Anxiety over rising airfare-Advice on fare trends U.S. to Europe?
Dec 13th, 2005, 04:48 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anxiety over rising airfare-Advice on fare trends U.S. to Europe?
Silly me. Thinking I could actually plan a trip and THEN book the airfare. First time for everything I guess...fares are rising freakishly and we need open jaw Seattle to Rome 5/18, Paris to Seattle 6/1. Any advice as to "buy it now before we're sorry" or "wait for sales" and when...? I've been watching for 2 months and they've only went up...up...up...Thanks!
Dec 13th, 2005, 05:00 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,098
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have you tried reversing your itinerary to see if that makes any difference?
I don't know about the west coast, but in 25 years of travel from the east coast to Europe, we've generally found the best prices from 3 to 5 months before our travel date. So for your trip that would be sometime between now and mid-February. The few exceptions we actually got the best prices closer to the travel date.
An airline can also have a cash flow problem and decide to have a sale any time.
But with the world oil situation and airlines in financial difficulties, who can say anything for sure?
Our rule has always been to determine what seems to be a fair, affordable price to us. When we see that price, we buy our tickets. If we don't see that price, we go somewhere else or wait until next year. Europe has always waited for us.
Oh, and we do book our hotels before making air reservations, but only those hotels with reasonable cancellation policies.
I don't know about the west coast, but in 25 years of travel from the east coast to Europe, we've generally found the best prices from 3 to 5 months before our travel date. So for your trip that would be sometime between now and mid-February. The few exceptions we actually got the best prices closer to the travel date.
An airline can also have a cash flow problem and decide to have a sale any time.
But with the world oil situation and airlines in financial difficulties, who can say anything for sure?
Our rule has always been to determine what seems to be a fair, affordable price to us. When we see that price, we buy our tickets. If we don't see that price, we go somewhere else or wait until next year. Europe has always waited for us.
Oh, and we do book our hotels before making air reservations, but only those hotels with reasonable cancellation policies.
Dec 14th, 2005, 04:48 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi hip,
I agree with RTF, you are still early for low fares.
See www.kayak.com. It is cheaper to fly SEA/CDG - FCO/SEA than the other way.
How are you getting from Italy to Paris?
I agree with RTF, you are still early for low fares.
See www.kayak.com. It is cheaper to fly SEA/CDG - FCO/SEA than the other way.
How are you getting from Italy to Paris?
Dec 14th, 2005, 08:08 AM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That is interesting. It does cost less to reverse the itinerary. However, the 2 nights in Paris are meant to be a "topping" to the trip (we have been to Paris before). Because of such a short time there I don't think adjusting to jet lag at the beginning of the trip would be a good idea for us. I will keep trying adding leaving from different hubs, I was surprised not to save much money leaving from JFK (I could use FF miles to JFK and transfer).
We're taking the overnight train from Venice to Paris in one of those 3-berth "1st Class" (whatever that means) cabins. We thought about flying myair or ryanair, but for various reasons we decided to go with the train.
So it is 4 nights Rome, 3 Florence, 3 Venice, 1 train, 2 Paris...
I'm nervous about Delta, but they've been offering good fares...
We're taking the overnight train from Venice to Paris in one of those 3-berth "1st Class" (whatever that means) cabins. We thought about flying myair or ryanair, but for various reasons we decided to go with the train.
So it is 4 nights Rome, 3 Florence, 3 Venice, 1 train, 2 Paris...
I'm nervous about Delta, but they've been offering good fares...
Dec 14th, 2005, 08:26 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi hip,
The T3 cabins are 2 cl.
If you want 1 cl you have to go in a 4 person couchette.
PS, I think I erred on my previous post regarding prices.
You can get PREMS fares in a T3 that won't be much more than flying.
The T3 cabins are 2 cl.
If you want 1 cl you have to go in a 4 person couchette.
PS, I think I erred on my previous post regarding prices.
You can get PREMS fares in a T3 that won't be much more than flying.
Dec 14th, 2005, 08:39 AM
#6
1. There are no guarantees.
2. There are frequently spring sales that begin after the first of the year.
3. The airlines are adding substantial capacity on north Atlantic routes for 2006.
4. Some airlines are starting to remove or scale back fuel surcharges that were imposed in 2004/5.
5. The dollar may be strengthening against the € and £.
6. All of the above may be irrelevant.
So in the words of Dirty Harry, "Do you feel lucky?"
I'd wait till Feb. myself.
2. There are frequently spring sales that begin after the first of the year.
3. The airlines are adding substantial capacity on north Atlantic routes for 2006.
4. Some airlines are starting to remove or scale back fuel surcharges that were imposed in 2004/5.
5. The dollar may be strengthening against the € and £.
6. All of the above may be irrelevant.
So in the words of Dirty Harry, "Do you feel lucky?"
I'd wait till Feb. myself.
Dec 14th, 2005, 08:57 AM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I guess I was confused about 1st class because it states "1st class fares" but then it does say 2nd class cabin. So, what exactly is a 3-berth "cabin" like and what is PREMS? When I checked railsaver is suggested France'N'Italy Saverpass and that would be ok if we use for a daytrip out somewhere...Ira - help!
Gardyloo-All your valid points lead me down the path of waiting...except the last one. I'm not a gambler.
Ok, I guess I just need to make a plan and go with it.
Thanks for your help Rufus, Ira and Gardy!
Gardyloo-All your valid points lead me down the path of waiting...except the last one. I'm not a gambler.
Ok, I guess I just need to make a plan and go with it.
Thanks for your help Rufus, Ira and Gardy!
Trending Topics
Dec 14th, 2005, 09:16 AM
#10
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How are you planning to travel between Rome. Florence, and Venice? By rail? If so, you need to add that into your enquiry at railsaver..the more u=you use a pass the more economical it gets, otherwise just go with point-to-point tickets.
WHERE have you checked airfares? have you looked on consolidator sites such as www.onetravel.com and aggregator sites such as www.itasoftware.com?
WHERE have you checked airfares? have you looked on consolidator sites such as www.onetravel.com and aggregator sites such as www.itasoftware.com?
Dec 14th, 2005, 09:20 AM
#11
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are, in fact, three-berth First Class sleeping accommodations on this partticular (Paris-venice) service.
You can read about the accommodations and see pictures by going to www.seat61.com and us9ing the left-handed sidebar click on "Italy" and then click on "traveling from London to Venice."
You can read about the accommodations and see pictures by going to www.seat61.com and us9ing the left-handed sidebar click on "Italy" and then click on "traveling from London to Venice."
Dec 14th, 2005, 09:34 AM
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Intrepid1 - I checked out the website, thank you!
I did put in all points of travel on railsaver and came up with the Italy'N'France saverpass.
Yes, I've been checking consolidators, itasoftware, and dedicated websites (every day). Fares were around $800 two months ago, but I can't go back in time I guess!
Whitey, thanks! I'll check out that site. That's the lowest I've seen lately...
Thanks!
I did put in all points of travel on railsaver and came up with the Italy'N'France saverpass.
Yes, I've been checking consolidators, itasoftware, and dedicated websites (every day). Fares were around $800 two months ago, but I can't go back in time I guess!
Whitey, thanks! I'll check out that site. That's the lowest I've seen lately...
Thanks!
