An airfare sale initiated by Southwest Airlines has blossomed into a fare war among discount air carriers serving McCarran International Airport, enabling local residents to fly to Southern California for less than $70 round trip.
Southwest’s 72-hour sale, which ends at midnight Thursday, is for travel in the first two weeks of December and from Jan. 4 through Feb. 15.
But when Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways counterpunched with matching fares and established their own sales, prices dropped further and dates of eligible travel expanded.
Southwest initially said it would sell tickets for $35 for flights under 451 miles, $65 for flights of 451 to 1,000 miles, $95 for flights of 1,001 to 1,500 miles and $125 for anything farther than 1,500 miles.
But when other carriers entered the fray, Southwest dropped some fares to as low as $32 one way.
The reduced prices aren’t available for all flights, but all carriers offer plenty of options. On flights to Los Angeles leaving Nov. 9, returning Nov. 16, here are some examples:
* On Southwest, you can fly to Los Angeles International Airport for $85.40 round trip. Because the airline doesn’t charge a baggage fee, that’s the total cost, taxes included.
* On JetBlue, you can fly to either Long Beach or Burbank, Calif., for $79.40 round trip. JetBlue doesn’t charge for the first bag, so that’s the total, taxes included.
* On Spirit, which launched Los Angeles service earlier this year, you can fly to Los Angeles International for $67.37 round trip. Spirit, however, charges $25 for a checked bag and $30 for a carry-on bag if purchased online before the trip.
Southwest’s $35 fare for short flights includes tickets to Reno, San Diego, Burbank and Ontario, Calif.