Airlines boost prices as Hurricane Rita nears.

Residents seeking to flee Houston by air before Hurricane Rita roars into town are finding that only costly last-minute seats are still available. Continental Airlines on its Web site yesterday was offering coach seats one way from Houston to Dulles International Airport for as much as $1,937. Searches of the travel Web sites SideStep and Orbitz turned up one-way and round-trip flights between Houston and the Washington area on various carriers from $300 to $624. Airlines set aside …

…rooms are booked for miles outside of the city. Many rooms were already occupied by New Orleans evacuees and relief workers. Hilton Hospitality Inc. is urging travelers to call its properties directly to check on available rooms. The hotel chain offered discounts for Katrina evacuees: rooms for about $19 a night, depending on the location. Hilton spokeswoman Katy Shephard said a decision has not been made about discounts for Rita evacuees. -2005 The Washington Post Company