New Year, New Economy, New Travel Deals

The weather outside is frightful, and the economy is downright scary. Still, for those who have the desire and the means to travel, 2009 is beginning with a tremendous number of deals. Unlike mid-winter sales of past years, some discounts run deep into the Brave New Year.

Some of the best dollars-off deals are available in the sky, as traditional off-season softness in demand joins the economic downturn to drive down fares. The International Air Transport Association, the trade organization of the world's major airlines, predicts that global passenger travel will dip 3% this year. IATA's numbers-crunchers and soothsayers say passenger numbers won't return to normal until 2011. That has the airlines scrambling for revenue.

Many airfare sales have short cut-off dates, though, so consumers have got to move fast. ...