In March, the average business fare paid was $638 for a round trip.

During the late 90's, they jacked up the premium for business fares as never before.

I could therefore have bought four economy seats for $1,904, half the business fare.

In one sense, the lessons were universal business fare.

But the sharp rise in business fares recently may have improved the political climate for such changes.

America West stunned competitors early this year when it sharply cut business fares across the board.

Here is the bad news: The sustained drop in business fares probably cannot last.

After losing $13 billion from 1990 to 1994, the industry is finally flush, with planes often nearly full and business fares at record levels.

By some accounts, business fares are as much as 30 percent higher than they were just two years ago.

American Express predicts that business fares will rise an additional 6 percent this year.