Tips on Flights

For a flight to Europe the cheapest price is exactly 151 days prior to departure. That's according to a recent scientific study (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/01/best-time-to-book-a-flight_n_4875266.html). However I've ready another article some time ago where it said that the cheapest tickets to Europe are about 2 months prior to departure. So go figure!

Regarding your strategy of trying to avoid Easter, it's a good strategy. Unfortunately you've chosen an even worse time to travel to Italy, if you are trying to avoid tourists. The busiest time of the year to travel to Italy is the last week in April, because there are two major holidays at that time: April 25 (Liberation Day) and May 1 (Labor Day). Book your hotels early.

Tracy, unfortunately your question is a lot like asking whether the stock market is going to go up or down tomorrow. There's no way to know. What airline are you considering? I've got a couple of tips depending on the airline, as I'm also a Seattle resident.

Wow, thanks for that information. I knew that the 25th was a holiday, but didn't know that entire week was touristy. Yikes. Now I'm thinking that we could cut back one day and head to Rome on the 24th through the 30th. I wouldn't think we'd notice much more tourism in Rome that week, right? Since it's an Italian holiday?

I've been following Rick Steve's advice, but haven't had much luck with his suggestion. He says to check kayak.com (or similar), then when there's a price you're interested in you check directly on that airlines website and you can often get a better deal. He recommends NOT booking through Kayak.com (and similar), but when I go directly to the airlines websites I get a higher price (never even the same as I see on Kayak.com). RS's says if something goes wrong you cannot get good customer service through kayak.com, etc, which is why he says go directly through an airline. Thoughts?

I don't care what airline, except I have read horrible reviews of condor and plan on avoiding them.

thanks for any tips -

Tracy

I recommend booking now.

Sometimes a cheap fair turns out to cost more because it's not refundable or because there's a large booking fee.

Good luck.

Thanks. Does anyone have advice on whether to book on kayak.com or expedia.com (or similiar) vs. directly from the airline. I seem to get a better price through expedia/kayak, but if it's a huge hassle (if there's a problem), I suppose a $100 or $150 per tx price may not be a bargain.

It is easy to worry too much about getting a good price. I made myself miserable checking prices daily on multiple websites for a few weeks. Then I just decided to sit down and figure out what the trip was worth to me, bought a ticket in that range, and I am quite happy... Even though the price was not the cheapest, it was not the highest either. However, I did get the best route and flight times for me, and secured good seat assignments (things you may have less options on the longer you wait). I would say if your dates are not that flexible, buy sooner versus later on what you find to be a fair deal. If your dates are very flexible, you may get lucky and find a great deal by waiting.

I always book directly with the airline in question, never Kayak or Expedia. That way, if there is a problem they have to handle it, not say it's the responsibility of the third party. Places like Kayak and Expedia often advertise prices that don't exist once you actually go to make a purchase. There might be a very limited number of seats at that price, for one thing. I use places like those to get a general idea of flight times and connections, not to shop for prices.

I have never booked through kayak or expedia, but i used to have some minor problems when i booked through orbitz, so i now just go straight to the airline for important flights, but still use the other sites for flights within the u.s.

Your advice makes a lot of sense. I have been driving myself crazy checking several websites multiple times a day. I have a general sense of the current prices, so will plan on just biting the bullet and securing our flights - and not worry about it after that!

Thank you all!

Look. I go to Italy from the West Coast every year, usually at the end of June. Prices are rarely under $1800 at that time. At the end of April it will be cheaper than July, but it's not going to be under the $1300-1500 range. Actually losing your sleep over a $100 savings at most by playing with the timing of your purchase is not worth it, especially considering that $100 won't even get you a night at a budget one star hotel in Rome. Just bite the bullet and get the most convenient flight for you.

If you can get a flight and are comfortable enough with the price, buy your ticket before someone else gets that spot. On a plane, I figure there's always somebody who got a better deal than me for their seat, and someone else who got a worse deal than me, but at least you're going. Happy travels!

Thanks for all the flight advice. Appreciate it!

We're flying from Seattle - does anyone have a recommendation for certain airlines? There are so many and the pricing is all in the same ballpark.

I can't recommend airlines, but I checked http://www.airlinequality.com/Airlines/AirlineA-Z.htm just for general comparison. The stars on the airlines I am familiar with seemed to match with my experience, so I'm hoping it's true across the board.

http://www.seatguru.com/ was also really helpful to see the layout of the planes and how much (really, how little) room each seat has and how far the seat will recline. My fiance has long legs and his shoulders are wider than most seats, so I had to make sure we didn't get stuck in a flying sardine tin!

All airlines are about the same in my book (bad).

I just try to avoid connections in the Eastern US and try instead to fly directly from the West Coast to Europe through the Arctic route, preferably with a flight operated by a foreign carrier, even if in code share with a US airline.

There are no non stop from the West Coast to Italy, so I generally fly non stop to some other European hub to catch my flight to Italy. I think from SEA you can fly non stop to Europe to Paris CDG (Delta), AMS (Delta), FRA (Lufthansa), LHR (British Airways). I would take one of those, even if it costs a few $$ more. I'd do anything to avoid airports back East (like JFK, ORD, or EWR). My favorite European airline is Lufthansa, in part because they are affiliated with United (with which I have lots of miles) and therefore they have lots of flights out of SFO (which is a United hub), but also because they always gave me the best service.

