they are going to buy the small are rival, air tran for $1.4 billion. and what this does is gives southwest a shot at the east coast, specifically, atlanta and smaller marks it does not serve. because you are going through atlanta now you can get into new york and boston and south florida through atlanta and that means big money for this carrier. analysts say the deal could lead to an increase in the price of tickets because the leading low cost carriers are no longer competing. this deal comes a week after shareholders approve a messager between united and continental making the largest early in all the world. usa today newspaper studying air fares and reports what you already knew: we pay a lot more to fly. a whole lot more. the newspaper analyzed ticket prices from june and we are paying 50 percent more in