The U.S. General Services Administration said new deals with 11 airlines include citypair fares "that average approximately 65 percent of the cost of full fares

." Valued at $2 billion, the one-year contracts for federal employee travel--effective Oct. 1--were awarded based on price, ticket refundability and "penalty-free" cancellations and schedule changes, among other criteria. The contract with American Airlines is largest, covering 1,322 routes with an estimated value just shy of $450 million.