9 last-minute gifts for folks on the go

ByABC News
December 11, 2007, 8:02 PM

— -- Put down that garish sweater and the goofy gag gift. Back away from that useless kitchen gadget. It may be mid-December, but there's still time to find great presents for the frequent travelers on your list. Here are some great last-minute gift ideas:

1. Airline gift cards and gift certificates:Most every airline website has a section with gift certificates for sale in you-decide denominations that can start as low as $10 (Southwest Airlines www.southwest.com) and ratchet all the way up to $10,000 (Continental Airlines www.continental.com). Delivery methods vary: some airlines will announce your gift with a cheery e-mail message while others provide a downloadable gift certificate or a list of shipping options that can range from overnight to two weeks. Be sure to read the fine print about restrictions on use and expiration dates; some certificates cannot be used for certain fares or upgrades, and while most certificates have no expiration date, some must be used within a year.

If money is no object and the travelers on your list have been very, very good, then consider a Holiday DreamCard from the folks at Halcyon Jets (www.halcyonjets.com). The company is offering a gift card for $5M (yup, five million dollars) good for single or round-trip travel on a private jet anywhere in the world. The service comes with a personal concierge, who can not only assist with any conceivable travel-related need, but also help you dream up an imaginative way to deliver the sky-is-the-limit gift on short notice. "What about a 50-foot banner announcing the gift being towed at 2000 ft. above your home on Christmas morning?" says company CEO Jonathan R. Gilbert, "Or how about having the card presented aboard a private jet headed for a romantic surprise holiday getaway? Or fly it into your living room on a model airplane?"

2. Airline club memberships or day passes:For those not privy to private jet travel, airline club lounges promise travelers a little bit of peace and quiet, along with free drinks and snacks, comfortable chairs and a place to get some work done. Club memberships cost between $150 and $500, depending on the buyer's status with the airline, but many airlines clubs also sell day passes ($25 $50) that a traveler can keep tucked inside a briefcase or wallet as insurance against a frustrating day hanging around an airport. To purchase, check airline websites or stop by an airport club room.