Airlines' special fares — for kids, seniors military, the bereaved — are harder to find

Remember special airfares for children, seniors, the military and the bereaved?

They're still available, but in fewer numbers and places than they were 20 or even five years ago. Such fares save you money — or not. And you might need a detective to find them.

Holdovers from a kinder, gentler era of flying decades ago when airlines were trying to drum up business, many special fares must be researched and booked the old-fashioned way, by telephone. Airlines' Web sites often reveal little.

For instance, Delta's Web site, www.delta.com, in one place says, "Children ages 2 and older must have a seat and pay a standard fare." In another, it states: "In some cases, we have discounted fares available for your infant or child under 12 years."

What to make of this?

When I asked Delta spokesman Anthony Black about special fares, he responded, by e-mail, "Delta may have fares for the select groups you mentioned, but in many cases the fares are specific to route, flight or season. They can only be acquired by calling our reservation number, 800-221-1212."

It's almost as if the cash-strapped airlines don't want you to know about these deals.

"These are all revenue-diluting fares," said Kathryn Sudeikis, president of the American Society of Travel Agents, which is based in Alexandria, Va. "They have been disappearing for several years."

At one airline, there are none.

JetBlue Airways doesn't offer any deals for special groups — not for children, seniors, the bereaved or even the military. That has been the low-cost carrier's policy since its founding in 2000, said spokesman Brandon Hamm.

"Traditionally, we have lower fares in most of our markets," he said. So presumably, there's no need for special discounts.

In fact, a low-cost carrier's walk-up fare might be cheaper than another airline's bereavement fare. But not always. And a "discounted" child fare might cost more than an airline's lowest adult fare.

Such are the eccentricities of special fares. Some are deals, but sniffing them out can require dogged research.

Or you could save time by hiring a professional, especially when trying to land a last-minute fare to attend a funeral or visit an ailing relative.

"Travel agents are very resourceful," Sudeikis said. "You've got to be creative."

Here's an overview of special fares still available on some domestic flights. I checked 11 of the biggest U.S. airlines by Web site or phone: Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Northwest, Southwest, United and US Airways-America West (which are being merged). These fares might not be available by press time.

Children : Many large airlines offer an infant fare, typically half of the adult fare. This is charged when a child under 2 sits in a separate seat, in a safety seat. (Usually infants can sit on a parent's lap for free, except on international flights.) Children older than 2 generally pay full fares.

Exceptions include JetBlue, which has no child fares; United, which has begun charging full fares even for infants; and Southwest, which offers fares for infants (to age 2), children (2 to 11) and youths (ages 12 to 21).

Southwest's child fares are not always the least expensive route. When I called the low-cost carrier earlier this month about booking a June 7-14 round-trip between Los Angeles International Airport and Chicago's Midway, the agent offered a $258 infant fare and a $496 child/youth fare, plus tax. On Southwest's Web site that day, I found an adult fare for $198, plus tax.

Seniors : "These fares are riding off into the sunset," said Terry Trippler, an airline expert for Cheapseats.com. "Very few airlines have them."

United's Silver Wings, www.silverwingsplus.com, a club for seniors 55 and older that charges $25 and up for annual memberships, offers what it calls "fixed low airfares" by zone. But you may pay more for such a ticket than for coach tickets available to everyone, so comparison-shop. America West in September ended its Senior Saver Pack, a four-coupon discount book, its Web site said. It and some other carriers still offer some senior fares.

American last year got rid of senior fares except from three Latin American nations, said spokesman Tim Wagner.

Military : Many airlines still provide perks to military members and their families. American this month extended a program, through Jan. 19, that offers discounted airfares, relaxed advance-purchase rules and preferred boarding. Continental takes 5 percent off air fares bought online by members of Veterans Advantage, a nationwide discount program.

Bereavement: These last-minute fares for funerals and illnesses are no longer assured.

Such fares "are no longer necessary," Delta's Web site says, because its SimpliFares provide "affordable" last-minute fares, capped at $599 each way in the contiguous U.S. states.

Southwest spokeswoman Paula Berg also cited low prices for Southwest's lack of bereavement fares.

Several airlines still offer such fares by phone, and these often can save you money. But if you're used to buying the lowest-priced leisure tickets weeks or months in advance, prepare for a shock. Airlines charge the most for tickets booked at the last minute, and they'll cost much more than advance-purchase fares.

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