LAN Airlines has announced a new sale on round-trip fares from eight U.S. cities to cultural hotspots in South America. Fares start as low as $399 on flights from Miami to Lima, Peru, but there are plenty of other exciting destinations, including, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santiago, Chile; and Montevideo, Uruguay that are reduced up to 30 percent. Whether an exotic beach in Uruguay, the glaciers of Patagonia, or a bustling Latin American metropolis, these rock-bottom rates will get you to those tantalizing, far-off locales. Tickets must be purchased before April 5 and the offer is valid for travel through June 15.

In addition, LAN Airlines has announced nonstop service from San Francisco to Lima beginning in July 2010, making it the only nonstop service from San Francisco to South America. Visit www.LAN.com for more information.

Sample Fares (Round-Trip, Excluding Taxes):

•    Miami–Lima, Peru: $399
•    San Francisco–Lima, Peru: $599
•    New York–Buenos Aires: $799
•    Los Angeles–Montevideo, Uruguay: $799
•    New York–Santiago, Chile: $899
•    And more!

To book your flight visit www.LAN.com

There’s no such thing as a free lunch anymore . . . at least not in the skies! On Monday, Continental Airlines finally ended its holdout as the last major U.S. carrier offering free food onboard domestic flights, announcing it will cut complimentary meal service for economy passengers on routes in the U.S., Canada, and to popular Latin America/Caribbean “leisure” destinations (like Cancun, Mexico, and most Caribbean islands) this fall. Handouts will still be offered on all other international routes and any long-haul flight over six hours.

The airline is attempting to make the fee easier to swallow by claiming the new “food-for-sale” model will allow it to provide better variety and healthier options (think “gourmet wraps” and fresher salads, in contrast to the not-quite Michelin star-quality, microwaveable mini trays that are standard coach fare). Of course, “elite-level” flyers and those in first class still get the perk, and Continental will continue awarding light snacks (like those oh-so-tantalizing peanuts) and nonalcoholic drinks, to all.

American Airlines has reduced round-trip fares to the Caribbean and Bermuda, giving you the perfect excuse to plan that last-minute island getaway. Although the most competitive rates were found on flights to Jamaica (which start at $216), low fares are also available to Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, and more. Travel is valid through May 28, but tickets must be purchased by March 18.

Sample Fares (Round-Trip, Excluding Taxes):

• New York City−Montego Bay, Jamaica: $216
• Washington D.C.−Kingston, Jamaica: $216
• Chicago−Aruba: $276
• Los Angeles−Kingston, Jamaica $288
• Ft. Myers−Turks and Caicos: $310
• Omaha−Nassau, Bahamas: $378
• Denver−Grand Cayman: $382
• Jacksonville–Bermuda: $364

Visit www.Travelocity.com to book your flight.

ROUTE          AIRLINE       STARTS
New York to Guayaquil, Ecuador       AeroGal                          12-7-09
Atlanta to Nassau, Bahamas            AirTran                            12-17-09
Orlando to Aruba                             AirTran                            12-19-09
Rome to Düsseldorf, Germany          easyJet                            2-1-10
London to Hamburg, Germany          easyJet                            2-20-10
Des Moines to Orlando                    AirTran                             2-11-10
Santa Ana, Calif. to Maui                 Continental                       3-7-10
Denver to Washington, D.C.             Southwest                        3-14-10
Newark to Munich                           Continental                       3-27-10
Chicago to Honolulu                        American                         4-6-10
New York to San José, Costa Rica     American                       4-6-10
Chicago to Rome                               United                           5-1-10
Charlotte, N.C., to Rome                   US Airways                     5-13-10

From the Feb/March 2010 issue of Sherman’s Travel magazine.

Avianca Airlines is offering round-trip fares starting as low as $188 (without taxes) to Colombia and Peru. Flight destinations include Lima, the coastal capital of Peru, as well as four extraordinary cities in Colombia: Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin, and Pereira. Flights leave out of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. Although no book-by date is listed, you can be assured that these flights will fill quickly. Our editors put these fares to the test and found prices as low as $308 round-trip – taxes included! To book your flight, visit www.expedia.com.