If you fly to VCE I don't recommend British Air because they only one daily flight from London LHR to VCE.

Thanks for those links - super helpful!

As Roberto suggested, I always depart Seattle using one of those routes that fly direct to Europe before connecting. For flights in September/October, I'd say I usually pay about $1300. Remember that this one, big-ticket item will not usually be the largest expense of your trip. Hotels and restaurant costs mount up quickly, so managing those can make a big difference.

Actually, BA has revised their schedule for next spring and has more flights from LHR to VCE: BA 594, 578, and 596. Two of those connect with the earlier flight from SEA to LHR ( BA 52), and one connects with the later flight from SEA (BA 48).

Price for the open jaw flight late next April is around $1600.

Sasha,

How did you find those flights? I go to British Airways and type in SEA to Venice 4/13, then Rome to SEA on 5/1/14. Can you search somehow by flight #? Also, what does "open jaw flight" mean? Thanks!

After traveling in Italy for 34 years...my rule of thumb is this: when I find a price I can live with-I buy the ticket and then STOP looking. Continued looking will only make you crazy.

This tip was posted on Frommer's Italy Forum a few months ago: 1.) Every time you search for airline tickets go to the browser preference extension file and remove the cookie from the airline website/broker website and delete their cookie. The cookies/air website know you are interested in flying somewhere and then can steer you to higher prices or 2.) use the private browser feature on your browser and then cookies cannot be placed on the extension file in the browser preferences.

Buon viaggio,

This is also common advice that is frequently given but has no basis in fact. Just like the 151 days, or three months, or Thursday night. Will not hurt to do it but will not get anything either. Another urban folk tale often repeated.

"Open jaw" means flying into one city and home from a different city -- just what you are planning to do by flying Seattle -> Venice and Rome -> Seattle.

"Open jaw" is a term you won't find on any airline websites. They call it "Multiple Cities" or some variation. Don't make the mistake that some people do, which is to confuse this with buying two one-way tickets. You should almost NEVER do that.

And the way to find out how many flights BA has to Venice from London is to enter that as a hypothetical itinerary. Starting point London, destination Venice.

I used the " Multi city" search on BritishAirways.com. SEA to VCE on 4/18, then Rome ( FCO) to SEA on 4/30.

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/fx/public/en_gb?eId=111011&timestamp=1202053540

I chose a Saturday for the outbound trip because I know that BA flight 52 does not go every day, I think it is 4x a week. The later flight, BA 48 goes every day but in the past it would not connect with any flight to Venice from Heathrow;you had to transfer to Gatwick which is not good. Now, at least for next April, there is a flight from LHR to Venice that connects with BA 48, plus two flights earlier per in the day that connect with BA flight 52, on the days that it operates.

Do not try to search by flight number. Just use the "Multi city" thing on the BA website and put in the destination. It will give you lots of options for flights but I skip past the ones that are US airways or AA flights with connections in the US. Go for the direct flight from Seattle to London, with a connection to Venice.

You're looking at a $1500 flights SeaTac-Venice and Rome-SeaTac--very expensive flights for Spring.

You can fly from Vancouver for $993 $CN, which is just over $1,100 (U.S.) The flight connections are very good, too. If there are more than one traveler, the savings may be worth the drive.

When prices are so expensive, there's only one way for prices to go--down. Be patient and wait a little longer to buy your flights. Airlines often have one day sales that time of the year.

If you are thinking British Airways, get a BA Credit Card beforehand. They offer a 10% discount by putting the charge on the BA Credit Card. For 2 people it could be a few hundred dollars on an economy fare.

Thanks for the tips!!!

If you are thinking British Airways, get a BA Credit Card beforehand. They offer a 10% discount by putting the charge on the BA Credit Card. For 2 people it could be a few hundred dollars on an economy fare.

I'm not finding anything on the BA website about a 10% discount if you use their credit card.

http://www.britishairways.com/en-us/executive-club/collecting-avios/credit-cards/us/visa-signature-2

And this independent website doesn't mention anything about that discount either:
http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-cards/british-airways-credit-card-review/

It appears that discount is something they no longer do.

I just bought multi-city tickets from Austin to Venice (5/5) with return from Rome to San Antonio (5/21) for $1,392 through Kayak. Kayak actually sends you to the Delta site. I completed the process on the Delta site and received a confirmation email from Delta. By buying now you have a larger choice of seats. I can't sleep in the center rows. Any savings from waiting later is offset by no sleep.

Try to avoid going through the UK - in particular London
The passenger airport taxes and fees are higher than other countries.
Just do a google search on "airline tax and fees for going to UK" and you will see
several articles discussing this.
I had a trip planned that changed planes in LHR, I changed it to a USA to
Paris and my tax and fees dropped by almost $150.
Not sure I understand the "why" of the whole thing - but I'm pleased with
saving the money.

Here is the link to the 10% discount on BA with their credit card:

http://www.britishairways.com/en-us/executive-club/collecting-avios/credit-cards/us/promotions/chase-visa-signature

It is available for flights purchased on or after December 10, 2014. Read all the terms and conditions before purchase.

We found the best thing about the BA credit card is the 25k bonus miles you get with sign up ( but I don't know if they still offer that). It is enough to upgrade an economy plus flight to business class.