Airfare to Spain-How do I know when it's a good deal?

I wouldn't wait any longer for October.

The cheapest flights right now are for between September to mid-November.

How much do you expect to spend? $600 to $650 is about the average good deal, in my mind, for flights from the west coast at this time.

Right around $620 out of LAX into Madrid for right now. I'm flying 10/07 from East Coast into MAD for $489 and I booked that over a month ago. $620 from the West Coast is a pretty good deal.

As for search engines for cheapest rate on international flights...good luck! The travel industry had those nixed a couple years back. You'll have to ask a licensed travel agent for that info. If you do find a site that still does this, please let us all know.

Have a great trip...Ed

Are these fares before taxes and fees?-even on sites with no booking fees the airport taxes and fees are around $300.
The fares I have been finding are more like $800-before those taxes and fees. If that 600 is before fees then I think what I have found is in line-I expect to pay a little more just to get from small airport nearest me to major city.
Thanks for info.
jean

$624 INCLUDES taxes and fees. $295 flight and $329 for taxes...really, I'm not kidding. Get on Yahoo Travel and do the search yourself.

Ed....I'm a little confused. First you say, "As for search engines for cheapest rate on international flights...good luck! The travel industry had those nixed a couple years back. You'll have to ask a licensed travel agent for that info." Then you say you found your Madrid tickets on Yahoo Travel. I'm pretty sure Yahoo Travel isn't a licensed travel agent....and I've never found a licensed travel agent who could give me cheaper fares that what I find online through search engines like kayak.com (I'm finding $614 fares there for early October).

Thanks Ed, you are right but the difference is getting from small regional airport to San Fransisco or LA-(we are about halfway in between)I assumed it was adding maybe $200 a person but when I check flights direct from those cites its more in line with what you said.
We don't really want to make a 3 hour drive before and especially after a long trip but certainly not worth the difference. Local airport has cut way back on flights and that may be adding to cost as well. I think I will buy tickets now out of SFO. I have a little time to see if I can get better deal separately on tickets to SFO-and drive if I don't find.
jean

Jean....on Kayak.com, I'm finding mid-week flights from Bakersfield to Madrid on US Airways for $687 US....about $75 higher than I'm finding out of San Francisco. Is Bakersfield better than San Franciso for you?

Thanks Norm, I will look into Bakersfield, it is closer,less hassle and less chance of fog delay!

I got $300.00 roundtrip from LA to Madrid in September on Delta. We couldn't pass that up so we are off to Spain for 2 weeks.

Before taxes and fees, right? Total best fares are around $670 right now for September on Iberia/AA…$326 fare & $344 taxes/fees.