TRAVELER'S ADVISORY GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE FRIENDLY SKIES.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

Travel providers continue to offer steep discounts in an effort to draw customers who might be spooked by terrorist threats and the United States' military assault on Afghanistan.

Mona Strick, director of leisure sales and marketing for Garber Travel, said some of the discounts available from tour companies and cruise lines now are ``incredible.'' ``We're not just seeing the normal fall discounts,'' she said. ``We're seeing them being extended into the winter and spring.''

For those who can make quick decisions, Hawaiian Airlines is offering round-trip fares between the West Coast and Honolulu starting at $319 from Los Angeles. The ticket must be purchased by Wednesday. From San Francisco or San Diego, it's $329.

Continuing on to a neighbor island is $90 extra. Travel can be through March 31. Fares are subject to availability and do not include airport fees and segment taxes; other restrictions apply.

Information: [phone]; www.hawaiianair.com.

Grand Circle Travel, which caters to travelers 50 and older, said recently that it is offering savings of up to $1,000 per person on five of its most popular river cruises in Europe and Egypt ``for select 2001 departures.'' The trips all include round-trip air fare.

Grand Circle's 16-day river cruise through Holland, Germany and Austria, which was listed starting from $1,995 in the 2001 Grand Circle catalog, is now available for $995 and up. A 15-day cruise along the Rhone River, Paris and the Cote d'Azur was listed starting from $1,695 and now costs $995 and up. And a nine-day river cruise along the Danube is reduced from a catalog price of $1,395 to $795.

Grand Circle's land deals are to Spain and the South Pacific. A 15-day all-inclusive vacation to the Costa del Sol, which usually costs $1,095 and up, is reduced to $695 in the special. A 23-day escorted tour to New Zealand and Australia that would have cost $3,500 and up is being offered for $2,595 and up, including, as with the other deals, round-trip air fare (in this case, from Los Angeles).

Grand Circle information: [phone].

Other bargains in the travel industry:

Las Vegas: National Airlines, which serves Las Vegas from several cities, has extended through this month its Get America Flying fares, with round-trip fares from Los Angeles priced at $25. The trip must be on any of the next three Tuesdays (through Oct. 30), with the return flight on a Monday or a Wednesday through Nov. 7. In addition, 15 Las Vegas hotels are offering one night free with a minimum two- to four-night stay in conjunction with this fare. Information: [phone]; www.nationalairlines.com.

Cruising: Strick of Garber Travel noted that Carnival Cruise Lines is offering lower rates and ``seven-night cruises from $549.'' Through Saturday, the line will donate $50 for each stateroom to American Red Cross relief efforts.

Recently, she said, Norwegian Cruise Lines began offering a seven-day trip to the Caribbean that would sail from Boston on Oct. 28 for $449. Strick said the ship, the Majesty, would stop in Bermuda, St. Martin and St. Thomas before taking up its winter port in San Juan.

Stretching miles: Through Nov. 15, American, TWA, United, Delta, Continental and US Airways are among the airlines doubling frequent-flier awards and discounting the miles needed for a round-trip ticket. Typically, an economy-class ticket within the continental United States will require 15,000 miles instead of 25,000. There are similar reductions on other routes, but the double-miles offer does require registration by telephone. For information on registering, visit www.aaa.com/offers for American and TWA, www.ual.com, www.continental.com, www.usairways.com and www.delta.com.

Western Canada: The Whistler resort in British Columbia has designed a weekend package just for women titled the Girls Weekend Getaway package. It includes two nights' accommodation at one of Whistler's hotels, a gourmet cooking lesson and a spa treatment, and is priced at about $195 U.S. per person. It is available through Nov. 18. Information: [phone]; www.tourismwhistler.com.

Europe: Europe Express announced a new line of ``Escape'' packages with deep discounts on air and hotel prices. A four-night, five-day trip from Los Angeles to London, valid from Monday through Dec. 15, is priced from $569. A trip of the same duration to Paris is priced from $549.

Prices are per person based on double occupancy and do not include weekend surcharges or airline departure tax; restrictions apply. Information: [phone]; www.europeexpress.com.

Grade A fares: AirTran Airways is discounting fares on flights through Feb. 13, under its Grade A sale. Tickets must be bought by Wednesday, and there is an advance-purchase requirement of seven days.

Fares are nonrefundable and availability is limited; there are blackout dates, and taxes and fees are extra. Round-trip travel is not required, and there is an extra 5 percent discount if bought at www.airtran.com. Through Dec. 31, the airline will give a free round-trip ticket after the purchase of three round trips. Information: [phone].