use the ita matrix

Book advance for times you know DC will travel ( breaks , certain weekends). Jet blue into John Wayne airport is pretty cheap , virgin out of IAD and Alaska Air out of DCA. Advance tix are in the $400 range

Set up a request on airfarewatchdog.com and it will let you know flight prices for a particular city on all airlines. It' really helpful.

I fly to/from Seattle several times a year. Mid 2000's were the best for transcon airfares - fares were sub $200 if you can believe it! Now $400 is considered cheap!

Stalk airfares the first year and you'll get a better idea of the best lowest price.
Kayak.com is your friend.

OP, I'm from the west coast but living here, and I put everything on my AMEX so I can get the points. It doesn't have to be AMEX; you could get a credit card from United (although if going to LA they only have direct flights from Dulles, so make sure you like the airline's travel route first!)

Just in case you are talking about LA I've been really happy with the two daily Alaska flights to/from DCA.\

Right now the summer sales are on and the fares are good through the new year...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check from all 3 airports.

I just bought _first class_ tickets from Dulles to LAX in February for $850. Eco class was about $300-350, direct flights too.

1st class for $850??????

I purchased a first class ticket to San Jose on 12/22 for $650. The next day, it was over $1000. Timing is everything.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spirit Airlines

They kill you with fees

With advance notice of fourteen days, the Spirit flights DC to LA are currently running an Average of $269 round trip. That is without the added baggage and seat fees, but join the Spirit Club to reduce those over the year, and you are talking a very cheap $350 fair at most.

Anonymous wrote:Check from all 3 airports.

I just bought _first class_ tickets from Dulles to LAX in February for $850. Eco class was about $300-350, direct flights too.

1st class for $850??????

Anonymous wrote:Spirit Airlines

They kill you with fees

Check from all 3 airports.

I just bought _first class_ tickets from Dulles to LAX in February for $850. Eco class was about $300-350, direct flights too.

Virgin America seems to run sales every few months in the $300 range.

Spirit Airlines

I reluctantly allowed DC to choose a college on the West Coast, now the harsh reality of airfare is beginning to bite. When we toured we were able to find airfare in the low $300 range – now it seems that you are lucky to find a RT fare under $500 – even to the major cities (LA, PHX and SF). San Jose and San Diego are much more. Does anyone have suggestions for finding cheaper airfares? I use Orbitz and check Jet Blue and Southwest.