We've been going to Europe in Sept. for 10 years and every July the airfares would come down for a few days in July and we would grab it. This year not! So Chicago to Paris direct---$1,000 or so. We can't seem to get around it and are not willing to give up a direct flight because we've been stuck in Newark, JFK, etc. too many times.

Any suggestions on other cities in Europe to fly from Chicago direct for less?

I think you're being unrealistic. Airfares are high. It could be that all the lower fares have been snapped up for September. It's already the middle of August.

There are all kinds of cities in Europe you can fly nonstop from Chicago: London, Manchester, Dublin, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Madrid, Frankfurt, Milan, Rome, Helsinki, Warsaw, all come to mind. I'm sure there are others. I'd be surprised if any of them are any less in September though. Being flexible enough to make a connection somewhere could open up other possibilities.

BA is showing ORD to LHR right at $900 for mid-September. But as Jeff says above, any lower fares are probably long gone by now. Airlines have all cut back capacity and are flying near full on most flights.

www.transatt.ca

head up to the land of the yellow snow

for better deals sometimes...

they do drop them put sales on usually in fall

Tuesday PM when the sales start to show up

www.kayak.com/buzz

www.cheapoair.com

www.farecompare.com

Happy Hunting!

www.airtransat.ca sorry for typo

am seeing $194 plus $400 tax fees

so under $300 each way all in Toronto CDG

might play around there for better deals

if ORD stays high...

PARIS from Toronto
September 5 - September 16
$194.00
+ $474.43 taxes and fees

this is the sale there I found...

If the OP isn't interested in making even a connection, why would he/she be interested in going from Chicago to Toronto to take a flight?

September is still considered part of the higher season these days due to alot of seniors and people who don't have kids in school going overseas.If you are flexible I would think October.According to the Chicago Tribune,AF is suspending their rights to the route so Delta is flying ORD to CDG from October through March.Possibly a sale?

I've been checking kayak.com since early this year for flights from the Midwest into Frankfurt, out of Madrid, in October.... As high as 1050 and low of 909. Surprisingly, lows were not on Tuesdays.....it had been 955 for days, and last Saturday it was 909 again. I jumped on it. I hope it doesn't go down farther, but it really won't matter. I'm comfortable with the 909 and the seats. I guess you need to check every day.

You definitely have unrealistic expectations, booking 1 month in advance in the shoulder season with inflexible requirements. Just pay the $1000 bucks if it is so important that you not have a layover. Or take the layover and save a bit. I hope you are someone flexible with dates, too. It might help to fiddle with the departure/arrival dates. The end of September should be cheaper than beginning, but you are kind of running out of time now.

I agree that I am being a bit unrealistic and we usually book in July for Sept. but our plans were so iffy that we just didn't make the decision quick enough.

Our biggest dislike is changing on the East Coast---Boston, Newark, JFK.

Just found a Chicago, Dublin, Paris flight that might suit our needs at $827----this may be it! Very last minute, but Paris calls.

I doubt you'll find anything for less at this late date. If you're okay with the connection times and the dates and that fare, I'd say, grab it before it disappears.

Connecting in Ireland, you will not go through passport control or customs there on the way, although you will go through security. On the way back, you should go through U.S. immigration and customs IN DUBLIN before you board your U.S.-bound flight. Make sure you have ample time for your connection on your return, because it takes longer.

Just booked Chicago-Paris nonstop for $813 on American. We can live with that.

Well done!