The Volunteers' rare miss to a bowl last season is fueling brisk sales of tickets to the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., next month -- and that's good news for travel agents and Allegiant Air.

The low-fare carrier is launching service to Knoxville and begins flights to Florida from McGhee Tyson Airport on Dec. 13. Local travel agencies, which usually see a spike in business when the Vols are bowl bound, missed out on the bonanza following Tennessee's lackluster 2005 season.

But 1,000 club-level seats at $130 each were sold out even before the University of Tennessee men's athletic department knew what city it was going to and who the football team would be playing.

UT plays Penn State on Jan. 1 in Tampa, and Allegiant will have direct flights to St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport four days a week.

"There seems to be a lot of interest, in part because they (the Vols) didn't go anywhere last year," said Constantine Christodoulou, president of World Ventures.

The travel agency is offering packages for the game, including three nights' lodging and air transportation. For double occupancy, the price is $1,030 per person.

The agency is chartering at least one plane that will seat 172 people for round-trip service to the game, Christodoulou said.

Depending on demand, he said they might charter a second plane, too.

The $1,030 is the same price of a package offered by World Travel Service, which is chartering an Allegiant Air jet for its customers.

Both packages depart Knoxville on Dec. 29 and return after the game. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.

Sandy Hampton, leisure manager for World Travel Service, said more than 7,000 of the 13,500 tickets allotted to UT have been sold. She predicted UT would sell all of its tickets.

For fans who are driving, both travel agencies offer a double occupancy package for $540.

Tickets are $60 each and can be obtained by logging onto www.utsports.com or by calling 865-974-9100.

Tiffany Carpenter, director of public relations for UT athletics, said she anticipates a sellout.

"Tickets are moving quite briskly," she said.

Hampton said World Travel Service had several phone messages about tickets that awaited employees when they opened for business at 8:30 a.m. Monday.

Chris Stacey, director of consumer marketing for Allegiant Air, said the airline "absolutely" expects some business stemming from UT's bowl appearance.

But he said it was too early to speculate on how much service the airline will get from that.

Business writer Michael Silence may be reached at 865-342-6310.