(TM)If you've never flown with the Pakistan's national carrier, the service out of New York is excellent and the cuisine fresh and spicy; the return flight is harried as the plane originates in Karachi and everyone and their kids are packed in for the lengthy haul . . . both DTI's new NY and Miami tel. #s. are simply (800) FLY4DTI. Ask them this month about Milan for $299 r/t! They're also offering NY-Jo'burg direct on South African Airways for $899 r/t - a deal.
DTI is also selling discounted confirmed seats to/from Denver, Seattle, and Anchorage. I've added Halbart's Washington DC-London courier flight. Like the Boston-London, this month for $328 r/t. Everything from Hong Kong and England has been completely updated - know that most offices abroad can book tickets by telephone from the US before you arrive. And once again Iceland Air is again selling $348+ r/t NY-Luxembourg/$398+ r/t to London, (800) 223-5500 - real cheapo to Europe!
Tid Bits: Take the F Train . . . The Carey buses in and out of NY's airports and taxis are a major rip off. Do as the rest of the world does - take the local bus! Really? Here's how: F Train to Roosevelt Avenue and the Q33 bus to La Guardia. To JFK, take the F Train to Kew Gardens and the Q10 bus. $2 vs. $13-$25!? (from the NYT Op Ed sec., Jul 28). Mea Culpa - Transitions' Annual Resource Guide is $6.95, not $5 - oops. Still worth every penny! Marazul's daily charters Miami-Havana have been curtailed due to Pres. Clinton's recent tightening of the Cuban embargo. Fear not - travel to Cuba through via Mexico or Canada.
Buckets: When I teach travel here in the Boston area, folks always ask about options other than courier flights for rock-bottom prices. Among other things I suggest they peruse the fine print discount flight listings in the back of the travel section of the New York or LA Times. Bucket shops can give outstanding savings, and sometimes outstanding headaches due to the unreliability of many offices and their fly-by-night attitudes. Here's a brief listing of several buckets that have some reputation for decent service: RA Travel (800) 788-0777; Up & Away Travel (800) 275-8001; TFI (800) 745-8000; Flytime (212) 760-3737; and try Council Charter (800) 800-8222. And with a specialty in African flights: Lan-Si Aire (212) 889-6305; Spector (800) 879-2374 or (617) 338-0111. Most of these are in NY, but buckets can schedule flights from most US detinations. -> Some questions to always ask before purchase: Is this ticket refundable? Is the ticket transferable or able to be altered at extra cost? Are taxes included? Is there a service charge/fee? Is it more on weekends? Can I claim frequent flyer miles (if no, claim them anyway at the gate or by telephone). Like a used car dealer, buckets are quick to sell you something and don't appear very trustworthy, but they do have something you want. Good luck!
Vietnam is now surely hot. Following US diplomatic recognition and a steady increase in travellers last year, a lot of building is going on to accomodate future visitors. But the Vietnam of yesteryear, with its faded French elegance, will probably still be visible for years to come, I hope. Though no scheduled couriers at writing, stay tuned. Many agents in the US will now sell you direct flights to and from Vietnam. Last year I paid about $1300 r/t for Boston-NY-Seoul-Bangkok-Saigon, returning from Hanoi. It's was a lot of money, but I tailored the flight plans to include time in Korea and Thailand for a bit more $$. Expect to pay roughly $300 for a r/t Bangkok-Saigon/Hanoi - many travel agent throughout SE Asia can do it. I'll relish enjoying cold "333" beers on Danang's China Beach at sunset, hitchhiking along old Route One, walking amidst the lunar landscape of the DMZ - leveled by massive carpet bombing, floating in a junk amongst beautiful limestone formations in the Gulf of Tonkin, and everywhere eating incredibly wonderful bowls of the ubiquitous pho, Vietnam's national soup filled with seafood, noodles, getly spiced broth, and bean threads. Now's the time - Go!
