Travel briefs: New Bay Area flights to Eugene, Oregon

Allegiant to fly from Oakland to Eugene

Allegiant Air, which moved its Bay Area operations from San Francisco to Oakland earlier this year, has announced that it will begin non-stop flights to Eugene, Ore., in June.

The low-cost airline will offer twice-weekly service — on Monday and Fridays — using MD-80 jets that seat 150 passengers.

A limited number of seats are available for the introductory fare of $39 one way; purchase by April 29 on www.allegiantair.com or via travel agent or phone card (702-505-8888) for flights through Sept. 30. After the introductory period, the one-way ticket price will rise to $59.

The flights will leave Oakland at 11:25 a.m. and arrive in Eugene about 85 minutes later, at 12:50 p.m. On the return flight, departures will be at 1:30 p.m., with arrival in Oakland at 2:55 p.m.

In February, the carrier started flying from Oakland to Bellingham, Wash., twice a week. That frequency will increase to three flights a week in May and four in June.

HOTELS

New loyalty points for frequent stays

Desperate to fill empty rooms, hotel chains are beefing up loyalty programs. Most say they're trying to avoid slashing rates to attract business. But they're more than happy to toss in goodies — free hotel rooms, free breakfast
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and oodles of bonus points.

"Awards in general are richer across the industry and probably will be a lot richer soon," says Don Berg, vice president of loyalty programs for InterContinental Hotels Group, or IHG. The company's brands include Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental Hotels.

IHG is giving Priority Club members 3,000 points for a qualifying third-night stay through April 30, double the standard reward. Other chains — Starwood, Marriott and Hilton, among them — are offering similar deals for frequent customers.

UNITED STATES

Advance bookings down in Yellowstone region

Fewer tourists compared to last year have booked advance reservations to visit the greater Yellowstone region this summer, but industry leaders hope low gas prices will lure people to drive to national parks and other attractions in Montana and Wyoming.

Lee Haines, a spokesman for the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, told the Billings Gazette that museum planners are expecting flat visitor numbers this year with a slight rise possible in recreational vehicle traffic compared to last year. He said because many RV owners are retired, they have more flexible travel schedules that allow them to drive when gas prices are lower.

Rick Hoeninghausen, director of sales and marketing for Xanterra Parks and Resorts, the main lodging company in Yellowstone, told the Gazette that advance reservations so far this year are down 13 percent from last year. He noted that bookings are good for July and August, but group tours and early season stays are down.
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