Because Las Vegas is near the top of everyone's to-do list, airfares in and out of McCarran International Airport stay on the reasonable side.

And Hugo Burge, president of Cheapflights.com, is envious.

"There's lots of capacity and flights to Vegas because it's so popular," said Burge, who said now is the time to begin looking for travel deals for the holiday season.

Burge said competition moves airlines to keep fares low, and because so many air carriers -- 34 at last count -- have regularly scheduled flights to Las Vegas, it's easy to see how traveling by air is relatively painless for locals.

What really helps is that the dominant carriers in the market are built on low-cost models and are economically stable.

Southwest Airlines, which has built its reputation on offering cheap seats and whose representatives say their biggest competition is the automobile, is McCarran's market leader.

America West Airlines -- pardon me, US Airways -- also has a low-cost model, yet offers passengers a first-class cabin and flights to more destinations than any other airline.

Even United Airlines and Delta, the No. 3 and 4 McCarran operators, offer their discount versions on many of their Las Vegas routes. United's Las Vegas schedule is dominated by its Ted subsidiary, while Delta's Song discounter offers four flights a day to and from McCarran.

But even though competition keeps ticket prices down here, it may not help much, considering all of the economic calamities airlines have faced this year.

"Airline ticket prices are being pushed every which way," Burge said. "They've been battered from all sides."

So don't be surprised, he said, if you have to pay more this year than last for tickets to Grandma's house.

Fuel prices are to blame for 2005's sour outlook.

"This is one time you can't blame the airlines," Burge said of the skyrocketing price of fuel, which has been exacerbated by the severe hurricane season.

Knowing that seats are going to cost more this year than last, here are some of Burge's tips for getting the best deals this holiday season:

• Book early. "My strategy," Burge said, "is to book my airfare as quickly as possible, but to wait to the last minute for lodging."

He explained that rarely do air tickets decrease in price, but last-minute deals for hotel rooms often are available. That sometimes means you may not get the hotel you want, he said, but the strategy usually results in the best price.

He added that while there are tour companies that offer airfare-hotel packages at discounted rates, they may not be better than what you can find on your own.

• Be flexible. Everyone knows that the worst days to travel are the day before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after that holiday because everybody wants to arrive on time for dinner and get home in time for work the next week.

Burge suggests that travelers look for midweek flights that may have better fares than weekend trips.

A special Las Vegas note: Consult the convention calendar if you have flight flexibility. During a massive event like the Automotive Aftermarket Week shows, the Consumer Electronics Show and even the National Finals Rodeo, there's a greater demand for getting in and out of the city and thus tickets are harder to come by.

• Use the Internet. Burge said the Internet has become the great equalizer for finding the best fares.

While he's not shy about encouraging people to give Cheaptickets.com a look, he also recommends travelers seek deals on Travelocity, Orbitz and Expedia.

Technological advances on airline Web sites also have given travelers a distinct advantage. For example, Southwest now offers a service called Ding!, a reference to the sound the computer makes when a fresh set of new deals is posted.

I recently booked a round trip to Reno for $45 one way on the site, but Ding! alerted me to a $25 one-way fare, so I changed.

America West -- pardon me, US Airways -- also offers a nifty price grid on its Internet site that shows the lowest available fare for passengers that have the flexibility to travel on alternate dates.

• Look for deals to alternative airports. In Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, travelers have the option of departing from multiple airports, and some airlines offer better ticket prices at alternative airports. It works the same way outbound.

JetBlue offers flights to Long Beach, Calif., an alternative to LAX; Allegiant Air has a nice fare to Fort Collins, Colo., which isn't a bad drive to north Denver as an alternative to Denver International; Song's trips to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., could offer a reasonable alternative to Miami.

"No one booking agent can guarantee the best fare," Burge said. "Consumers that shop around can find some good deals for the holidays."

Richard N. Velotta covers tourism for In Business Las Vegas and its sister publication, the Las Vegas Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-4061 or by e-mail at velotta@lasvegassun.com.