Charleston or Savannah Georgia to Heathrow in July 8,9

Lynn:

You're picking the most expensive travel dates of the year. You're talking right at $1500 from Charlotte, NC, $1600 from Atlanta and $1525 from Jacksonville.

You could get from Atlanta to Dublin for $1187 on 7/9, but then you'd have to catch RyanAir down to London and back. The savings is not worth the hassle, and it's always best to schedule one airline to your final destination in case there are problems.

Savannah to London is about $1526 on 7/8 and 7/9, and that would be your best value trip.

Unfortunately, airlines are really good at anticipating supply and demand--and keeping prices high in 2014.

You have plenty of time to book your flights. I suggest you keep watch at http://www.ajc.com/s/travel/deals/ daily to see if Clara Bosonetto spots some one day sales. I also keep watch on ClarkHoward.com. They saved me $300 x 2 last month when there was a one day sale. Another one day sale dropped fares $250 each 10 days ago, but they're back to normal airfares now.

Many believe the airlines may be regrouping after the Christmas holidays, and there may be some sales offered Q1 of 2014.

Using ITA-Matrix, there is a round trip nonstop available on Air India July 8-19 from JFK for $908. You can also get a round trip Charleston to JFK on Jet Blue for $150. You'd have 8 hours at JFK outgoing for a cushion. Coming back, spend a night at a JFK hotel and back to Charleston the following morning. $1158 + hotel vs $1526 on a single ticket on Virgin (connect thru JFK with Delta).

Jet Airways (India, but owned by Etihad) offer EWR to BRU for $504 one-way or $1053 roundtrip in July. From BRU to LON you could take Eurostar or even a bus, if budget is a concern (www.megabus.com).

But always keep an eye on the total trip expenses (from door to door). Sometime what may look like a bargain at first sight turns out not be any cheaper than the much more convenient "expensive" connection from home airport to desitination city airport vv.

Thanks so much for all the advice. I have never travelled to Europe in the summer due to crowds and pricing but this is an opportunity I hate to turn down as I WILL have a free place to stay.