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Amsterdam $485 r/t on Pakistan Int'l Air same price to Frankfurt Bangkok $559 r/t 2 weeks T-Th, Sa Buenos Aires $499 r/t 8-13 days M,W,Th,Sa Caracas $220 r/t 6,7 days Sa. only Chicago $195 r/t non-courier space-available flexible o/w $149 Copenhagen $388 r/t 1 week M-Th Dublin/Shannon $300-500 r/t non-courier charter Frankfurt $499 r/t 7 or 8 days daily, ex. Su Hawaii $500 r/t charter flight (night in LA nec.) Hong Kong $559 r/t up to 90 days Tu-Sa Johannesburg $879 r/t 15 days Wed. only can extend SAA London $335+ r/t up to 30 days daily 6/day! open return $425 r/t; London flights via Boston/Chicago $299/$399 up to 30 days (couriers can only board in NY) Los Angeles $279 r/t 1 week M-F o/w $125 - ask about confirmed seating, $299 r/t Madrid $499 r/t 1 week M-Th, Sa Manila $710 r/t 14, 21 days M, W, Sa Mexico City $199 r/t up to 1 year daily also $275 r/t 4-9 days Milan $438 r/t 2 week M-Th, Sa one week, Sa. only also Montevideo $439 r/t 9 days M, Th Orlando $220 r/t non-courier space-available Paris $438 r/t 1 week M-Th Puerto Rico $250 r/t 3-30 days $149 o/w Rio $540 r/t 8-9 days T,W,Sa, Su 15 days: $560, 14 days; $529 , one week Rome $525 r/t 8 days T-Th, Sa; 9 days, Sa. dept. into Rome, out Milan; ask about non-courier San Francisco $279 r/t space-available confirmed seating Santiago $425 r/t 9 days M, Th Seoul $559 r/t 14, 21 days W only Singapore $559 r/t 2 weeks exc. Su one month flights also available, $679 Stockholm $499 r/t 1 week M-Th, Sa Sydney $799 r/t up to 3 mo. W, F Tel Aviv (call for details at present) Tokyo $559 r/t up to 30 days T-Th
Brussels $300 r/t 1-3 weeks non-courier on return trip Mexico $200 r/t 3-30 days Su-Th non-courier on return trip Milan $300 r/t call for details
New York Copenhagen $350 r/t 1 week M-Th, Sa Frankfurt $350 r/t 1 week M-Th, Sa Hong Kong $428 r/t 7-21 days T-Sa London $278 r/t 1 week M-Th, Sa (Tu. 11 days) Madrid $350 r/t 1 week M-Sa Manila $420 r/t 2 weeks M, Tu, Th Milan $378 r/t 2 weeks M-Th, Sa (Mon flight 11 days) Paris $378 r/t 1 week M-Th, Sa weekend flights slightly more. Rio $450 r/t 1 week M-Th, Sa Rome $378 r/t 8 days M-Th, Sa Singapore $428 r/t 7-21 days T-Sa Santiago $378 r/t 1 week M-Th, Sa Seoul $528 r/t 2 weeks M, Tu, Th Stockholm $450 r/t 1 week M-Th, Sa Tokyo $528 r/t 7-21 days T-Sa AIR FACILITY (NY) (718) 712-1769 / fax: (718) 712-1574. 11-5pm. Speak to Claudio or Ruth. Check for last-minute deals! Ascunsion $480 r/t 10 to 12 days Tu-Th Buenos Aires $480 r/t 8-13 days via Varig Airlines (non-stop on United M-Th) Caracas $210 r/t 6 or 7 days Tu-F, Su Mexico $150 r/t flex. dep. on day of dep. M-F Montevideo $500 r/t 10 or 12 days Tu-Th; Wed 4-9 days Rio $480 r/t 9,10 days if dept. on weekend M-Th, Sa; 14 days $500 Santiago $480 r/t 8, 9 days M, Th LanChile
London $325 r/t up to 3 weeks Singapore $550 r/t 15-30 days Tu-Sa $200 deposit all flights. Hong Kong $550 r/t 15-30 days Tu-Sa
Standby space-available: LA $129 o/w; Miami and Dallas/Ft.Worth $99
o/w!
Amsterdam $399 r/t flights on Pakistan Int'l Air.
