What's a Good Transatlantic PE Fare?
Feb 16, 2021, 6:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: CLT
Programs: AA ExecPlat
Posts: 103
What's a Good Transatlantic PE Fare?
Looking at CLT-PHL-FCO for much later in the year. Current PE fare is ~$2,500. I've never shopped PE fares, so I'm not sure if that is a COVID low and I should jump on it (assuming I want to pay it in the first place), a normal fare, or if it's on the high side and should wait. Traveling as a party of 6, so a $500 fare difference either way has an impact. Thoughts?
Feb 16, 2021, 7:23 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,438
$2500 is atrocious for TATL PE. $2000 is horrible for regular economy, for that matter. Good ole CLT fares...
I would look at positioning to another city. For example I plugged a few random dates for the Fall in and you can get JFK-FCO in PE for $1100 ish, slightly higher from MIA, ORD, etc.
I would look at positioning to another city. For example I plugged a few random dates for the Fall in and you can get JFK-FCO in PE for $1100 ish, slightly higher from MIA, ORD, etc.
Feb 16, 2021, 7:47 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
agreed that fare is way to high..not knowing exactly when you are planning to go.. wait a bit.. fares accordingly do go up and down a lot.
what we do is pick a month we would like to travel and just wait for a decent price to book the trip... success so far is about 9/10
what we do is pick a month we would like to travel and just wait for a decent price to book the trip... success so far is about 9/10
Feb 16, 2021, 7:59 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,015
Reposition to JFK and you can get JFK-FCO in business for $1864 roundtrip throughout the summer (with 7-day minimum stay). PE is available from around $1200 roundtrip on non-stop flights ($1100 on connections -- as mentioned above).
Last edited by xliioper; Feb 16, 2021 at 8:05 am
Feb 16, 2021, 11:36 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: CLT
Programs: AA ExecPlat
Posts: 103
Thanks for the feedback. Fares do seem high to me. It kills me, because I had a web special to fly CLT-PHL-FCO over Easter for 35K miles each in coach. That is obviously not happening, and I almost cried when I gave up those seats because they were so cheap. Looking at Christmas/New Year's now with fingers crossed.
Feb 16, 2021, 12:54 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,966
Considering the soft product of PE is now gone invariably forever you are paying for a domestic F seat to go transatlantic. That's fine as long as your expectations are in check about what PE gives you now in this cost cutting, I mean Covid, world.
Feb 16, 2021, 2:49 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Paris
Programs: AA LT Plat (4m+), AF Plat, A3 Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat/Ambassador
Posts: 2,646
the flights are so empty now that it probably doesn't even justify the cost.
I have seen some incredible deals in business, not on AA but on European carriers for less than that price. TP is particularly aggressive but it depends on the market.
That said, I don't think Europe will be open for non-EU citizens until the end of the summer....
I have seen some incredible deals in business, not on AA but on European carriers for less than that price. TP is particularly aggressive but it depends on the market.
That said, I don't think Europe will be open for non-EU citizens until the end of the summer....
Feb 16, 2021, 4:41 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,221
Yeah, I generally don't need to pay more than ~$2,200 for r/t J to Europe (pre-COVID), although that's originating in the more competitive NYC market. I think I almost did PE for ~$1500 once when I couldn't find reasonable J, but then I must have found something because I still have never flown PE. 
Feb 17, 2021, 6:56 pm
#14
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
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Looking at CLT-PHL-FCO for much later in the year. Current PE fare is ~$2,500. I've never shopped PE fares, so I'm not sure if that is a COVID low and I should jump on it (assuming I want to pay it in the first place), a normal fare, or if it's on the high side and should wait. Traveling as a party of 6, so a $500 fare difference either way has an impact. Thoughts?
If you are willing to take a calculated risk, you can book PE to LHR or MAD for a lot less and then just book a separate flight from either city to FCO
Feb 19, 2021, 10:24 am
#15
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Paris
Programs: AA LT Plat (4m+), AF Plat, A3 Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat/Ambassador
Posts: 2,646
Or try Milan (use MIL to get better results). Much more competition. 2h40 on the FrecciaRossa...