Sample fares (round-trip, taxes included):

•    Fort Lauderdale – Bogota: $308
•    Fort Lauderdale – Cartagena, Colombia: $349
•    New York – Bogota: $384
•    Miami – Medellin, Colombia: $388
•    Miami – Lima: $408
•    Washington, D.C. – Pereira, Colombia: $462 
•    And more!

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air has announced it will be adding six new Boeing 757’s to its relatively small fleet of 46 M-80 jets in order to launch direct domestic service to and from Hawaii later this year. The airline, which currently services over 60 U.S. cities, became popular over the last decade for providing affordable nonstop flights between both large metropolises (like Orlando, Las Vegas, and Detroit) and smaller, regional ports (like Fresno, Chattanooga, and Mesa). It plans to have the first of the 757’s in service this November, the second in January, and remaining four by 2012. No word yet on which six cities will receive the Hawaii routes, though those chosen will likely be smaller locales with no existing nonstop service to the islands. Also last week, Continental Airlines added several new direct flights between Honolulu/Maui and Los Angeles to help fill the gap left by recently defunct Aloha Airlines.

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Celebrate the arrival of spring by hopping a flight to Guatemala, Nicaragua, Belize, or other sun-filled destinations from just $163 round-trip (without taxes), courtesy of TACA Airlines‘ new fare sale. This deal is available for travel through May 31, but tickets must be purchased by March 10. In addition to this sale, there are a number of other unadvertised price reductions to Central and South America from TACA’s top competitors. Our editors put these fares to the test and found prices as low as $240 round-trip – taxes included!

Sample fares (round-trip, taxes included):

•    Orlando – Managua, Nicaragua: $240
•    Orlando – Honduras: $402
•    Los Angeles – Costa Rica: $445
•    Houston – Belize:  $492
•    Dallas – Guatemala: $524
•    San Francisco – El Salvador: $554
•    Orlando – El Salvador: $554
•    Chicago – Ecuador: $607
•    And more!

Mired in debt, Jamaica is handing over its national carrier, Air Jamaica, to Caribbean Airlines on April 12 to offset the former’s $500 million deficit. Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Airlines will lease and operate the current Air Jamaica fleet for up to a year on the latter’s “most profitable routes” (aka those to/from North America and Europe). No changes in booking procedures or schedules will take place for now, and Air Jamaica tickets already purchased for flights after April 12 are still valid.

As part of its 10-year anniversary celebration, JetBlue has launched a one-day sale on flights from New York’s JFK airport to its first 10 destinations from just $10 one-way. These include Fort Lauderdale, Oakland, Tampa, Orlando, Rochester, Buffalo, West Palm Beach, Burlington, Salt Lake City, and Fort Myers. So what’s the catch? You must travel by Wednesday, March 10 and additional taxes and fees apply. If that’s a bit too soon to travel, stay tuned – the airline has hinted that there are similar sales on the way in the coming months.

Last week, a Ryanair passenger on a flight from Poland to England became so enraged that he couldn’t collect his $13,550 prize money from a winning lottery ticket in cash immediately (aka while still on board the flight) that he swallowed the evidence as the shocked crew looked on. Ryanair, the popular low-budget European carrier, is famous for holding in-flight contests and promotional giveaways . . . handing over 10 cars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash prizes, and 100,000 flight vouchers to lucky participants in just the last two years. With the prize thus unclaimed, the airline joked about the man’s “expensive taste” and is donating the money to charity. 

But guess what? There are winning tickets out there you might accidentally take a bite out of. The Wonka candy company is finally launching a real-life “Golden Ticket” contest (based on its namesake Charlie and the Chocolate Factory films). Secretly wrapped within 10 random chocolate bars from its new Exceptionals line are grand-prize Golden Tickets, which promise a free trip around the world for each winner, three of their friends, and $12,500 in spending money. Other prizes include airline vouchers, and winning tickets claims must be received by September 27. Pretty sweet — just don’t eat the whole ticket!