High summer fares for Europe
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Calfornia and sometimes GLA
Posts: 373
High summer fares for Europe
I'm trying to purchase a ticket for a trip to Europe in July '07, SFO-GLA MAD-SFO. Ticket prices seem off the charts. Usually a baisc ticket is about $1000 in summer and $2200 for a Y fare. Prices are $1800 for a regular ticket and $3800 for a Y fare. I expected a price increase but not this much! Hopefully CO will run a Z fare Europe special again.
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
Not sure where you get your price info from, but I get fares for around $1200 on several carriers including NW.
Example:
7/1/07 SFO-AMS-GLA NW8606, KL1477 QHWANGB
7/8/07 MAD-AMS-SFO KL1708, NW8605 QHUSE
$1187.70
Example:
7/1/07 SFO-AMS-GLA NW8606, KL1477 QHWANGB
7/8/07 MAD-AMS-SFO KL1708, NW8605 QHUSE
$1187.70
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Calfornia and sometimes GLA
Posts: 373
It must be my dates. I'm pretty locked in becasue I am attending a wedding and travelling with others. I need to leave SFO on 7/8 and return on 7/22. I got the fares from the NW website.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,432
I would think it's still pretty early for this. I'd expect to see lower fares in a couple of months. They may not be the exact days you want, though. Still, there's little chance of a sell-out on your desired dates this early on.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,423
Hmm, I need to buy a ticket from MSP-VIE this summer and back. Ticket prices showing $1400-1500. Sounds like a few of you think fares will drop? I'm thinking I should lock in now. Thoughts?
#6
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 1,931
My experience is that the cheapest buckets are not those that NW will release first. Look around the 90- to 100-day mark...
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,544
I think paying anything more than $110 plus tax is overpriced.
#8
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
7/08 SFO-AMS-GLA NW8606, KL1477 QHWANGB
7/22 MAD-AMS-SFO KL1708, NW8605 QHUSE
Use ITA and a TA if necessary.
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
I tracked summer fares from BOS to Europe for a few years now and it seems that the best deals are early in the year (Jan - Mar).
#10
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
Wait until early next year. Check prices regularly (at least every week). Sign up for Orbitz Deal Detector.
#11
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Programs: HH Gold; AA AAdvantage Mbr; DL Skymiles Silver Medallion; World of Hyatt Mbr; NK Free Spirit Mbr
Posts: 2,531
I've been tracking/checking WBC fares since early Fall looking for bargains, and haven't found one yet, even into March!! Last couple years, there were bargains galore.... Guess they're selling lots of seats at these prices ($3500 - $4500 r/t to Europe)???