Flying to Europe in the winter - sticker shock

[Anonymous]

I moved to the US 13 years ago from Italy, and have been going back almost every year since, alone first and with DH and kids later. Before kids were in school, we used to go in September, paying around $800 per person round trip. now kids are in elementary school, so we have no choice but to fly in the high season in summer, and usually pay around $1200-$1300 per ticket, and the cost has been about the same for years.

in the past I flew in the winter and I remember the costs be significantly lower (in 2005 I went in January for about $500). I now checked the costs of three tickets to Italy in mid February (10 day trip) and the minimum price is $1000 per ticket!!! (actually, there was a ticket for $680 but it was through Istanbul both ways, which would add many hours to an already long trip with little kids, so this is out).


is this possible? flying to Italy in the dead of winter now cost $1000 per person?? are prices now always so high throughout the year? at leats in the past the summer and Christmas time were very expensive, but other times of the year it was possible to find reasonable fares, and especially January and February the prices were low. are there going to be sales later in December/January? am I really out of luck?

[Anonymous]

Sadly it's just that high now, it was 1,200 a person to London in October (we didn't end up going)

[Anonymous]

Yep, we have also started going home once a year instead of twice. And for the one time, with the kids in school, we just have to suck up the $1000-$1500 per ticket.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the days of tickets to Europe for less than 1k are practically over. I've had friends get good deals on Iceland Air flying through Iceland to other cities in Europe last winter. Not very appealing, I know, but you may find something in the 600-700 range that way.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

We just paid $1300 for early December flights to Austria. Without a Saturday night stay, it would have been more than $2500 per ticket!

[Anonymous]

Agreed, it's totally insane these days...

[Anonymous]

I was just looking into a spring break trip for our family and noticed the same thing. Bummer.

[Anonymous]

thanks to everybody. this really is not the news I was hoping to hear. even Icelandair would not work because it does not fly to Italy in February. at this point we may not be able to go, sigh......

[Anonymous]

We are currently living in Europe for a three year tour. Kids want to know if we will be going home to the US every summer to visit family and friends and the answer is no - too $$. Also not sure how many people will realistically be able to visit us here when the ticket prices are this high. We lived in Europe 8 years ago and deals could be had in October-November and from January-March but I think that's a thing of the past, sadly.

[Anonymous]

We paid 1,500 per ticket dc to London in march. Tix used to not get that expensive til may timeframe.

[Anonymous]

You could try flying to Dublin or London and see if One of the budget airlines like Easyjet or Ryanair can connect you to Italy. Not useful if you have a lot of luggage, but maybe worth a look. Even Aer Lingus sometimes has good deals on add-on flights from Dublin.

[Anonymous]

i agree it's gotten ridiculous. United was advertising fares to London as a bargain price for $1000 in Jan Feb. All other cities were 1k+.

[Anonymous]

Domestic flights are expensive too. Consolidation and fuel prices have taken their toll.

[Anonymous]

The fees and taxes to London are something like $400 or $500, and then you have to pay for the ticket itself.

[Anonymous]

well, this is enlightening. we will not be taking any overseas vacations for the foreseeable future....