Just wondering if this is a reasonable fare for Dec. 28th, returning 1/3/05? Never traveled in December to Paris so I'm not sure if this is good; of course, the airlines say it is since it's New Year's.

If you log on to travelocity,orbitz,or expedia your question will be answered much better than one of us.

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Actually, that's not really the question - - at least not as it is usually asked - - it's not whether this is a good price if purchased TODAY...

...more like, will a better price come along if the purchase is out off?

As an envious midwesterner, it seems good to me; I wish smaller "interior" airports could get fares as low as California (sometimes) can. Not that "ours" are always higher - - just too often.

As always, the question is peace of mind versus letting them have your money - - in this case, for almost a full year. Perhaps worthwhile only if the flight is "just perfect" (routing, departure/arrival times, airline you want to accrue the FF miles with).

Best wishes,

Rex

$591 for those dates should be the non-stop Air France flight, probably code-shared by Delta.

In my opinion, that's an okay fare. However, it's also very likely that between now and that, there will be fare sale for perhaps $100-150 cheaper. Question is if you're going to keep a very close eye on the fare almost daily, and if you're willing to take a flight with one-stop somewhere; and on the other hand if you're comfortable booking that far in advance...

Take the fare...From San Francisco is a good bargain..

That looks really good to me from California. I'd book it.

I think that's less than we paid in the winter of 2001.

Thank you all for letting me know it's a good fare. As rkkwan pointed out, yes, it is the Delta codeshared flight with Air France. It's the lowest I've seen and $60 cheaper than Air France's offer strangely enough.

NO, you can get lower! I was checking United Airlines' winter fares from LAX to CDG ranging from December through February 2004 and found RT prices during that time frame as low as $350 RT to $450 RT. I bought them at $450 RT (which is still a bargain) and traveled in February/March (returned 2 weeks ago). Paris is United's hub and I have found their prices to that city from the U.S. to be consistently lower than the other cities they service in Europe - go figure! (I only wish I could get that kind of fare into Italy!) :-0

I agree with Rex's take on this and I would book it if I was getting the itinerary that fit my plans with FF miles that fit into my program. With more than 11,000 flight/status miles in the mix, that's a little less than half the way to elite status. Basic miles with no promotions or existing status involved would be worth more than $150. If someone takes that flight on a carrier where that value can't be captured, it's money left on the table.

Also, using general ranges of fares that were available during a period of several months might not be a completely valid way to estimate what you might encounter in a future period involving specific dates that fall between the holidays.

There is no guarantee that future fares will fall as low as they did for a corresponding period a year earlier. I've flown to Europe several times on some very cheap tickets this spring -- under $400 with all taxes/fees included -- but I couldn't tell you if I'll be able to book deals like that again next year.

It looks like a good fare to me. If it was with my preferred carrier or an alliance partner of that carrier, I would book it. If it happens to come up for $100 lower in a fare sale next fall, c'est la vie. It could just as easily end up being the same or it could go higher, too.

we went this past christmas and new years and got 404 r/t. i checked every day and then one day boom internet special on northwest. 591 is not bad though. be sure to spend new years eve on the champs elysee. IT IS WILD.

Is it a good idea to get a hotel near the Champs d'Elysees for New Year's then? I've always liked the St. Germain area-how is this area during New Year's?

I too don't think New Year is a really high season. Some relatives of mine were able to book a tour with a NYC-based, Chinese-run, tour group to London and Paris last year on almost exactly the same dates. They pay something like $1,100 for

- Houston-NYC-London on AA
- 3 nights at a 4-star hotel next to Tower of London
- Admissions to Tower of London and Windsor Palace (and transportation to latter)
- Eurostar to Paris
- 3 nights at a 4-star hotel at La Defense
- Admissions to Lourve and Versailles (and transport)
- Paris-NYC-Houston on AA

Granted, that's a group fare via a budget tour company, but demand for the airplane seats cannot be that high, or else AA wouldn't give them a rate low enough to make any money.

no i meant just go there during the evening.

I've booked that flight cheaper on United but I've booked last minute. The real question for me is, do you want to take your chances of finding it higher or lower? If peace of mind is most important to you, go ahead and get it and, whatever you do, DON'T look at the cost again!

Hi francophile,

If it's non-stop,it's an OK fare.

Would you be less happy paying $100 more, seeing the price go down $100 or having to take a different flight?

Hi Ira, yes, the Delta flight is non-stop as it's a codeshared flight using AF. That's one good thing because if it were on a Delta aircraft there'd be one stop.
I'm convinced that the $591 is a good fare for that time of year. Even the AF fare of a bit over $600 is not so bad. I've always wanted to visit Paris during the holiday season and New Year's would be great to experience there for a change. Only thing I'll be traveling solo this time but it should be nice anyway.

Hi franco,

I looked up prices for early Feb and early Dec.

Your price for over New Year's day is only a few dollars more than the depths of the winter.

I'd book it, and start working on the hotels.

I guess I better book by next week or so.

The fares I doubt will get better; instead I'm expecting them to get higher. Xmas & New Year's don't yield any fare sales traditionally, correct? Those would be peak times?

We usually go to Europe sometime late in November from SFO which is low season and $591 RT direct is close to the lows of the winter if this includes taxes. Fares might be alittle higher during the Christmas holidays. You might catch these flights about $100 less with taxes if you hit a really good sale but who knows what prices will be like for flying later this year with high fuel prices? The fare is reasonable if it includes taxes and gives you the flights that you want.