Does anyone know where I can find a good fare in May? Thanks

Try a travel agent.

I am going from DC to Sydney in August and I used priceline.com. I got a fare for $999. I found the cheapest sale fare and then underbid that by about $300.

Dear Sue,<BR>I am going to Oz @ end of March and shopped around for the best fare. The airlines first quoted me $1700 + taxes for the fare. I found the cheapest with Flight Centre for $820 (plus taxes ended up @ $910.10) <BR>You could also try BestFares.com. They require a $50 yearly membership but have great deals. BestFares was running a $799 fare for May but I am not sure if that one is still available. (Last year I purchased a ticket to Oz for $725 in late April at BestFares). <BR>Flight Centre will beat any other advertised price by $15-$20. Each Flight Centre office is independent and the prices may differ based on how much commission the agent is willing to give up. My local Flight Centre office offered a $950 fare but the Downtown LA office came through at $910. The downtown agent was Kevin Tran @ (213) 688-2150 (661 South Flower St Los Angeles). Call him first and use his fare as a benchmark. Also don't pay any travel agent extra for the travel visa. Most charge an extra $20 or $25. You can call the airline directly once you have the ticket and they will give you a visa over the phone for free in 2 minutes.

Fares usually drop mid April for Oz because that is the start of low season. You should be able to find a lower fare since you are going in May. The priceline fare sounds high to me.

Me again... I obviously was flying from LA and I am not sure where you are flying from... but Flight Centre have many offices and the LA office might still be able to book your fare.

Jeremy, thanks for your replies. I did a web search for flight centre but drew a blank. I am in the Midwest.

999.00 from Dc is way too high!! Priceline made out good on that one. I got one from NYC for 750.00 to Sydney from a consolidator. Try one of those. They operate flights from all over the USA.

Sue,<BR>The agent's e-mail address is:<BR>[email protected]<BR>the toll free # is (877) 967-5347

Sue-<BR>If you're coming from the Midwest, it is going to be much more expensive. Everyone is quoting you prices from the coast (both east and west) and they are always cheaper. We're going in May from a small midwest town and the best deal I could get was $1200.00! I looked everywhere! And, it didn't seem to matter if we left from a bigger city like Chicago or Detroit. Good luck but expect to pay more from the midwest. I guess just about everything else is cheaper here so we just have to pay more when we travel. Also, if what Merry says is true, I'd find out about these "consolidators" because my brother flies to New Zealand regularly from the west coast and has NEVER gotten a price like that. Almost unbelievable if you know what I mean!

ok merry, care to share your consolidator?? Please. Thanks<BR>I have been at it for a number of hours and cannot find anything under $1160.

Okay, but I have to warn you that it is a TRAVEL AGENCY that handled it and I know how most who post here feel about them. I will have to call and ask if it's okay to give her name out in this forum. I will advise.

Sue- We went to Austalia last June. Prices were outrageous for months as I kept checking Expedia, Travelocity and the airline sites from about September on. I was just about to give up on going to Australia, when the prices dropped dramatically after Easter. Don't know if it will happen again this year, but the fares shouldn't get any higher as May is the beginning of the winter/off peak season.<BR>Seems like the airlines keep fares high till the last minute nowdays. I'm hoping to go Ireland or Mexico this June, and again waiting for a drop. Wish me luck!

Merry<BR>I emailed you with my address if you prefer not to post the travel agents name on the forum. I see you have 2 different address.

Merry, still waiting. Thanks

As you realize, this is not a real email address. I did that once here and got so much junk and flack that I will not do it again. Talked to my ta, and she said she used a consolidator from LA to Sydney and got me one of those cheap NY to LA fares to connect to the Qantas flight.So, it was 2 tkts, not one. She gave me the consolidators email. I will email it to you. She prefers I don't post it and cause any worries for her contact.

You might at well get a Qantas Round the World Fare/flight because at the moment the are about $1180 US and it would probably take you to your home town anyway. It increases your travel time in the air but then you might just see some interesting things. This would mean going to easiest route though because I am quoting you the shortest routing for that price. You could probably do say:<BR>wherever in US - LA - Auckland - Sydney - Cairns (perhaps)and either ( HK, Singapore, Bankock) London - NY and home depending on if the town you are in is serviced by an airline that is affiliated with Qantas <BR>Think about it<BR>

Too late. My agent is not giving out info for free anymore. Not worth her time. Good luck. Things sure have changed in a week.

Merry, I don't think people realize that we who answer questions have lives to lead and so often after doing research for people and taking the time to write and suggest things the original posters don't even bother to say "thank you". <BR>I am certainly NOT saying this is the case with this poster because she already has, but this is for other people who ask questions as only in the last couple of weeks have I had this happen to me. I am interested to see that you have not used your correct email address either and that you got "flack" when you did - as I have done. Personally I think there are many very sick people who lurk on these boards and stir up nothing but trouble.<BR>I hope that Sue finds something that will help here though - what made me think of all this was when Merry said that her Travel Agent didn't want to give out free advise any more. I have a friend who is a TA and she feels the same way too. They do it all day and every day - must make them sick of it quickly. <BR>

lets try and see if i can get a straight anser. Merry please email me. thanks