These days, seems they can't give airline tickets away

Well, that may be a stretch, but air fares are definately the lowest they've been in years. Travel is down for both business and pleasure, and that is a scenario that doesn't look to change for about 3 years.

Sadly, the reduced fairs won't stay around forever. Oh sure, they may not return to the levels of last summer when flying for pleasure was only for those flush with cash, but airlines are taking steps very quickly to reduce the red ink. The biggest effect on consumers? Vastly reduced capacity on all major airlines. Many of the majors have cut their capacity by 7-8% so far, with further cuts coming. American Airlines literally can't cut capacity fast enough to keep pace with the decline of passengers.

What does this mean for passengers? Well, first of all, these fares are likely to go up by the end of the spring, and stabilize at higher levels over the summer. Secondly, for the next few months expect the airlines to mess with your schedule even after you've booked. Cutting flights means you're going to get combined into other flights, or even have your connecting hubs shifted to other cities. Yes, its a pain, but at prices that are 60% of what they used to be, not many people are complaining.