but not international routes, reflect a 10 percent discount off the 14-day advance purchase leisure fare, generally the lowest fare available. Although airline representatives said the offer was not a 10 percent discount across the board, they said it usually worked out to about that.
So now seniors have to plan ahead in order to get a discount based on age. And on most airlines, to qualify as a senior citizen, they have to be at least 65 rather than 62.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/29/travel/29PRAC.html
In the past few months, most major airlines have eliminated the discount coupon books they once offered travelers aged 62 and older, and have eliminated or narrowed the 10 percent senior discount on certain published fares.
Instead, United, American, Continental, Northwest and US Airways now offer "senior fares" to travelers 65 and older. Mostly, these fares, which are available on domestic but not international routes, reflect a 10 percent discount off the 14-day advance purchase leisure fare, generally the lowest fare available. Although airline representatives said the offer was not a 10 percent discount across the board, they said it usually worked out to about that.
So now seniors have to plan ahead in order to get a discount based on age. And on most airlines, to qualify as a senior citizen, they have to be at least 65 rather than 62.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/29/travel/29PRAC.html