beckytx

My husband and I really want to spend a week in Barcelona this September. The flights we are eyeing are on Northwest with one stop in Amsterdam. The current price is $910 pp (up $10 from yesterday, so I'm scared the trend will continue). What would you do? I'm leaning towards booking, but I'd love to hear any other opinions. Thank you!!!

Dukey

Do you know anyone, anywhere, including here, who can guarantee you that the fares WILL be less or more if you wait?

And, please, what happened "last year" and "when I did it" are totally irrelevant.

I would go to www.itasoftware.com and put in your dep are arrival cities and use the "month-long" view to give you a possible idea of fare variations.

Otherwise if you are comfortable with the price, the itinerary, the airline, and the dates, I'd book it and concentrate on other worries.

doug_stallings

This is a pretty good fair, and I'd jump on it. I doubt you'll do much better from DFW if you wait. Airline prices are trending up right now rather than down. Last year, $700 to $800 was a good price from JFK, so I think this is an excellent price from where you live. And it's probably more pleasant to transfer in Amsterdam than in Madrid, so you may actually be coming out ahead. Now the quality of the flight experience on Northwest ... well, let's just not go there.

doug_stallings

My spelling is atrocious today. It's a pretty good "fare".

beckytx

Dukey,
I realize no one has a clue what would happen. There is no reason to snap at people.

Doug,
Thank you! I think you are right, and that is the type of response I was hoping for. The international part of the flight is actually KLM not sure if that make any difference but I'm not too concerned.

I'm off to book.

missypie

I'd book it. Last year when we went in March I watched fares for months and was aboe to get something in the neighbohood of $642....but that was March. When I look at the fare for suumer, it was in the $1200-$1400 range. So I'd be pleased with a $910 fare.

travelgourmet

A few notes:

This is a pretty fair price. It is not what I would call stellar, but it is pretty good. Nonetheless, September is a long way away, and I am not convinced that this is the absolute best price you will see over the next NINE months. So, it comes down to how risk-averse you are. If you think $910 is a good price and don't want to risk that you will pay more, then book it.

Also, since you have to connect, have you priced fares from New York and a separate ticket to get to and from New York? Have you priced tickets from DFW to London or another European gateway and a separate ticket from there to Barcelona?

Finally, as to the KLM/Northwest thing, they have a joint venture for their trans-Atlantic flights, whereby they share the revenue and the costs equally and market them as a single service. From a ticketing perspective, it doesn't matter whether it says KLM or Northwest. Now, in the air, I find Northwest to be better than KLM, but KLM is okay, provided it is on the A330 (which I think the DFW flight is) - but avoid the KLM 747s, which are kind of crummy.

travelgourmet

BTW, I guess I missed the comment about NW in-flight service, to which I would ask why the poster is so down on them? For trans-Atlantic itineraries on one of their new A330s you will get legroom that is as good or better than any other major carrier. You will get AVOD and (for about half of the coach seats) in-seat power. Booze is still free. And the layout is 2-4-2 which beats 3-3-3, in my book. I find the FA's pretty decent too, if not exceptional. Honestly, I consider them the best coach experience to Europe. Of course, no coach experience is that good, but NW can be decent.

beckytx

Thanks! We went ahead and purchased and I feel very happy with my decision. Now I have to pick an apartment..