Will WestPac’s mystery flights take off with locals

Thursday, Sept. 19, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Would you book a reservation on a plane not knowing where the flight was going?

An airline that serves McCarran International Airport is betting there are adventurers who would.

Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Western Pacific, a company that painted two Sam's Town western wear models and a Stardust showgirl on the tail of their planes, is now waiting to hear from travelers who want to just get away -- to anywhere.

The company is offering a $99 round-trip ticket to one of its 21 destinations from Las Vegas in its "mystery fares" promotion kicked off earlier this week. Travel must be completed by Nov. 21 and trips have to be purchased by Oct. 14.

The catch is that travelers won't know their mystery destinations until they get to the airport and receive a travel dossier at the gate. The company will only offer hints as to whether to pack for warm or cool weather.

The promotion is one of a handful of special fall travel promotions cooked up by airlines in an effort to stimulate business during the lull between summer vacations and holiday excursions.

For Las Vegans, the variety is greater than in most cities since the major carriers pitch deals to bring traffic here, then offer the same deals for local residents.

The WestPac promotion is a new wrinkle in the travel wars.

Travelers call to book a reservation -- (800) 930-0303 -- at least two days in advance of departure and specify a day to travel. The airline confirms the reservation and will offer hints to travelers on how to pack. Upon arrival at the airport, the traveler will learn the destination and get a packet that includes discount coupons to attractions in the vicinity of the destination.

A spokesman for the airline said for an extra $100 per person, Western Pacific would take care of two nights of hotel reservations. The airline is partnering the promotion with the Red Lion, Holiday Inn and Doubletree hotel chains.

Western Pacific, which operates three daily flights to Colorado Springs from McCarran International Airport, expects to sell 24,000 to 30,000 mystery fares. Last year, when the promotion was only offered to Colorado Springs passengers, the airline sold between 7,000 and 8,000 seats.

So where will local passengers land? They could go to Seattle, Chicago or Orlando. Or, they could end up in Tulsa, Okla. WestPac's flight destination list: Los Angeles; Phoenix; Kansas City; Oklahoma City; Newark, N.J.; Washington; San Francisco; Dallas; San Diego; Indianapolis; Houston; Atlanta; Nashville, Tenn.; San Antonio, Texas; San Jose, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; and Ontario, Calif.

Other airlines serving Las Vegas are serving up gimmicks to fill planes in the traditionally slow travel season.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, McCarran's biggest carrier, filled many of its planes through the end of October when it sold hundreds of seats for $25. That sale is over, but Southwest is continuing one of its sale staples, the Friends Fly Free promotion. The two-for-one sale is on through Oct. 31 for travel ending by Dec. 31. Passengers have to buy at the regular ticket rate, but get two tickets on the same route structure.

Air 21, a small Fresno, Calif.-based airline, tore a page out of Southwest's book by offering its own two-for-one promotion, called "Fly a Friend for Free. Air 21's sale ends Oct. 31, but travel must be completed by Feb. 27. Through a seamless tie-in with Reno Air, the company offers jet service to Colorado Springs, Denver, Grand Junction and Durango, Colo.; Los Angeles, San Francisco, Monterey, Palm Springs and Fresno, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; and Reno.

Las Vegas-based TriStar Airlines also has discounted fares for fall travel. One-way tickets to Los Angeles have been selling for $29 while San Francisco flights are $54 each way.