WASHINGTON Nov. 18 - The United States resumed U-2 surveillance
 flights over Iraq today while the Clinton administration and its
 allies were weighing increased humanitarian aid to Iraq if Saddam
 Hussein allows U.S. weapons inspectors to return.
     A U.S. pilot flew a high-altitude surveillance mission over Iraq
 today without incident, said a Pentagon official who spoke on condi-
 tion of anonymity. "It's flown and everything went well,"
 the official said.
     Another official said Iraq made no attempt to interfere with the
 U-2.
     The flight was the second U.N.-sponsored U-2 mission by the
 United States on behalf of international weapons inspections since
 Saddam threatened to expel U.S. inspectors, but the first since he
 actually kicked the inspectors out of the country last week.
 11-18-97 0734EST
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     BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Nov. 18, 1997 10:47 a.m. EST - Iraq on Tuesday
 condemned the United States for sending a U-2 spy plane on a mission
 over central Iraq, suggesting that the plane took pictures of mili-
 tary sites in preparation for an attack.
     "At 11:25 a.m. ... (Washington) sent (the U-2) into our airspace
 via Saudi airspace ... and it remained south of the 32nd parallel
 and outside our defenses," the official news agency INA said, quoting
 an authorized spokesman.
     It said the plane left Iraqi airspace at 1:10 p.m.
     "How does America benefit from using U-2 planes other than taking
 pictures of Iraqi weapons and sites of the Iraqi army for its aggres-
 sive purposes?" the agency said.
     The spy plane flew over central Iraq without incident, the
 Pentagon said earlier. Iraq had threatened to shoot down any such
 planes.
     The U.N.-sanctioned reconnaissance flights are continuing despite
 the expulsion of U.S. members of a U.N. weapons inspection team. The
 flight was the first since the six Americans left Iraq last week;
 their international colleagues departed with them.
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                 Heading Home for the Holidays
     There is no such thing as the Thanksgiving airfare sale or the
 Christmas airfare sale. But there are all kinds of smaller sales
 that crop up around the holidays, with some of the discounts posted
 just a few days before the travel dates.
     This Thanksgiving, there are a handful of fare sales swirling
 about; the lowest coast-to-coast and regional fares so far are those
 introduced by Southwest Airlines and later matched by most competi-
 tors. Southwest's deals still are the best because they're more
 flexible: round trips and overnight stays aren't required. To get
 the good fares, you'll need to travel on Nov. 23, 24, 27 or 28.
 Departure on Nov. 25 adds $40 to 60. Do your comparison shopping.
 For example, United's Tuesday departure fares are higher than those
 of American, Northwest and US Airways.
     Delta has already initiated Christmas and New Year's sale fares
 with great bargains for quick trips. You can travel for $196 or less
 within the continental United States if you depart Dec. 24 or 25 and
 return Dec. 25, or depart Dec. 31 or Jan. 1 and return Jan. 1. If
 you want a longer stay, for $70 to $100 more round trip, you can
 depart Dec. 24 or 25 and return Dec. 31 or Jan. 1. Most major air-
 lines have matched these fares.
     Full-time students can fly on a cheap ticket with American's
 Holiday Break Fares. Departure dates are Dec. 8 to 17, 24 and 25.
 Return dates are Jan. 1 and 6 to 22. Fares are based on round-trip
 mileage and range from $99 to $269.
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