"We do not have a monopoly on discount tickets," he said.

"But unfortunately," he added, "the industry has already sold discount tickets for much of the summer, its strongest period."

Because of these changes, discount tickets will be good only at the crossings where they are purchased.

Admission for each class is $75, with a discount ticket of $50 for a second person.

Airlines often award no miles at all for the cheapest discount tickets.

The Met already provides discount tickets for students and corporate employees in its 3,800-seat house.

The students flash $31-a-month discount tickets to a conductor they know by name.

I got a 10 percent reduction on the usual rate with my discount ticket.

But discount tickets aren't the bargain they once were, either.

The charge to change a discount ticket is now $100 at most airlines, four times the fee in the mid 1990's.