Airfare to Italy this Fall

This is often discussed with no conclusions. Set a price YOU are comfortable with and if you see grab it. There is so much drama in the airlines these days is that no one knows anything. Everything I am reading says the Cont/United merger will drive up prices by 10%, and capacity will be reduced. Any remember, any advice to wait, wait wait, is worthless since the adviser has nothing at risk. Easy to say, 'O sure, the prices will go down. But they might.

I am using alot of fare watcher services but things don't seem to be changing very much at all

I had this exact same question a few months ago and ended up booking early april for a mid july flight--and it was on a random day where for some reason the flights on one particular airline were less. i just rechecked the other day, and the EXACT same flight is now $200 more per person. so yeah--look every single day. i used every fare search site there is, and got daily email updates from at least four different sites, and found kayak to be the best, at least in my experience, as it is where i found my flight at the right price. and really, as is stated above, that's really the best option--pick a reasonable price and when you find it--or something close to it--BOOK IT. you'll be glad you did. i cannot express how glad i am that our airfare is taken care of!
(if you would like to read about the stress of waiting for flights, check out my ad-free for-my-entertainment-only blog at www.elbodans.wordpress.com the blogs about airfare start in january and go through april--that's how long i'd been searching!!!)

I would expect the CO/UA merger to have little to no impact on fall 2010 airfares. Their goal is to merge by year end. Until then they must run as two companies or risk violation of other laws.

That said, things are just higher then the past few years. Much less capacity is the big driver IMHO.

Alex, I'm curious---why did you expect prices to drop 3-4 months out? Was that an idea you saw here? The person who promoted that idea has since changed his tune---after people who tried following that advice found prices just keep going up, and complained.

I see prices from Denver to either Milan, Pisa or Rome for just under $1000 for a Sept. 24 departure on good routes (one stop). That looks pretty good, at least compared to what we are paying for a ticket from Seattle. Are you hoping to do better than that?

Hi Sasha~ Yes, I do think I read it here. Interesting. Yes, I am seeing some good fares under $1000 too and thought that was good especially one stop and the times we wanted. So was just trying to see if I should wait or if those truly are good fares. I know sometimes the rates drop quite a bit but usually in December/January

Sasha's exactly right. I was one of those people that waited and regret it now. I'd get tickets now at that under $1000 price, I would not wait.

Ok thanks so much everyone :)

Seeing a "sale" announced, and actually getting a ticket at that price seem to be completely unrelated. I get e-mail announcements about sales from various airlines---SAS, British, American---but every time I go to check the prices for actual flights, those sale prices are mysteriously unavailable.

BTW, who is Pauline Frommer, and why do you keep quoting her?

Yeah, I agree with Lola ~ that happens to me too!
I am going to go ahead and book!

Delta flights in Sept. to Milan, Pisa & Rome (including open jaw) are all in the $935 range from Denver right now and all with just 1 stop. IMO that's about as good as it's going to get. Get 'em now while there's still a good selection of seats.

Thanks to all the input yesterday I bought BA flights, one stop and getting to Milan at 6pm which is what we wanted to more easily deal with jetlag. $941 so feel good about that!
I did notice that most flights had gone up yesterday so don't know if that is a sign of things to come!

We decided to go to Europe this summer in January. Flights were a little over $1000 per person, I waited and waited and waited and only watched flights creep up for summer travel. We paid about $1200 per person (less in part due to 2 child fares.)from San Diego on Air Canada. We bought about 3 mos out. I was totally sure I had overpaid at the time. The sales never materialized and the flights have continued to creep up. I am feeling good about my tickets now especially since the euro has dropped I am making up the $$ other places. Sounds like a pretty good price to me. I am guessing flights will not go down this year at all. Airlines have a lot of $$ to make up for in their volcano losses. I am guessing they will cut flights before they cut prices. Just my 2 cents....

I agree with you Kelly! Think I am going to go buy some euros :) $1200 is not that bad ~ I paid that to Paris on Air Canada for June travel in 2006! Have a great time!!