Beginning today, coach fares with no advance purchase for direct flights to and from Chicago and Denver as well as thousands of markets around the country reached through connecting service are being cut by as much as 40 percent, the airline said.

And the fares on tickets purchased seven days in advance for the same flights are being cut as much as 70 percent, according to United spokesman Joe Hopkins.

Hopkins said the airline hopes the reduced fares on flights where there is no requirement to stay Saturday night will attract business travelers.

Meanwhile, United, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month, also announced that beginning tomorrow it is scaling back food service on many domestic flights. For example, meals are being eliminated for first- and business-class passengers on flights of two to three hours in the United States and Canada outside the normal meal hours.