Christmas 08 Airfare SA
 

I get a very cheap quote from LA with stop in Paris to Johannesburg,
about 1500 for Jan. dates, can I expect to pay substantially more next Christmas?.(not counting inflation,just seasonal price)

What do Patty and the other air fare experts think?

Generally, in January (right after New Years thru March) the fares between the States to Europe (LHR CDG AMS) go down... all kinds of deals, like $200 r/t JFK/LHR (+ the high taxes thru England, less elsewhere), and similar to other Western European destinations. Believe that is what you're seeing with the $1,500 for January '08 which is good.

My guess, unless there are fuel surcharges, additional taxes/fees or airlines have more/less competition, it's likely to be similar for Jan '09.

Have you checked fares to JNB from the east coast - ATL, JFK, IAD? They're usually pretty competitive - maybe only $1,000. Inquire of Premier Tours out of Phila www.premiertours.com (best to call their 800# for current numbers), who regularly offer good fares or specials depending on time of year. Then you only need an inexpensive fare from LAX one of these departure points.

I don't really want to travel in January that is just the closest date I could get a reasonable fare.

If I try for this Christmas it would be silly like 8000 or something and it won't give me next Christmas fares for another two months. I just want to get an idea of fares for mid december returning around new years. I am not flexible.

RR

Travel from mid-Dec thru New Years, regardless the destination will be high.

We've traveled in Nov and find these are special lower fares (less than $1,000 from JFK non-stop to JNB. Again, check with Premier for an idea of what time of year prices are reasonable for travel. Be prepared for these dates not being when you wish to travel.

As far as I am concerned under 2000 with a decent itinerary is ok. It is basically irrelevant what fares are in Nov or later in January, I was just using the closest dates that worked in the airfare search engines.

My work and my wife's job make it imperitive that we go at christmas,
we could go in January but we would have ONE WEEK less time! RR

Just searched low season fares are about 650 La to London RT.