Monday, May 19, 2003 | 11:10 a.m.
Tourists planning visits to Las Vegas can now book air and lodging packages using most air carriers through VEGAS.com, a spokesman for the company said.
Howard Lefkowitz, president of the Internet site, said the expanded service was launched Thursday.
"It's a major step for us from a technical perspective," said Lefkowitz, who said VEGAS.com used to have an exclusive agreement with America West Airlines to package tours to Las Vegas.
Lefkowitz said when similar deals are completed with international air carriers within a couple of weeks, VEGAS.com will have relationships with 70 airlines to bring passengers to the city.
Most of the major U.S. air carriers serving McCarran International Airport are part of the VEGAS.com deal. One that is not is Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, the busiest carrier serving McCarran, which does not participate in Internet tour package deals outside its proprietary Southwest.com brand.
Lefkowitz said the VEGAS.com engine books only air packages with hotels and not airline tickets only.
VEGAS.com is a sister company to the Las Vegas Sun.
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