Hello,

Can anyone direct me to an airline or website for a more reasonable price for flights from Chicago to Kenya? I know July-August is a high travel time but is there anything cheaper out there?

$1500 isnt bad at all from Chicago(Ive paid more in previous yrs)

We booked our RT tickets to Nairobi through Orbitz. Got a cheaper fare than trying to piece it together otherwise.

I like to start my search with kayak.com
Beware resellers like Orbitz, typically they allow NO changes or cancellations of tickets. May be better to book direct with airline so changes possible for a fee.

regards - tom

cheapoair.com also AA.com web fares.
$750 each way best I have ever done.
Did snag a whole safari package for $1595 on a sale once
including air on travelzoo.com with friendlyplanet.com
so might check for sales there.

I have booked my flight with orbitz in Sept this year for $1,050 from NY to Nairobi, through Cairo, Egypt Air. I have a break of 9 hrs in Cairo. I am goin to visit Pyramids in that time.

I compare prices in Trip Advisor and Fare Compare, and the best suitable.

I like Kayak for searching as well, not just for Africa. Often I then head to the airline website itself to get an equal or slightly lower fare.

When you ask "is there anything cheaper?" cheaper than what? What are you finding? The $1050 is a fantastic price, but in Sept, not the peak travel Aug timeframe.

I was just investigating airfares in Aug vs Sept for South Africa and Zim and was finding differences of almost $1000 in those months.

This year the London Olympics are a factor for summer travel if you are headed anywhere near that direction.

Maybe I am a chicken, but I prefer going direct with the airline through their website when possible and if needed I'll even pay for my chicken-ness with an extra $20 or so on a fare that is $1000+. Usually there is no additional charge, though.

If you are booking your safari with a full service US travel agency, they may have deals they've bought as a package in advance that can offer you a little lower airfare than what you find posted out there.

July and August are expensive like 2,000 round trip for 1 person. I understand it's going to be over 1,000 but 2,000 is really pushing it!

Can't advise out of ORD, but out of JFK, Turkish or Egypt Air seem to have the best/cheapest fares to Nairobi/NBO with stops in ISTanbul or CAIro, respectively. If either of these carriers fly out of ORD, consider them.

And, while I use Kayak to search, I usually go direct to the airline and unlike others, don't book online, but rather with a real person even if it costs a few extra $$s... believe last time it was $25, which is no big deal!

sandi wasn't there a day of the week you suggested where prices may be a bit lower? Something like Tuesday midnight? Or was I dreaming???

Tues or Wed very late is supposed to be best.

Supposedly, Tuesday from 3pm onward or any day after 12M when the airlines reset their systems for all those earlier 'on hold' tickets that weren't booked.

3 pm in what time zone?

I've heard/read all kinds of advice about when the airlines change their fare/price structure. But I've never seen such. Then again, I only book about two flights a year. Has this booking when question been asked on the "Air Travel" forum?? And what was the answer??

Also, for me, the departure/arrival times and length of layover times is important thus I may very likely spend more $$$$ rather than take the rock bottom deal.

regards - tom

Thank you for the info. I will keep checking in various days and times. I also heard that this year airfare is suppose to be very expensive for some reason. I have the whole summer so lay overs and travel times are not an issue, it just flight costs. I wouldn't mind paying 1000-1500. Turkish air does fly out of ord but they are still on the high side of 1800.

Which airline options are talking about?I think Turkish airline or Kenya airways are fair. Please contact them or the travel agents for advice.
Wish you well.