Flight $ Europe
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Anonymous
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Last summer we did RT NS United Rome IAD at either $1100 or 1200 Econ. I got tix 12/20/21. I got CR tix NS United IAD SJO $700 Econ for late Mar Spring Break in July 2021 I think! So yeah waaaaaay in advance. If I haven’t figured it out by 8 months in advance, I pretty much know it’s too late.
it’s just insane now. The only other option is to wait until about 45 days out and the fares may be cheaper but it’s such a risk because it’s almost impossible to know what you’ll be doing. I think there’s that knowledge of people will travel and everyone uses points now so it ups the fares because the airlines got smart on how the game works. Only when they’re not at capacity do they lower stuff. Travel is almost impossible for the mere mortal unless you’re willing to fly inconveniently or uncomfortably esp to the pop destinations. It just sucks completely. Planning way ahead is really all you can try to do. |
Anonymous
I don’t see how it’s cheaper when you need to factor in hotel, meals, local transport to/from airport/hotel. The savings really isn’t that much. You basically need to do the overnight or two since the layover isn’t long enough to make it through customs and make your connection—particularly in Lisbon where customs is a clusterfu@&. |
Anonymous
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Sorry travel summer June 2022 I got tix in Dec 2021.
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Anonymous
We also traveled to Europe in summer 2022 and bought tickets 9 months in advance. It's not comparable to now. Demand was much much lower then because the "test to return" was still in place until early June 2022. Most people were still too scared of getting stranded overseas to travel by air internationally at that point. Also vaccines for kids under 12 had just become available in Nov. 2021 if you remember. We ended up having bet right on it and had a great trip at very reasonable cost. But it's a different world now. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
You can do it sometimes. I’m flying IAD LAX on miles for free arr 9p PST. I catch a 1a PST flight out to Shanghai with a 4 hr stop in Taipei and arr at noon in Shanghai. Returning I fly from Beijing to Tokyo and do a wk there. NS back Tokyo LAX $398 econ Zip air Arr 9a PST. Miles gets me home for free on a 1p NS LAX IAD. Total cost is $1500 seeing 2 cities. RT NS IAD Shanghai is $6500 econ on United!!!! This is a June trip priced last wk. with 1 layover SFO or LAX I’m still spending $4400. So I’m breaking up the stops myself and still saving $. I also whenever possible do not fly US based airlines. You can get the points with the alliances and honestly my card points are just as good as airline ones. The other thing is a lot of foreign airlines have nicer amenities and seats more comfy than US airlines. It does require a lot of researching into fares and planning itineraries to save the money however. It also helps to be able to tap into miles and points to offset shorter flights when flying internationally. |
Anonymous
Not on Lufthansa. Flew on their 747 and thinnest, least padded seat ever. |
Anonymous
 You keep moving the goalpost. First we were talking about 14 days in Italy vs 10 days in Italy and 3 in Portugal. Spending the 3 days in Portugal rather than Italy doesnt meaningfully increase the costs - you need hotels and meals in either location.
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Anonymous
+1 I’ve already booked my winter break travel and had to make some concessions to make it work. |
Anonymous
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Unfortunately, flight prices to Europe have skyrocketed, especially over the summer. I am still finding some good deals for winter, spring break, and particularly for off-season times but actual summer dates are high. I did see some cheaper tickets late summer-fall for July 2024 to Europe; $673 pp personal item only on Play Airlines IAD-Venice. I saw some other similarly priced tickets to Portugal (not Play airlines but BA or Iberia) and some other locations. You might still find some decent prices through Play Airlines, but play around with dates and location and go with minimal luggage....I have never checked luggage with them 1) I'm afraid it will get lost 2) costs $$$ 3) I don't feel like lugging it around.
If you go in August or September or early June, you might find better prices. I do find I need to look CRAZY far in advance these days :/ Tickets were so much less in 2021. |
Anonymous
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Go for Spring Break instead. So much cheaper and Europe will be less crowded.
British Airways and Turkish Airlines are both having sales for April. They are charging $700 a ticket or a little less to: London Paris Milan Athens And many other places. Yes, it's less time there. A week or nine days isn't ideal. But it's still an opportunity to go to Europe with your family for half the price as in Summer, and the hot European summers, crowds, and lack of air conditioning become a non-issue. |
Anonymous
Uh yeah, I wonder why that would possibly be? |
Anonymous
April is past spring break. For most schools in the area spring break is the last week of March this year. |
Anonymous
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IAD to Porto RT, mid-June
$470 but we booked back in August |
Anonymous
| I won’t fly on budget airlines that seem to change their name each month. Seems risky on multiple levels. |