TRANSATLANTIC FARES

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1931, Page 6

TRANSATLANTIC FARES

BIG REDUCTIONS. COST OF LUXURY SUITES. LONDON,' August 21. As the outcome of the recent Atlantic •’Conference in 'Paris, substantial reductions in transatlantic fares have become effective, reports a newspaper.. Details of ‘the new fares as published, by the Cunard Company show reduc-, .tions ranging from £3 10s in the case, of minimum third-class fares, to £7l. for luxury 1 suites forv two. The new, minimum rate ,for first-class accommodation in the Acquitania and Berengaria will be £sl as against £sl, and; •in the Mauretania £4B, a reduction of. ,£5. There are even larger reductions, in *the higher-priced accommodation. For a suite for two on the best deck of the Aquitania the charge will ’be £134 as against £l5O. The Prince -of Wales's .suite for two people in the, BeVengaria is (now rated at .£289. instead of £360. ■

While the mirfimum rates in cabilt secxmd-class and tourist accommodation, remain unaltered, certain reductions have, been made in the charges for the more luxurious types rof, accommodation in cabin and second r . class. . , ALMOST A PENNY A MILE. The reductions, in third-clasS single fares represent cuts of nearly 20 per cent., and;.it *will now be possible for to go to America in certain (Cunard‘ vessels for £ls 10s, as against, £lB 15s previously. Reductions have also been made in return fares. A saving of £4 on the round trip can now be made, and passengers can make the voyage of 6000 miles across the Atlantic and back for almost a penny a mile. The various companies also announce that to meet popular feeling the word “third” <has been 'eliminated from the name tourist third cabin, w'hich in future is to be known as tourist class.: The White Star line states that in the case of a first-class suite in the Majestic the reduction amounts to as much as, £2OO, while the cost of a room with a bath in the same vessel is reduced by, £SO. Corresponding reductions are being made'in the Olympic and Homeric, as aresult of whioh cuts amounting to as, much as 36 per cent, will apply to the first-class accommodation of the White Star line’s “Big Three” from Southampton to'New York. Cabin and second-class minimum rates remain unchanged, but schedule rates are to be reduced, and the minimum rate has been extended to include, a great range of accommodation. ONLY TWO “SEASONS.” It has ‘been decided to abolish the first-class intermediate season,'and there will ‘in future be only an “off” season; and a “summer” season' for all classes.-. With the introduction of these new rates it will be possible to cross the; Atlantic in the biggest White Star liners for £43 " first class, £3O 5s second, £2l 15s tourist, -Or £ls 10s third class, and rates will : be at a lower,: point than they have been for many years. ' " .' *

Passengers by the United States lines! will also by, reductions. The reduction for some accommodation between the September 14th and the, October 3rd sailings of the Lev’afhan range as high as 6b per cent. Thirdclass' fares have been reduced approximately I*3 per cent., and in cabin ships, all rates above the minimum have been considerably' reduced. ! ' As a result of the agreement between the North Atlantic passenger lines, the Atlantic Transport Line and the ’Red Star Line announce large reductions in their ‘ present rates, operative from October Ist' next. The. first-class' } rate on the Minnetonka arid ‘the Mnuiewaska will be £34,'' and the Bplgenland’S minimum first-class rate will ’ be reduced by 12.) per cent, to £3B ilOs.; 'A return trip can be made to New (York arid ‘back for £39 15s tourist class,;, which‘is now the' -Highest class of . pas-: feenger carried on the MinuekaTida, Westefnlahd arid Pennland.