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United Airlines is offering what it calls "special low-fare tickets" from its newest Los Angeles-area destination if you book by May 22, 2007 for flights between June 7, when it starts service, and Nov. 15, 2007.

But you'll pay a hefty premium to fly out of LA/Palmdale Regional Airport, 60 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, versus LAX, if my searches are any indication.

Comparing lowest fares for July 16 to 19 (weekday) round-trips on United's website, www.ual.com , on Wednesday, I found $247.30 out of Palmdale and $138.80 out of LAX for San Francisco. Similar story for New York's JFK: $556.40 out of Palmdale (via San Francisco) and $409.80 out of LAX (nonstop).

That's quite a leap from "sample fares" out of Palmdale quoted in United's May 1 news release: $170 for San Francisco and $318 for New York.

The key caveat: "Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights/dates." Blackouts blot out the special fares on most summer weekends, through Aug. 5.

Just shows the power of a monopoly. United is the only airline so far that has announced service out of Palmdale.