American Airlines offers fly two, get enough miles for one

American Airlines is offering a very good deal for people who fly between Chicago O'Hare and the following cities: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Reno, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, and Tucson.

Fly just two round trips between now and Nov. 15 on these routes, and you'll get 25,000 bonus AAdvantage miles -- enough miles for one free economy class reward ticket to anywhere American flies within the continental U.S. and Canada. Fly four round trips, and you'll get 50,000 miles (sorry, that's the max it is offering). You must register online for this at www.aa.com/offers (click on "view all" if you don't see it listed).

Earn quadruple SkyMiles with Hertz

Through Nov. 15, Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles members can earn quadruple bonus miles on every qualifying weekend rental of two or more days, or a rental of five or more days, at participating Hertz locations in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. That adds up to 200 miles per day for weekend rentals, or 2,000 miles on rentals of five or more days.

To qualify for this promotion, use SkyMiles discount CDP number 165385 and Promotional Coupon number 108006. Complete rules and restrictions may apply. More information is available at http://offer.hertz.com/offers/index.jsp?targetPage=dlsolo.jsp&id=1006.

Southwest retains open seating

Southwest Airlines (www.southwest.com or (800) 435-9792) has decided to embrace and celebrate its open-seating heritage, by recently announcing that customers will continue to choose their seat while onboard the aircraft, but with a few changes. The airline plans to get rid of the "cattle call" seating and eliminate the need to "camp out" in their boarding line at the gate.

Beginning in early November, customers will be assigned a letter and a number on their boarding pass when they check in (for example: A32). This combination represents the customers' reserved spot in their boarding group, which are separated into groups of five. When a customer's boarding group is called, they simply find their designated place in line to board the aircraft.

Southwest has kindly created a Boarding 101 page to help customers understand this new system at www.southwest.com/help/boardingschool.

Why does Southwest stick with open seating? We've been told that it's because doing so results in a faster boarding process. And Southwest is all about getting those planes in the air quickly.

Save on China and Asia tours

Pacific Delight Tours (www.PacificDelightTours.com or (800) 221-7179) has introduced its 2008-2009 season with a 116-page China & Asia tour book that details its programs throughout the region, and is offering early bird savings of up to $250 per person for bookings made by Nov. 8.

The programs include more than 40 itineraries, most of which are escorted by trained and knowledgeable bilingual guides, exclusive to Pacific Delight, who emphasize the sights, history and culture of destinations visited. All tours feature several guaranteed departures. The early bird savings apply to all programs: the China Imperial Experience, China & Asia SuperValue, China Gold Experience and China & Asia Escapade.

There's also a range of tour extensions: Tibet; Huangshan, China; Angkor Wat, Cambodia; Thailand; Vietnam; and a brand-new extension to Myanmar. Thirteen tours highlight the Yangtze River, and feature -- at minimum -- outside staterooms with full bath aboard Victoria Cruises' Premier Series of five-star ships.

Their all-inclusive packages include round-trip trans-Pacific air from Los Angeles or San Francisco; all air and land transportation within Asia; sightseeing, cultural activities, entertainment and shore excursions; most meals; transfers, fuel surcharges, hotel taxes, service charges and baggage handling.

Land-only prices, single supplements and cabin upgrades are available, as are add-on fares from dozens of North American gateways. Travelers receive $100,000 flight insurance and frequent-flier credit when Pacific Delight tickets the air-inclusive tours.

For more information, contact Pacific Delight through its Web site or by calling it.

Hertz expands hourly program

Need a car for just a few hours when you're visiting a distant city? Hertz recently started a Hertz Hourly Rental program in New York City, in obvious direct competition with Zipcar, and the program is now available at all Hertz locations in Manhattan.

To celebrate the expansion, the company has a special offer during the month of October -- rent a car for two hours, get the third hour free.

Hertz Hourly Rental rates start at $12 per hour for rentals Monday through Thursday ($10.80 for AAA members, which is a tad more than Zipcar's hourly rate that starts at $10), and $15 per hour for weekends, up to a maximum of seven hours, after which you'll be charged a full daily rate.

The best part of the deal, as with Zipcar, there's no fuel charge.

A few quick comparisons to Zipcar: With Hertz, there's no annual membership or application fee, plus you'll receive a one-year complimentary membership to Hertz No. 1 Club Gold, a $60 value, versus Zipcar's $50 annual membership and $25 application fee.

You can return the rental to any Hertz location in Manhattan, whereas with Zipcar, it has to be the same location (lest you want to strand the next person in line and be hit with a late fee).

As with most Hertz rentals, these rates include unlimited mileage and 24-hour emergency roadside assistance, whereas there's a 180-mile limit per day with Zipcar.

However, with Hertz, insurance is additional (which can add up to about $25 if you were to accept all insurance options), while Zipcar includes all insurance in its rentals.

This program is also available in Boston (30 Park Plaza, (877) 262-3539). Add-on services such as EZ-Pass tag rentals, additional drivers, child seats and other optional services are also available for an additional charge.

Reservations or more information are available at www.hertz.com or (800) 654-3131. We expect that Hertz will expand hourly rentals to other cities in the near future.

Reach George Hobica at

hobica@gmail.com, Kim Liang

Tan at KimLiangTan@aol.com

or log on to www.airfarewatchdog.com.