Flying in Europe

Thanks very much for your article on European air carriers (“Upstart European Airlines Appeal to Thrifty Travelers,” Travel Insider, April 2). We own a house in the south of France and find ourselves paying large sums for any European flights we take in the course of our summer stays there.

So it was with a great deal of interest that we phoned EuropeByAir at the number you gave. We wanted to book a flight from Toulouse to Annecy. We were told the plane stopped in Paris, and therefore we would be charged two coupons each for the one-way trip--one coupon Toulouse-Paris and another Paris-Annecy. The cost would be $200 per person. The normal fare is about $197--or less than the coupon fare. In addition we are eligible for a senior discount.

So you might point out to your readers that for nonstop flights, the coupons would probably be a saving. However, if there is a stop or change of planes, it’s best to check the regular fares, which might be less expensive.

CIMA BALSER

Culver City