"A pleasure traveler travels a lot by car and is buying lighter and lighter suitcases," he said.

With such progress, Continental has in the last year or two won back a growing number of business passengers, having earlier attracted pleasure travelers through low fares.

Trade season was at its height, and the crowds of small traders, meres, and the occasional pleasure traveler filled the aisles between the tent-booths.

Fewer business and pleasure travelers are visiting the city.

Although the primary beneficiaries of the new policies will be business travelers, Mr. Trippler said the changes would also have a major impact on pleasure travelers.

"The trend to using secondary airports is especially prevalent among pleasure travelers," said Terry Trippler, the airline specialist for the Web site Cheapseats.com.

Does the incentive commission system help or hurt the pleasure traveler?

While a pleasure traveler's ticket may help an agency reach its target for the period, it is the dependable, more expensive business ticket that is the breadwinner.

Business people always make a contact with people out there, but pleasure travelers do not always know what they are getting into.

For most pleasure travelers, the story ends there.