US to Romania
 

hey folks,

I have to go to Bucharest to see my family and I am having a difficult time trying to book a fare for less than $ 700.00. It's amazing to me how I can get to Frankfurt for 300 dollars but then FRA-OTP is 330on TAROM, much more on Lufthansa. I know a few days back there was a glitch and people booked fares to Romania for 200 dollars. That is long gone ! :(
If anyone has any ideas, I would be eternally grateful. I live in Pittsburgh, I am flexible with travel dates. I should mention that historically, I have never paid more than $ 500 for PIT-AMS-OTP or PIT-CDG-OTP or PIT-LHR-OTP.
I am open for suggestions.
I am flexible with time.

I'd say that $700 is pretty reasonable for the current market.

I'm always tempted to expect the $199 off season r/t to London or $400 year round fares to Paris that were common 5 years ago, but it's just not there anymore.

You've definitely found the best cheapos, I've seen lately with the east coast to Germany fares.

Maybe if you're willing to add an LCC (check whichbudget) and/or a bus or train ride, you could do better, but it'll cost you in term of hassle and time and schlep.

Edited to add:Welcome to Flyertalk!

You didn't mention whether your $700 figure includes taxes, etc...

In any case, here are the lowest published fares for that route:

[KVS Availability Tool 2.5.2/Platinum - Sabre: Fares/ZUJ/SG-USD]
You may also look at adding a 'bridge' flight within the US, as lower fares are available, for example, ex-NYC:

[KVS Availability Tool 2.5.2/Platinum - Sabre: Fares/ZUJ/SG-USD]

yeap, I remember those fares as well
 

The 700 dollars fare did include the taxes as well but I still think is a bit too much considering that PIT-FRA is only 330! on NWA.com; I looked at the possibility of flying into cheapest Euro airport (FRA so far) and then take the train or bus but hese were not viable options as I would have wasted too much time on the proverbial "road" and the fares were not that much cheaper or worth it.
Also, I looked at flying out of JFK or EWR, and the best fares I got were $ 591 (with taxes included) on Swiss with really bad connections (overnight in Zurich on the return). Add to that $ 140 RT for PIT-JFK and I end up paying the same 700 dollars fare (plus or minus a few dollars).
I think Bucharest is expensive prolly because the Romanians are joing the EU and there's now a heavy demand for seats to the capital. The Romanians have become smart and are capitalizing on the demand, much to my chagrin.

what website are you using?
 

what website are you using to get the "AZ NYC BUH 329 USD 29 Mar Sun 1M LPRUS6" fare?

The 700 dollars fare did include the taxes as well but I still think is a bit too much considering that PIT-FRA is only 330! on NWA.com; I looked at the possibility of flying into cheapest Euro airport (FRA so far) and then take the train or bus but hese were not viable options as I would have wasted too much time on the proverbial "road" and the fares were not that much cheaper or worth it.
Also, I looked at flying out of JFK or EWR, and the best fares I got were $ 591 (with taxes included) on Swiss with really bad connections (overnight in Zurich on the return). Add to that $ 140 RT for PIT-JFK and I end up paying the same 700 dollars fare (plus or minus a few dollars).
I think Bucharest is expensive prolly because the Romanians are joing the EU and there's now a heavy demand for seats to the capital. The Romanians have become smart and are capitalizing on the demand, much to my chagrin

You can use any website to book that fare, but note that "TICKET MAY BE ISSUED ON/AFTER 31OCT06 AND MUST BE ISSUED BY 14NOV06. THE FIRST DATE THAT TRAVEL MAY COMMENCE IS 15JAN07 AND THE LAST DATE IS 29MAR07".

I don't think that the "700 dollars fare" is too high, it's the $330 PIT-FRA that is too low ...