How far out are you booking flights?

First of all Chad there is never not a good time to vacation in Europe. I have been to Italy in the Summer and also the Fall and this year for the first time Spring and each season has something special to offer another season might not. We are traveling over the Easter holiday. Leaving New York non stop April 15th to Rome departing Milan on April 26th. We booked our air on Continental back in December and are paying $1,056. Since we have booked our flights it has gone up and down about $100. It's a "crap shoot". I suggest checking air flares everyday since they do change that often. I also don't think $1,600 is a ridiculous fare. Are the flights non stop?? Enjoy!!!

Been to Ireland? If you travel Mon. - Thurs. the weeks of July 11 & 18 Continental shows round trip from Billings to Dublin for $1,296. Stops are in Denver & Newark. Airlines have cut flights & more people seem to be traveling now ...waiting may not be worth it this year.

Yes, prices are high this year for summer travel. Iceland Air is currrently offering the lowest prices from Seattle and Minneapolis, if you can get to one of those airports without breaking the bank. SEA to Paris, $1332; Minneapolis to Paris, $1277; traveling late July/early August.

Chad, you said that after waiting 2 months even if the fares haven't gone down, you'll buy but how will you feel if they've gone up? It's all a gamble, isn't it?!!!

Waiting until 2 months before a peak season trip would scare me. I've booked 3-4 months before fall trips to find little availability left on the flights I want. I've already booked for September because I'm positive I won't find a lower priced flight.

where to in Europe? IMO your best bet is to pick a couple of into city X/out of city Y (open jaw) options and dates and check a trip aggregator site every day. (i always use tripadvisor.com, 'multi city' search). i stalked tripadvisor.com for my upcoming trip (into Frankfurt/out of Prague) for 7 long weeks, and my reward was seeing the flight i needed drop from around $900 to $660. i booked it immediately -- the next day it was back up to $750. be patient and persistent, grasshopper...good prices come to those who watch & wait (and arent airline particular..i have 3 different freq flyer mile cards)! Could you maybe consider looking for a "puddle jumper" cheap-o U.S. flight to a bigger hub on the east coast like ATL, CLT, JFK, LGA, like one of those $79 one way ticket specials & see if that cuts any of your ticket bulk cost? good luck & happy hunting!

I usually am comfortable buying about 3 months out. 6-8 months out I usually start tracking prices, and if I see a big , then I may buy earlier. Two months as a rule is not bad, that is usually before they start to climb again, and I would bet sometime before then you may see a sale. I do usually try different combinations of destinations, sometimes you can find an odd sale to a lesser destination (Brussels or Poland) but usually one of the main hubs is more dependably cheaper.

I appreciate the replies. I travel every other year to Europe, so planning something with two months before my vacation doesn't bother me too much. I have not traveled in July though and have 7 going total (5 kids). I am a stickler for plane tickets and will wait on deals. I have found that prices seem to go down from Feb-Apr for summer flights, if you look for them EVERY DAY. Dublin seems to be cheapest from here and I think I can get there for under $1000. But, I'd like to go to the mainland. I went in June 2 years ago to London and bought tickets in April for $670 and booked a flat in Camden for 9 days for 950 pounds. I also went to Germany in March, 3 years ago for $660 ticket. So, I know cheap fare can be found. I guess, for me $1600, if its the most I'll pay, I'll pay it, but I'm willing to sit and wait for a better deal (I think I saw New Zealand for 14 days for $1500-hotel and flight included).

Chad, you cannot compare prices in April or even June to July, which is peak peak season. And prices overall look to be very different this year than they were three years ago. There are fewer flights. It is also harder to just show up and get good lodging in July, especially for 7 people. Right now you can get a RT flight to Frankfurt on Condor, with their new service out of Seattle. Using their multi-day search function, I found one for $990, departing 21 July and returning 4 August. It departs Seattle in the evening so you'd have plenty of time to take the Horizon flight from Billings to Seattle.

James, did you mean to post that on the "where should I go?" thread? Or are you suggesting that the Egypt situation is going to drive prices up? (Quite likely) Chad, Billings to Seattle is $177 RT on those dates I mentioned above, bringing the total cost to $1067 for a flight with only one stop (Seattle) in each direction, landing you pretty juch in the midddle of continental Europe. Go ahead and wait if you think you can do better, but I wouldn't.

I think James was refering to the pipeline and canal. Since they're both in a bit of mush, crude is maybe going to have to go around Good Hope - - the price of flying machine gas might creep up a bit - - especially since the air carriers buy the stuff a bit in the future.

Lola, I appreciate your diligence with the flights. I have never flown Condor. Is this a German airline? You have me very intrigued. I am looking them up as I write. Thank you for the input. Chad

Yes, it is a German airline, I believe affiliated with Lufthansa. I think it used to be more of a charter flight carrier. We haven't flown them, but everyone here is Seattle is excited about them starting service from here. A non-stop flight from here to continental Europe, without an intervening stop in the US, is highly desirable.

Here' are some news articles about the Condor route from Seattle: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2013619473_trcondor07.html http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2010/12/seattle-condor-airlines-frankfurt/134329/1 They describe it as a "no frills" airline. They will fly a 767. And now I remember where I have heard of them---they have provided service between Germany and Alaska (a popular destination for adventure-loving Germans) for some time. The new Seattle service is as much designed for German tourists as to offer another carrier option to Seattlites.