IMDonehere

We are going to Spain for most of the month of September and secured a fare of $720 R/T through Aer Lingus. We will fly JFK to MAD with a stop in Dublin.

We have been following fares daily for months and it popped up on Airfare.com for $780. For some reason we could not select seats on two legs of the journey, so we phoned Aer Lingus. They waived the extra fee of not using the website and gave us an even cheaper flight.

The only cheaper flights right now are Norwegian Air with a long layover in the Arctic Circle and Aeroflot, which has non-scheduled stop over the Ukraine.

The cheapest non-stop flights by a major carrier right now is a little more than $1,000 R/T.

PalenQ

The cheapest non-stop flights by a major carrier right now is a little more than $1,000 R/T.>

Wow about doubled in last 4-5 years even though price of oil has plummeted - what happened to fuel surcharges? I know jet fuel is special but... and planes seem to be fuller - less empty seats being offered for discount, etc.

Leely2

Congrats, that's a wonderful price!

There seemed to be some sales this week. I scored tickets from SFO into FCO and out of FLR, on AF & KLM, for $770 this June.

IMDonehere

Pal

you are right, you would think with the fall of oil prices, it would some how be reflected in the fares. I think it is more of the consolidation of carriers and intentionally offering less flights. And Iberia and Italia are always in financial trouble, and I am sure others are as well.

Leely-that too is a great price. I have read that are often sales in Jan and Feb. this was not advertised just lucked out. I do not mind a stop, as they are relatively short.

Robert2533

That flight (JFK-MAD) typically has a 8 to 11 hour layover in Dublin, which makes for a very long travel day. You'll end up sitting around the airport for hours, not a plesent thought even if you have access to the lounge. Not exactally something I'm inclined to do when there are direct flights available.

IMDonehere

The flight across has one hour window where we do not go through customs until Barajas.

Coming home is a four window.

And I would rather save $600, and have one unpleasant day. Now we are taking that money and adding two days in Spain.

rialtogrl

iMDonehere, should your flight from JFK be delayed and you miss your connection there is no need to sit around the Dublin airport for 8 hours. Go walk around Dublin for a few hours instead.

There's an airport bus into town. A couple of different lines with several city stops.

But you probably already knew this. And hopefully you won't have to!

IMDonehere

Thank you. We have been Dublin and if there is a delay, we shall certainly do that. Once we had a long layover at FCO and went into Rome for lunch. Very cosmopolitan.

sfmasterG

I'm scouring flights right now for a month trip to Europe. We always try Delta if possible and I'm getting ATL to CDG on 6/7 and FCO to ATL for $969. A bit cheaper if I do Madrid -Rome at $856. Both great prices for the summer. I saw some in the $770's over the weekend but can't find now.

I'm not quite pulling the trigger because 1) we were in Europe last summer and I feel a bit too decadent but it's what the family wants to do and for various reasons this is a summer we can take a bigger trip! also 2) My itinerary is still in flux... I know this is silly. I should just get the tickets! It sorts itself out right. I know we want to be in Paris but not sure if I want to start there....... But if we start in Madrid there are a few pieces of our Spain puzzle (meeting up with friends) that still need to be sorted out.

Anyway just saying yes I am seeing tickets to Europe that are too good to turn down...

Also wondering how people manage the chicken and egg of tickets and itinerary....

sfmasterG

Hmmmm just realizing that the flights I'm finding are Air Europa Flights... I've been looking all on Delta website...not sure about that! Doesn't look as good of a price now. Thoughts?

IMDonehere

I have always flown major airlines for transcontinental flights but have used a variety of cheap-o carriers once in Europe. I have never flown Air Europa.