I'd appreciate any guidance you can give me: we are in our 70s and are finding that we really want to break up our longer trips with an overnight stop at an airport hotel. For our trip between PHL and ANC late this summer, what's your advice on the best way to do this economically and conveniently-- or is that an oxymoron? What about booking a trip this way-- can we do it online, once we have settled on the flights, or do we need to phone the airlines?

Try the "multi-city" search on all major airline's website.

It's not a problem, either on line, telephone or travel agent, but do realize that it won't be the cheap through fare that you seeing for the same day travel. In most cases it will be much more.

Alaska Airlines flies from PHL to ANC via Chicago or Chicago plus Seattle (using American Airlines flights between PHL and ORD) allows a free stopover in each direction in Seattle or Chicago with virtually all of their fares, even the cheap ones.

I would either go online to www.alaskaair.com and see your options, or else you may need to pay $5 or $10 more to make a reservation on the phone, but you can specify your stopover wishes to the agent. There are numerous affordable airport hotels near O'Hare or Seattle.

thanks very much folks-- gardyloo, I was hoping to hear something like that.