Airlines look to fare sales to fill seats (Rocky Mountain News) A wave of fare sales has spread across the airline industry in the early days of the new year as the weak economy continues to put pressure on carriers to fill seats even after they drastically reduced capacity and some expressed willingness to cut more.

'American travelers are trading down but not out' (Chicago Tribune) As travel gurus try to forecast what's going to happen in 2009, only one word is clear: uncertainty.

2009: Year of the travel deal (Chicago Sun-Times) The value of the U.S. dollar is surging, gas prices are at their lowest levels in four years, and hotel rates are softening. If you can afford a vacation, 2009 will be "the year of travel deals," predicts Genevieve Shaw Brown, senior editor of Travelocity. Pauline Frommer, the guidebook writer, agreed.