Budget Travel - Paris to DC: is $882 RT a good price?

I need a lot of help here, please.
We are working on the road and I have Internet access for a few days [libraries].
Plus no cell phone access for over a week (northern VT & NY)

I have started in June to look for a fare we can afford and it's difficult when I cannot follow on leads.

We live 80 miles West of Richmond, VA and must go to Bordeaux, France , departure between 19-25 OCT, stay for about 3 weeks.

I have found this and would like some input, please:

Washington, DC [IAD] to Paris, France [CDG]
$881.90 average cost per passenger
Lufthansa Airlines Flight LH9377 Tue, Oct 21 & LH9376 Tue, Nov 11

I think this includes all fees, but I am very ignorant of these things.

I don't care about possible checked luggage fees as we intend to bring only a carry-on + small backpack each (I have read a lot about sizes,.... many threads on FT)

I will be able to go on the Internet tomorrow and maybe till Sunday. Then, nothing until after Labor Day.

Could I please get some help ?

Thanks in advance.

After checking with family in France: November is not a good time to visit [rain]

So, I changed my departure to about 13-14 OCT.

Still found same price/same airline.

That's a reasonable price for that time of the year from IAD. By the way, those Lufthansa flights you referenced are actually code-share flights on United planes.

If you can Airstream your way up to JFK, you can fly Iberia to Bordeaux with one plane change... JFK-MAD-BOD (Bordeaux) for only $755 PP including all taxes.

$755 is much better, but I heard horror stories about flying from JFK.
I thought about taking a train to Phila or anywhere from Richmond to Boston.
The cheaper flight from JFK may be offset by added cost of plane/bus or train to NY.

At least, we can drive [by car] to DC. Our car may not make to NY.

Thanks for your answer - the Library is closing now and they are kicking us out.

I will study all his tomorrow again.

Any idea if these fares are good for a while ? do I have to buy the tickets right away ?

$755 is much better, but I heard horror stories about flying from JFK.
I thought about taking a train to Phila or anywhere from Richmond to Boston.
The cheaper flight from JFK may be offset by added cost of plane/bus or train to NY.

At least, we can drive [by car] to DC. Our car may not make to NY.

Thanks for your answer - the Library is closing now and they are kicking us out.

I will study all his tomorrow again.

Any idea if these fares are good for a while ? do I have to buy the tickets right away ?

JFK and IAD can be equally unfriendly at times, a lot depends on your airline.

The best deal will almost always be out of JFK/EWR simply because there are more airlines competing for travelers' business. But getting to JFK would be a hassle and the cost could offset any savings.

As for airline fares, they can change overnight. However, you are far enough out that you probably don't have to pull the trigger for a few weeks.

I would suggest checking expedia.com and cheaptickets.com regularly over the next few weeks for prices, from various east coast cities... IAD, BWI, PHL, EWR even CLT. Then when you do find a fare you want, go to that airline's website and try pricing it there. Generally it will be $10 PP less.

As to your destination, don't just limit your search to CDG. When I checked, it was cheaper to fly Iberia directly to Bordeaux than going to Paris.

Hello,

Just a suggestion...

Just for your information, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport also has a direct connection with TGV (high speed train), in terminal 2; there's a direct train to Bordeaux, five times a day, and when I checked two minutes ago, the cheapest no-changes no-refund tickets (called "Prem's") for October 13 was 22 euros or 33 USD. Note that tickets only go on sale 3 months before the actual date.

Schedules and tickets are here http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ and enter "AEROPORT CDG 2 TGV" as departure place.

Getting a flight to Paris + train to Bordeaux might be cheaper than a flight to Bordeaux, since whereas there is fierce competition for the Paris route, Bordeaux had much more limited service - which I think down to Iberia (connection in Madrid) or Air France (change somewhere in France, usually... Paris !). Also the train takes you to center city, not the airport, and saves you the 15 euros for airport shuttle :-)

Good luck,

J-

Thanks a lot of all the input.
I heard on the radio today that there may be more competition on flights to Europe: with the high cost of the Euro, many airlines will have to offer lower fares so their planes don't fly partially full.
In that case, I may relax a bit.

<< I would suggest checking expedia.com and cheaptickets.com regularly over the next few weeks for prices >>

I checked on & off many such outfits and end-up downloading more info than I have time to read [no AC current, except an occasional library, and I just ordered a battery for my lap-top .... everything is piling-up against me :eek:]

I won't be able to do any serious search until the Tuesday after Labor day.

NO Internet access from the 18th until then.

I even looked at flying to Madrid and take a train to BX (Bordeaux). I could not find any info. A relative in France told me she would have to call for schedule and prices. :confused:

<< Getting a flight to Paris + train to Bordeaux might be cheaper than a flight to Bordeaux >>

that's what I think, but I keep an open mind.

Thanks again

Sounds really expensive to me, so when do fares to EU get lower these days. Or when should I be looking?