TRAVEL LOG

A casual, low-cost carrier

Ted, the latest effort by a major U.S. airline to compete with low-cost carriers, is to begin flying Thursday from its Denver hub. Parent United Airlines, aiming for hip, says its offspring will be “warm, friendly and casual.”

Ted will start with Denver-Las Vegas, Denver-Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and San Francisco-Las Vegas routes, then add more. In Southern California, it will begin flying Feb. 25 between Ontario and Denver and March 25 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Ted recently cut its maximum walk-up fare for any of its nonstops from Denver to $309 one way after earlier announcing fares up to $409. (Advance-purchase fares are lower.) Its new phone is (800) 225-5833; its website is www.flyted.com.

Delta Airlines’ low-fare Song, introduced in April, serves Los Angeles, Las Vegas and nearly a dozen cities in the East, including Fort Lauderdale.

In another move, United, following an industry trend of pampering big-ticket fliers, has launched a club called Ameniti. For $295 per year, members get two-for-one tickets with the purchase of full-fare tickets, room upgrades and other benefits at participating Starwood Hotels & Resorts, $300 shipboard credit on Cunard Line, special access to sporting events and other benefits. (877) 263-6484, www.ameniti.com.

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Having an

ice time

in Lapland

The Snow Show, which is to open this week, will present more than a dozen colossal outdoor works in Lapland, the area of Finland north of the Arctic Circle.

The quirky project has attracted noted artists and architects from around the world.

Forget snowmen and other winter fables. This show is high concept, with austere, abstract snow and ice structures. Participants include Do-Ho Suh of New York, paired with Santa Monica architect Thom Mayne’s Morphosis firm; and Yoko Ono, paired with Arata Isozaki, who designed the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.

The show will run through the end of March, weather permitting, in Kemi (opening Wednesday) and Rovaniemi (opening Thursday). Entrance will be about $6 for each site. Several companies offer tours that include the Snow Show. www.thesnowshow.net.

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More virtual check-in

Big Internet travel sellers are making it easier to check in for flights and print boarding passes online. On www.travelocity.com, American Airline’s frequent fliers can check in through a link on the site.

At www.orbitz.com, online check-in is available for Alaska, Midwest, Northwest and US Airways. You don’t have to be a frequent flier.

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Travel down

last year

The Iraqi conflict, SARS and economic problems in 2003 took their toll on worldwide tourism, which declined more than 1%, a record drop, the World Tourism Organization reported.

-- Compiled by

Jane Engle