Airfares May 2015

Supply and demand. Fuel has nothing to do with it. Just an excuse for raising prices in the past. Now, they have thrown way any such childish pretense and are shouting "We have the planes suckers! Pay our price or stay home!"

Part of it is a game of chicken. They're posting high prices now, but may cut them selectively if the expected bookings do not materialize. But hey, Emirates is showing great prices in and out of Milan from JFK.

I think you got lucky in 2013! In summer 2012 I paid 1700 for my flight to Europe and I've not seen it less than 1400 since then!

I've been paying between $1200-$1600 since 2010. Check the day of the week for your departure, sometimes midweek fares are a little lower.

If you are a couple, Emirates has a fare special from New York to Milan roundtrip for 799 for 2 economy seats. My sister & her hubby just booked a trip from May 5-21 for 799. They live in Chicago so have to buy ord-jfk tickets but it's still a great deal!
http://www.emirates.com/us/english/offers/2083772/special-fares-for-two-to-italy?intcid=1082976_2083772

I edited and added roundtrip

Roundtrip for me for 1601 via AA from MSY-ROM

It's two things:
1. You got very very lucky in 2013. (We paid $1200 that year for RT Seattle-Rome, Venice-Seattle in May. This year it's $1450, also in May.)
2. The airlines have consolidated, eliminating a lot of the competition. And they've shrunk down the number of flights to the perfect spot where they can now pretty much dictate the prices.

On the plus side for American travelers to Europe, the dollar is VERY strong against the euro right now, making it much less expensive for us.

I'm sure the airlines have noted the relatively strong dollar vs. the Euro as well, and will be keeping their prices high on transatlantic flights expecting more demand.

I jumped on a nonstop from ATL-FCO in November because I saw it going higher (it has since gone down a tiny bit, but who am I to be a psychic?) for May, and it was actually at the TOP of my budget estimate :(

Just booked tickets from Vancouver, BC to Milan in June on British Airways for way less than we paid in 2013. They have a special going on right now (or did). They have other departure points in Canada if you don't mind an additional connection. The difference more than paid for us to fly from PDX to Vancouver.

Hi Maggie,

I'm in Illinois and have been watching fares for months for our June trip -- Chicago to London/Paris to Chicago. Non-stop fares from now through about mid-May are at or under $1,000. Around May 20, those fares double, and our dates are running $1,700-1,800.

I keep hoping that those sub-$1,000 fares will slide into June, but I'm growing pretty pessimistic. I think the other posters are correct that the airlines right now can do anything they want. They suffered through many lean years and are now reaping the rewards of downsizing, cutting flights and now plummeting fuel prices. Sucks for us, as they say. We'll pay whatever we end up having to pay, but that's where we are today.

Here's hoping we both can find something we can live with. And no matter what, we're going to Europe, so things aren't all bad ;-)

Cheers!

Emirates Airlines has 2 tickets for $799 from NYC to Milan through May 10. But today is the last day to get the deal.

Thanks everybody! I'll keep checking to see if there is a drop.

Have you tried Norwegian?

Rick is correct! Norwegian is the lo-cost leader now; if you can handle the layover in Oslo, and no-frills flights with tight seat pitch on their new awesome planes.

I paid $1500 for my May R/trip to Amsterdam on Delta; my bother paid $700 on Norwegian. I needed Economy Comfort seating, and I paid for what I "required".

If you are thinking about waiting for better seat prices; "furgetaboutit"; it ain't goin' ta happen.

Regale yourself with the thought that the Euro is now only at $1.11, and will continue to drop. Last year I paid $1.30 for every Euro I bought/spent.

Book now, spend a couple more bucks on airfare and enjoy the savings in the EU while you can!

While I can't guarantee the exact same experience, our direct flight from JFK to Copenhagen and return flight from London Gatwick to JFK were both on 787 Dreamliners, and as a "larger man," I was comfortable.