Southwest Airlines, which launched gift cards for the first time a year ago and sold them through the company's Internet site, has negotiated with a handful of retailers to sell cards displayed in racks near check stands.

Southwest offers the most flights at Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport

Boca Raton, Fla.-based SmartClixx LLC, a leader in stored value card technology, was contracted by Southwest to help develop the airline's retail gift card product, which is now offered at Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and local Albertson's and Smith's grocery stores.

Gift cards purchased online can be acquired for any amount, but the cards offered at local stores are available in denominations of $50 and $100.

"By being at retail locations, we are making it easier for our customers to purchase travel on Southwest airlines, just in time for the holiday season," said Kevin Krone, the airline's vice president of marketing, sales and distribution.

Bain & Co., a management consulting firm, said consumers spent $50 billion on gift cards in the United States last year. On average, consumers spent $248 per person on gift cards or gift certificates with most of those transactions occurring during the holiday buying season.

Retailers like gift cards because they're easy to stock and they generate some hidden profits — some cards are lost by the recipients or are never redeemed.

In the Wal-Mart aisles, Southwest joined rival American Airlines, which also offers travel in denominations of between $50 and $1,500. American also sells cards from its Web site.

US Airways, the No. 2 carrier at McCarran, also offers gift cards online and through local retailers. US Airways cards are available at 7-Eleven, Smith's, Longs Drugs, Radio Shack and Rite Aid.

Incidentally, those who still have America West gift cards in their possession can use them to buy tickets on US Airways flights.

And, if US Airways is successful in its merger with Delta Air Lines, count on those gift cards also being usable on Delta flight purchases.

In other news:

Several developments have occurred in the wake of the US Airways announcement, which has been rebuffed by Delta management and inspired employees to sport buttons proclaiming, "Keep Delta My Delta."

Since the $8.7 billion hostile takeover deal was announced:

• A group of Delta bondholders have organized in a bid to convince managers and employees to give serious consideration to the offer. The official creditors committee backs Delta's position that it would prefer the airline operating with its own plan when it emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Delta management has the exclusive right to offer a reorganization plan through mid-February and until that time, US Airways can't talk directly to employees and union groups.

• Delta's pilot union, the Air Line Pilots Association, has sided with Delta management on the merger question. ALPA's frustration that issues haven't been fully resolved on the America West-US Airways merger is at least part of the reason for that.

• Although there's still a long way to go before US Airways and Delta would ever hook up, Southwest Airlines has chimed in that if the deal goes through, it would be interested in any assets the merged airline would have to sell off, including aircraft and gates at some airports.

• The chief executive of Continental Airlines, which doesn't have a stake in the deal, said if the US Airways-Delta merger occurs, then it might also be interested in entertaining merger or buyout offers. Continental prefers to operate on its own like Delta, but the Houston-based carrier appears to be hedging its bets if the New Delta becomes the nation's largest airline.

Parker's letter to employees said Delta isn't excited about the prospect of joining forces because of the fear of the unknown. He also said his biggest regret about the coverage of the US Airways-Delta deal is that he and his management team have gotten all the credit for the successful blending of America West and US Airways and not the employees.

"Our proposal to the Delta team also means more change and creates questions we don't yet have answers for," Parker said in his letter. "Uncertainty causes fear; and fear, especially of the unknown, is a very powerful emotion. Further, many don't yet see what we see in terms of building a more financially stable airline and that is unfortunate because all too often in our business, airlines are willing to accept a model that allows for survival only through the next three years as opposed to building a model designed to last for the next 20 years and beyond.."

US Airways employees got some good news this week: During the Thanksgiving holiday when air travel was at its heaviest, 78.7 percent of the airline's operations went out on time. That inspired company leaders to offer every employee a $50 bonus — a move that cost the airline $1.8 million.

Thanksgiving air travel was generally good nationwide and while there are many who would like to take credit for getting the word out about the Transportation Security Administration's new travel rules, the reality is that the weather cooperated giving airlines a reasonably good chance of operating smoothly.

Macau visitation:

More people visited "Asia's Las Vegas" in October than in any month in history. But the interesting part of the story is that analysts say the visitation isn't coming from where most people thought it would come.

In October, 2 million people visited Macau, a 19.6 percent increase over the previous year. In the first 10 months of 2006, visitation has been up 15.9 percent to 17.9 million people.

Grant Chum, an analyst with UBS Securities, said contrary to common perception, the growing middle class of mainland China has not been responsible for the growth. Instead, it's coming from Hong Kong, from which visitations grew by 29 percent in September and 36.7 percent in October. Growth from mainland China grew by 15 percent in September and 10.3 percent in October.

Chum believes that Wynn Macau with its 300 VIP suites will be the main beneficiary of the trend in the months ahead until the Venetian Macau opens its doors next year.

Korean Airlines, which began nonstop flights between Seoul and Las Vegas in September, announced last week that it has finalized the purchase of 25 Boeing aircraft in a deal valued at $5.5 billion.

Korean Air expansion:

The airline has established a goal of being one of the world's top air carriers by 2010 and has begun heading in that direction with orders for 10 twin-engine Boeing 777s, five Boeing 737s and 10 freight aircraft. The company also took options on eight additional jets.

The 777s are extended-range models, capable of long-haul travel while the 737s will add lift between Korea and neighboring countries.