My best friend is getting married outside of London this summer. I have been to Europe a few times already from the West Coast (Oregon/Washington), but it was obviously cheaper when I lived in NYC. When I went to England this fall and Germany 2 Christmases ago, I believe I spent about $800. I looked at flights for 6 months out and they are priced at $1200. When should I look again?? 2-3 months in advanced?
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
My flight for June 2010 is $600 more NOW than when I purchased it back in August 2009...there's no crystal ball for airline prices. Research the prices to your destination so that you can spot a "deal" quickly and snap it up.
Posted by
Palm Beach, Florida, United States
536 posts
Deirdre - Please check out my favorite wholesaler/consolidator -
http://www.airfareplanet.com/
I have used this company for years and they always beat the competition for me. George is the manager and he will be glad to help you.
Greg
Posted by
Coppell, TX USA
284 posts
Try a combination of www.kayak.com and www.vayama.com
I tried the airfareplanet and found it was ~$150 more expensive per ticket than vayama for 2 tickets IAD-CDG depart on 5/21 & return on 5/29. On vayama you might have to specify an airline.
I usually go to kayak first to see which airlines are cheaper and then go to vayama to see if they have a better price. In most cases vayama has had a better price for me. In some cases I have to specify the airline on vayama to get the best deal.
Edwin
Edwin
Posted by
Seattle
80 posts
You're looking too far out. The fares WON'T be more than $1200 2 months in advance - but they'll PROBABLY be quite a bit cheaper.
Start searching again about 6-8 weeks before travel.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
1525 posts
We purchased tickets for June, 2010 three months ago and the price has gone up $300/person since then.
There is no good time or bad time on the calendar. The only thing you can do is know what a "normal" price is and wait until you see something significantly less, then snap it up. Barring unusual circumstances, the normal price from the west coast for June should be around $1200-$1300. If that's what you are seeing now, it would be smart to wait. It may not get better, but it shouldn't get much worse, and you may find a deal.
If you were doing a pleasure tour of Europe and needed to make room reservations, thus needing an exact arrival time, I would want to get the tickets as soon as possible, but with some flexibility, waiting is ok. The wedding, obviously, isn't flexible. But is the time before & after?
Posted by
Paradise
7072 posts
For summer fares, it's too early right now. I would start looking seriously in late January and when you see the price you want, jump. Prices will probably be a good bit lower after that if advance sales don't reach the airlines' expectations. That's how it went last year. On March 8 2009 I bought round trip SFO to Dublin on Continental leaving the last week of May for $390 each. But I'd been checking fares almost daily for a good month and a half. Previously I've purchased in February and in April with good results.
Posted by
Andover, MA, USA
559 posts
Deidre,
I'd love the same info! Apparently, it doesn't have anything to do with West/East Coast though b/c I'm getting the same info from Boston (altho I'm trying to do Open Jaw, into Edinburgh and out of London).
Anyone have a general idea when summers fares have gone on sale in the past? (I know, it can change year to year).
Thanks!