US Airways/Delta deal dead

That string of high-profile airline mergers that was worrying consumer advocates and Congress alike may have to wait for another season. US Airways just withdrew its offer to take over Delta Air Lines. Such a merger would almost inevitably have set off a series of other combinations, perhaps raising airfares across the country and cutting competition. At least that’s the assessment of a number of industry observers.

Doug Parker, US Airways' CEO, contends a US/DL (those are the airlines’ codes) merger: “would have created a better and more financially stable airline that offered more choice to consumers and increased job security to its employees.”

Delta, currently trying to emerge from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, preferred to do so on its own. That’s why US Airways went to Delta’s creditors, appealing directly to them.

Southwest serves up hot fares to great destinations

Time to book that spring getaway, at least that’s the way discount airline Southwest sees it. The carrier is offering one-way discount airfares for as low as $49 to some of the most desirable destinations in the country.

To get in on these airfares, book and buy by February 22. Then, travel through May 10. You’ll have to do a 14-day advance purchase, but you won’t need to make a round-trip buy. Neither taxes nor fees are included in the rates we’re about to quote.

Cheapflights' Best of the Best - Airport Rail

Ever landed a $49 discount airfare, only to get to the airport and find it costs that much to grab a cab downtown? Happens all the time, and it can kill your travel budget.

While the United States lags behind Europe’s ability to shuttle travelers ‘twixt airport and their city center by rail, it’s catching up – with modern, comfortable public rail popping up all over. Here’s Cheapflights’ take on the Best of the Best:

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall
Boston Logan International
Chicago Midway
Chicago O’Hare International
Cleveland Hopkins International

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)

The major hub for both Delta Air Lines and discount airline AirTran Airways, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International is a quick 17 minutes from downtown via MARTA – the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.

You can’t beat the price: $1.75. After five stops, MARTA gets you to Five Points Station, the rail line’s hub. Take either the North South Rail Line, or the Northeast-South Rail Line.

Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI)

In regards to rail, light or otherwise, Baltimore/Washington is perhaps the best-connected airport in the country. It also lays claim to being the first aerodrome to have a rail station located on its property.

BWI is the Beltway’s fastest-growing airport, and the lowest-fare. Discount airline Southwest has a major connecting node here, and low-fare AirTran Airways is well represented. Combine a couple of key cheap-seat carriers with low-fare rail service to nearby cities and BWI, arguably, is one of the best values out there.

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

Once a quintessentially high-fare airport, Boston Logan International (BOS) has changed in the past couple of years. Now, discount airline JetBlue exerts considerable sway at the venerable aerodrome, driving down prices and bringing in customers. To complement JetBlue’s low fares, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has a couple of inexpensive ways to get you from the airport to town: the Blue and Silver Lines. For the most part, both cost $2 (there are some route exceptions on the Silver).

The Blue Line is the more venerable of the two links. It will take you from Logan to such key city-center stations as State and Government Center.

Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)

Chicago Midway (MDW) is the Windy City’s premier low-fare airport. The pocketport is a prime launchpad for discount airlines Southwest and, to a lesser degree, AirTran Airways.

Getting to and from MDW is cheap too thanks to CTA. The Chicago Transit Authority’s Orange Line runs between Midway and The Loop, most notably the Clark/Lake Station. That puts it within walking distance of a number of hotels. The cost is $2, and the transit time approximately 30 minutes.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

Depending on how you look at it (people or planes) Chicago O’Hare is either the first or second-busiest airport in the land. It’s a major hub for the first and second-largest carriers in the country: American Airlines and United Airlines. Not only do legions of fliers connect at ORD, they come to see Chicago, and the Chicago Transit Authority makes it easy for them to get there.

Most visitors are drawn to The Loop, downtown not far from the Miracle Mile. The least expensive and (depending on traffic) fastest way to get there is via the CTA’s Blue Line. The price is a pecuniary $1.75, and the run time about 45 minutes. That will put you at such downtown stations as Washington, Monroe, Jackson and LaSalle. If you want to make a connection via rail to Chicago Midway (MDW), ride to the Clark/Lake Station and change trains to the Orange Line.

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)

A significant hub for Continental Airlines, Cleveland Hopkins is nicely connected to city center via RTA’s Red Line. It’s tough to sort out who was really first with airport rapid in this country, but Cleveland contends it was.

The trip to Tower City Station downtown takes about 30 minutes, and trains depart approximately every 15 minutes for most for the day. The tab? $1.75. That’s all. Those kinds of rates drive cabbies crazy.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

Premier launch of the planet’s largest carrier, American Airlines’, Dallas/Fort Worth International is a swath of north Texas prairie as vast as Manhattan. The nation’s third-busiest aerodrome, DFW wields enormous influence. For an airport this important, it is good that there’s finally a rail connection to its two principal cities.

Trinity Railway Express connects an area near DFW called CentrePort DFW to Dallas and Fort Worth. In downtown Dallas, it’s Union Station; in Fort Worth it’s the Intermodal Transportation Center. There are 23 departures from CentrePort each weekday to Dallas; 18 to Fort Worth. Run time to Dallas Union Station is 32 minutes, the fare is $2.25. It takes just 24 minutes to ride the rails to Fort Worth’s Intermodal Center, at a price of $1.25. If you’re staying in the downtown sections of either city, it’s impossible to beat these deals. A caveat: there’s no Sunday service.