Airfare: Question

I think $1100 looks pretty good, considering they are nonstops. My crystal ball is a bit cloudy.

you need to divine the tea leaves of historical data at Google flights and then consult the Magic 8 Ball.

All the "experts" thought the pent-up COVID travel would subside but no. And airlines and hotels and restaurants still have staffing issues, but tourists keep on coming. So it's that old demand/supply thing.

We are in the same boat Gritz. I have been watching September/October flights for a couple of months and agree they keep inching upward.

Rick's book says May through October are the busiest and most expensive in Italy. We may change our plans and go to Italy another year when we can go off-season.

If you can afford it, buy now and do not look back to see if they (miraculously) drop. We buy 6 to 11 months out for a schedule and route we really want (non-stop from the West Coast) and I am so glad we did for 2023 because our May, August, and October flights have done nothing but rise.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/transportation/flying-lufthansa-this-summer

This post provides no hope for airfares to drop. Amounts to 2,5+ million people looking for a r/t ticket somewhere else.

Last year bought a $400 R/T to France (French Bee) in Feb. for Sept. travel. This year looking to go to Italy, into Venice & depart Rome back to NY in October. Prices are moving northward seemingly everyday. Prefer Non-stop, but even that has its limits. Now lookin at $1,100+ non-stop.

400 seems extremely cheap. You got a bargain!

Be thankful you are traveling from the east coast. We would have loved to find flights for $1,100. But also glad we bought 7 months out. Out of curiosity, I checked the flight we have booked and prices are over $1,000 increase per ticket!

Before Covid, I flew Norwegian Airlines for the first and only time, as they have dropped trans Atlantic. What I just learned is Norwegian's routes are now run by Norse Air. I am quite conservative when is comes to flying, non-stop, no cheap airlines BUT I was very glad I flew Norwegian which at the time had the cheapest and reviewed as most uncomfortable economy seats. I upgraded to their premium that equals any business class. My husband said we must always fly Norwegian after that experience, but Norse does not fly out of Boston, only NY. They only fly MWF but check it out.

We bought airfare back in September for our upcoming trip for June and July. We paid $1750 for two to fly from San Francisco to Rome and back from Milan . Everyone said to wait I’m glad I didn’t.

Yep. Still glad I bought my spring tickets in November. Managed even to get an Awards fare which is impossible now.

My friend swears by the Hopper app. You tell it where you want to go, including dates, and they alert you to the best time to buy. We are using it for North America to Quebec, check it out. (can't use on a desktop, only a mobile app)

Based on our recent experience, I suggest book now and don't look back.
Last year, our family of four flew into Milan (May) and out of London (June). I purchased the tickets in February. Due to my husband's issues with his knee, two of the tickets were in Delta One; the two tickets for our college age student kids were in Comfort +.
My husband and I have been looking at returning to Italy in late September this year to attend the grape festival in the village that his grandmother is from. I have been tracking flights and about two weeks ago they started going up. We decided to cash in Chase points, put the rest on the card and booked two tickets, round trip (into and out of Rome) in Delta Premium Select. We live on the northern gulf coast so at a minimum we have one connection each way, unless we drive 4-5 hours to Atlanta.

I realize we do not have main cabin tickets, but here are some numbers based on our situation:
Last year's two tickets in Delta One, open jaw (May into Milan, June out of London) cost only $330 (total for two tickets) more than this years two tickets in Premium Select, round trip to Rome (late September/Early October).
This years tickets were purchased less than two weeks ago and the the same tickets, in the same class are now $2600 (total for two tickets) more. While I swore I wasn't going to look back, I obviously did...however, based on the (very limited) seats available and the prices, I am comfortable with our decision.

TY All...Love the feedback. I just opened my blinders a little and found (but not booked lol) a TAP Newark to Venice with
1 1/2 hr. layover in Lisbon and return non-stop flight to JFK (Newark preferred) on Norse for $725. This includes the $45 carry on charge with Norse. So question is $450+ worth doing a "quick" stop in LIS on the way, and coming back to Jersey from JFK. Mmmmm... personal question, I know.