Easier Than ABC

To the benefit and bewilderment of air travelers, airlines and travel agents have devised a jumble of cut-rate charter plans that drastically reduce the cost of flying. Last week the Civil Aeronautics Board approved still another plan, called ABC, or "advance booking charter." Unlike current plans, ABC eases restrictions and makes cheap charter air travel more flexible and available to almost everyone.

Scheduled to go into effect Oct. 7, ABC would require passengers to make reservations 45 days in advance for flights to some European countries and 30 days in advance to most other destinations, v. up to 60 days now. Eliminated would be requirements for joining clubs or other "affinity" groups, or for buying a tour package that can include hotel accommodations and some meals--a feature undesirable to travelers who want lower charter fares. Minimum stay requirements have also been trimmed to seven days for Europe (v. ten days now), and cut altogether for North America. Travelers will be able to board weekend charters for Las Vegas or Disneyland.

Many of the scheduled airlines had fought ABC from the time it was proposed in February, but after last week's approval showed some acceptance. United Airlines, which dominates the domestic charter business with 50% of the flights, said that ABCs will "provide air transportation to a greater segment of the American public," and that United will begin selling ABC flights when they go into effect. TWA, however, made its unhappiness known. ABC, it said, "removes more of the restrictions which in the past have distinguished charters from the scheduled airlines."

Far Cheaper. The CAB did try to build some limits into the ABC plan so as not to entirely undercut the scheduled carriers. Airlines or charter operators, for example, may cancel a flight altogether under ABC if enough passengers do not show up; they may also change arrival and departure dates. Passengers who cancel will forfeit what the CAB described as a "substantial portion" of ticket costs. ABC also will be restrained by other rules, such as prohibiting charter operators from raising ticket prices if a flight is not fully booked, so prices may well be pegged high enough to offset excessive cancellations. The result: charter fares will go down, but not dramatically. Pan American estimates the round-trip New York-London ABC fare at $350, not substantially below the $358 offered by another plan. Both charter fares, however, are far cheaper than the standard coach fare of $676.

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