Korean Air announced on Tuesday a special promotional event called "Merry Christmas Beforehand." Passengers who purchase air tickets on the company's website (kr.koreanair.com) will be entered into a lucky draw with chances to win tickets to "Van Gogh: Voyage into the Myth" at the Seoul Museum of Art or other events and performances.

Over on the Asiana Airlines website (www.flyasiana.com), the company is offering round-trip travel to Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle for just W1.1 million (US$1=W923). Passengers must return within one month, and the tickets do not come with mileage points.

Foreign airlines have also come up with various year-end special deals. Singapore Airlines (www.SIAholidays.co.kr) is offering special packages that include round-trip travel to Singapore, accommodation and airport transfers. For stay in a three-star hotel the package is W449,000 and for a five-star hotel it's W549,000. The special-deal flights are available until Dec. 24.

Lufthansa (www.lufthansa-korea.com) is offering Incheon to Frankfurt or Munich round-trip travel for W595,000. Bookings must be made before Dec. 15. Holiday travelers booking on the Air France website (www.airfrance.co.kr) can enjoy discount fares on flights in December to Paris, London, Milan and Barcelona. Tickets start at W700,000 and are available until the end of the month.

Northwest Airlines (www.nwa.com/kr) has also joined the discount drive, offering round-trip travel to Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle for W570,000 until Dec. 11, and for W814,200 from Dec. 12 to 21. United Airlines has a special offer for its Incheon-Tokyo flights at just W320,000 round-trip. The special fare is available until Dec. 28. Call the ticketing center for more information: (02-778-4961~3).

Passengers should keep in mind that these prices do not include the airport improvement fee and fuel surcharges. Once the flights are confirmed, passengers will have to pay extra fees to change or cancel their travel plans.

(englishnews@chosun.com )