Strategy for best deal PHL to LHR in August 2012?
 

That's peak travel season so I don't expect it to be cheap..... but is there an optimum time to book flights between USA (Philadelphia) and LHR, in second half of August 2012, after Olympics, to get the best possible deal?

Options:

1) Book now, not going to get any cheaper.
2) Wait a few months, might get a bit cheaper in Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June.....?
3) Impossible to predict, so your guess is as good as mine!

Any thoughts?
H

#3 is the winner . . .

I checked British Airways round-trip Philadelphia-Heathrow for random late-August dates and came up with fares around $1000 inclusive of taxes and fees. Sounds pretty reasonable to me. Doubt if it will come down much but you never know...

You can sign up with Yapta.com to track price changes.

>$1,4000 on ba.com for round trip PHL <--> LHR
Expedia has similar prices for US Air. Trip dates 8/23 to 9/3.

H

<i>">$1,4000 on ba.com for round trip PHL <--> LHR"</i>

??????

Push your dates back one day?
$1,022.96 all incl on ba.com for 8/24-9/3. Same price 8/24-9/4.

Or take your chances that there will be a fare sale and/or cheap seats will still be available at a later date?

Thanks. However, the original scenario I gave is a simplification to focus on overall booking strategies. The actual trip involves 6 people from 2 starting points in US (one being PHL), returning from Munich, Germany to US at the end. Plus, the dates for the trip are fixed. Even a $100 per ticket difference adds up over 6 tickets.

H

So, were you actually looking for input or just posing the question for fun?

The example I gave is also "<i>a simplification to focus on overall booking strategies</i>", i.e. "<i>Options: 1) Book now, not going to get any cheaper</i>", given trends in recent years.

As you say, "<i>Even a $100 per ticket difference adds up over 6 tickets.</i>" I would say that a $400 difference also adds up over 6 tickets.

I travel to Heathrow from the US 4-6 times each year and my experience tells me that $1000 is a good fare for high summer travel. I'm not advocating for BA. Many other airlines are currently matching this price.

However, I agree with janisj, "<i>#3 is the winner</i>" ("<i>Impossible to predict, so your guess is as good as mine!</i>") You make your choice, you take your chances.

Looking for some input on choice between 1 or 2, or I wouldn't have bothered.

Thanks for your thoughts, $1000 would be really, really good, I would book that, or anything close to it, right now if I could find it for PHL to LHR, MUC to PHL in late Aug 2012.

Bob