Buenos Aires $520 r/t 13 days Varig Airlines
Brussels $390 r/t 1 week M-Sa also 7-21 days flex. (non-courier
return);
Caracas $250 r/t 9 days max. Tu-F, Su 2 weeks $275 r/t also
Cayman $99 o/w 4-9 days M-F (from Miami)
Frankfurt $550 r/t 1 week M-Th, Sa $399 r/t on Pakistan Int'l Air
Hong Kong $650 r/t up to 2 mo. Tu-Sa paid overnight in Tokyo, on JAL and
Singapore Air
Jamaica $99 o/w standby on Martin Air Sa. only Boston-Montego Bay also
(same fare)
Johannesburg $899 r/t max. 3 mo. M, W, F, Sa begins Sept. 12.
London $375 r/t 1 week M-Sa 8 days T-Th on United; non-courier $399
r/t (AA)
also available Boston-London direct $219 o/w on Virgin Atlantic, no
restrictions
Madrid $550 r/t 1 week M-Sa also discounted charter (F) to Madrid, $650
r/t no restrictions.
Mexico City $250 r/t 3 to 30 days M-Sa 2 couriers per day
Aeromexico / UA
Milan $299 r/t 9 days M-Th, Sa 1 week also available $375 flights
available also
Montevideo $520 r/t 15 days flex.
Paris $502 r/t 1 week M-Th, Sa charter approx. $400 r/t; $399 r/t on
Pakistan Int'l Air
Puerto Rico $250 r/t 3-21 days daily
Rio $520 r/t 14 days
Rome $550 r/t 1 week M-Th, Sa; Sa. 9 days, return from Milan $375 flights
also
Santiago $520 r/t 9 days
Singapore $650 r/t 3-30 days only Su/W return with paid overnight in Tokyo!
2 wks $625
Bangkok $475 r/t 10-14 days exc. Mon. Northwest $500 deposit on all flights. Hong Kong $475 r/t 9-13 days Tu-Sa London $500 r/t 14 or 21 days T-Th, Sa Manila $475 r/t 14 days 4 flights/week Northwest Seoul $400 r/t 9,15 days Northwest can go on to Taipei; Th, Sa onward to Hong Kong 4/wk Taipei $400 r/t 9-15 days Wed. Northwest overnight in Seoul Tokyo $400 r/t 9,11 days all week Singapore Air/NW
Bangkok $450 r/t 2 weeks max. daily Hong Kong $533 r/t no min. 1 mo. max. Tu-Sa Melbourne $450 r/t one month max. 5/wk Seoul $350 r/t 7-30 days Th and Fr only. Singapore $500 r/t up to one mo. only Th
Mexico City $200 r/t up to 30 days max. M-Th, Su $100 deposit on all flights flights to Mexico from New York ($200) and Miami ($150-DTI) also - call for details.
London $500 r/t Sa. only 6 mo. max. stay return any day, luggage on return United Airlines.
WTG also has a San Diego office (619) 224-2277. Speak to Shara. Flights still from LA plus discounted non-couriers. Amsterdam $245 o/w open standby $650 r/t Bangkok $840 r/t up to 55 days Tu-Sa Singapore Air Add $29 tax to all flight prices Chicago $200 r/t non-courier flexible Dallas/Ft. Worth $249 r/t space-available flexible Honolulu $141 o/w up to 6 mo. Th, Sa, Su Jakarta $880 r/t up to 55 days Tu-Sa. Singapore Air Jamaica $290 rt standby fare Mexico City $175 r/t up to 30 days $200 deposit required New York $135 o/w open W, F, Su $250 r/t these are standby non-courier flights Orlando $249 r/t open standby Paris $245 o/w open standby $650 r/t Singapore $820 r/t up to 55 days Tu-Sa Sa. flight 12 hr. layover in Tokyo; Sing. Air
Bangkok or Manila $450 r/t up to two weeks (from San Francisco) Hong Kong $650 r/t up to one month Melbourne $650 r/t up to one month Seoul $650 r/t up to one month
Bangkok $380 r/t 2 weeks daily Fares good through September London $385 r/t 2 weeks exc. Sun Manila $455 r/t up to one month Tu, W, Fr, Sa. JAL (Mon. United Air, $550 4/wk) Singapore $485 r/t 7-30 days Tu-Sa (6/wk) carry-on only JAL via Tokyo 12 hrs layover in airport!
