We hosted two exchange students last year, one from Spain. She really wants us to come visit next Summer to show us her hometown. I've been checking flights for next Summer and they're around $1500 per person. My kids and I flew to Germany in 2009 for under $500 per person. Are fuel costs to blame or is Spain just that much more expensive to fly into? We'll be staying with her family so saving a little money but I still don't want to spend $4500 for airline tickets. Any ideas? Do you think the price will be cheaper closer to the date?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23297 posts
The international travel scene has changed a lot since 09. First, you are traveling at peak time so assume your $500 tickets were off season. Second, the airlines have reduced capacity substantially to drive up the prices. Third, and very important, is the substantial decline in the dollar since 09. My guess is that the tickets will decline sometime but no lower than 1200, 1300 hundred. The days of $500 tickets in the summer are long gone if they ever existed.
Posted by
OP
Lawrenceburg, Ky, USA
119 posts
Actually, we went in July. I just checked a flight into Frankfort and it's about $1200.
Posted by
Des Moines, IA
2193 posts
Frank's right...the landscape has changed completely since 2009. I purchased a ticket in March of that year for a November trip ORD to MAD – it was $510. Last year, similar fares were priced in the upper $700 to mid-$800 range for winter travel. This year, I'm finding the lowest winter fares for the destinations I'm researching to be $850 to $1200 at present. I suspect I'll find winter fares dropping a bit later this year to somewhere around $800 to $900. We'll see...I'm patient. And watch your spelling of Frankfurt, lest you get called out by the grouch in Littleton. :)
Posted by
LaGrange, Ga, USA
1178 posts
Received an email adv this morning from Delta -- Atlanta to Madrid 489 one way, round trip required. Did not check the adv so do not know the details. I have made the trip for approximately 1,000 for the past several years. Price depends on the day of the week, time of the day, etc. I think you should be able to do better than $1,500 per person. Check alternate arrival cities if possible as well.
Posted by
OP
Lawrenceburg, Ky, USA
119 posts
Sorry, I live 10 minutes from Frankfort KY. I just found Lufthansa has a special on trips to Europe out of some major cities. Too bad I'm not going within the next couple of months. $310 to Madrid!
Posted by
Des Moines, IA
2193 posts
No need to apologize! Reasonable people, of course, understand what you mean. That $310 you mentioned is one-way, round-trip required, excluding taxes and fees.
Posted by
Bend, OR, United States
1167 posts
Travelocity has a Farewatcher service that you set to keep you advised of price changes. You should also keep an eye on fares into major hubs such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, etc because you often connect through one of them onto a discount carrier such as EasyJet, RyanAir, Spanair, etc.