DALLAS — American Airlines says it will let frequent fliers use miles to book one-way trips for half the miles of a roundtrip.

The airline will also let customers redeem miles to fly one leg of a roundtrip in first-class and fewer miles to fly in coach on the other leg. Officials at American plan to announce the changes today.

SAFEWAY AGREES TO NEGOTIATE

DENVER — With employees threatening to walk off the job, Safeway agreed to resume negotiations with its union workers, a company spokeswoman said yesterday.

The labor contract between Safeway and its workers expired Saturday night without a new agreement and workers were planning to strike as soon as today. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 in Colorado represents about 17,000 workers at Safeway, King Soopers and Albertsons.

JAPAN OFFICIAL DEFENDS STIMULUS

TOKYO — A Japanese minister defended his government's $150 billion stimulus package yesterday against criticism it allocates too much money to wasteful pet projects meant to woo voters.

Minister of Finance Kaoru Yosano said the stimulus measures would encourage gradual but basic structural changes to the economy to boost growth and steer it away from export dependence, but more time is needed to see the effects of the programs.

The package calls for $150 billion in government spending, including cash rebates to spur consumer spending.