Bangkok $420 r/t up to one mo. daily UA free overnite stay in Tokyo London $385 r/t 2 weeks, call for details flexible up to one month Manila $450/550 r/t 30 day max. Th. only luggage allowed UA/Phil. Air overnite in Tokyo Singapore $400 r/t up to 1 mo. ex. Su., Mo. JAL
Bangkok $475 r/t 10 days Sa only with overnight in Tokyo
London $328 r/t 7 days M-Th, Sa return via JFK-Wash
MARTILLO EXPRESS (305) 681-6979 or 681-6055. Speak to Maria. Also has discounted flights elsewhere in Latin Am. Guayaquil $200 r/t up to 30 days M-Sa
Very helpful and friendly. Se habla espanol. Tickets can be reserved far in advance. Longer stays can be arranged for additional $$. Quito-Miami also avail $395 r/t. Buenos Aires / Mendoza $424 r/t up to 30 days option on Santiago flight - call for details. Guatemala $230 r/t up to 30 days ex. Sat. AA All flights on American Airlines. Montevideo $424 r/t up to 30 days Quito $228 r/t 30 days Su-Th 60 days, $250; 150 days, $390; 1 yr, $572 Santiago $424 r/t up to 30 days exc. Su & F. Ladeco 9:15pm dept - 5:25am arr.
Mexico City $375 r/t 3-60 days exc. Su Madrid $478 r/t 1 week T-Th, Sa Rio $600 r/t 10-12 days M-Th, Sa Santiago $200 r/t 6 days Sa. dept-Fri. return
Caracas $170 r/t 14 days M-Th + $18 tax; can carry 1 bag. M-F return from Caracas - add $50.
Bogota $175 r/t up to 2 mo. Su-Th; return Tu-Su
Se habla espanol.
Buenos Aires $400 r/t 3 weeks max. M, W, Sa
Caracas $100 r/t 3 weeks max. M-Th, Sa
Guatemala $175 r/t up to 21 days everyday
Guayaquil $220 r/t up to 21 days M-Th
La Paz $400 r/t up to 21 days M-Th, Sa
Lima $275 r/t up to 21 days M-Th, Sa
Montevideo $400 r/t up to 21 days M-Th
Quito $220 r/t up to 21 days M-Th
Santiago $400 r/t up to 1 month M-Th, Sa
Rio $400 r/t up to 21 days M-Th, Sa
Caracas $159 r/t 8 days Madrid $459 r/t one week M-Th, Sa Mexico City $259 r/t 3-60 days M-Th, Sa Rio $478 r/t 10-12 days
Amsterdam $498 r/t charter flight Buenos Aires $475 r/t 1 week M-W, Fr, Sa American Airlines Guatemala $299 r/t up to 21 days exc. Wed. AA. Madrid $499 r/t one week - flex. up to one mo. Tu-Th, Sa Iberia Mexico City $175 r/t up to 60 days M-Th, Sa courier only one way Mia-Mex , $99 2/wk Paris $199 o/w charter flight good from mid June-mid Sept, fixed fare! Quito $299 r/t up to 21 days M-Th, Sa Rio $499 r/t 7-21 days M-Th, Sa flexible stay also available - ask Santiago $499 r/t 7-21 days M-Th, Sa Zurich $534 r/t charter flight
Buenos Aires $450 r/t up to 1 mo. M-Th, Sa Guatemala $230 r/t up to 1 year - open exc. Sa Madrid $420 r/t 1 week M-Th, Sa Quito $230 r/t up to 1 mo. Su-Th Santiago $450 r/t up to 1 mo. M-Th, Sa
London $459 r/t up to 60 days M-W AA; M-Sa on UA Manila $550 r/t call for details Mexico $235 r/t up to 60 days Tu-F, Su. Seoul $550 r/t flight out of New York
London $399 r/t M-F up to 30 days Continental
Los Angeles or New York $200 r/t 30 days max. M-Th, Sa Miami $150 r/t 30 days max. M-Th, SacLantos 1994