RobinBinNYC

Hi,
As I've mentioned in another post, I'm travelling w/ a group to Paris in June. A few of them would like to wait to buy airline tickets to see if prices will come down. I think that it's more likely that prices will go up - what do you think? Also, how long would you wait to book hotels? I don't know, maybe I'm just a paranoid traveler!

Kelbert

Hi Robin--

I'm a paranoid traveler too.

I am going to Paris the first week of April and I am so glad I reserved my accomodations AND airfare already. (I did so at the end of December.) The apartment I wanted and booked is filling up fast and if I had waited, I would not have gotten it for the week I am there. And as for airfare, I get mine for free due to mileage points, but a friend who is going with me paid $726 for her ticket--nonstop on Air France. That ticket is now going for $948!! Glad we booked!

True...if you buy ticket now...it could go down in price. But...I would rather have peace of mind and focus on planning my itinerary and reading all the fun info vs. worrying about airfare going up and the accomodations you had your heart set on being booked.

Hope this helps.

Kelbert

Flyboy

Without knowing where you are traveling from, the approximate dates and what kind of price you are looking at, it is impossible to intelligently respond to the airfare question in anything but a very vague and general way. The best deals may not have surfaced yet, but there are exceptions to every rule. If you know what an attractive fare should look like for what you're doing and you see it, then you should book it.

As for hotels, there often isn't much to be gained by waiting much after you know what your firm dates are. Sometimes I'll make "provisional" reservations for hotels if I don't think I'm done shopping around, but more often I know what I'm looking for and about what it should cost.

FainaAgain

Whenever you buy - still watch the airfare. If the price goes down, you may be able to get vouchers for next trip.

RobinBinNYC

Thanks for all the advice! We will be travelling from NYC, to answer Flyboy's point, leaving June 8. This is where it gets a bit complicated as some of us are leaving Paris on different dates (I'm not even flying back from Paris, but from Zurich). I've found $831 nonstop on American, and through onetravel.com - $810 (including travel insurance). Seeing Kelbert's post gives me reason to think these are good prices for June. My fear is - o.k., here is where I vent to you nice people - if I buy now to take advantage of the prices, but then the others don't follow through & cancel later... anyway, therein lies my dilemma. Thanks for "listening"!

WillTravel

Robin, would you still go if the others cancelled? I agree that's a fair possibility until they actually have the tickets in hand.

RobinBinNYC

Well...not sure whether I'd want to go alone; it's possible, but not ideal. Actually, Paris wasn't the first destination on my "list" - I originally wanted to go to Eastern Europe in the fall, which would have probably beena solo trip. Then this group thing came up and I thought it would be fun. Travel partners are few and far between for me these days! I was also thinking that the trip will be much more expensive (due to lodging) solo vs. w/ others. I guess ultimately I'll just have to make a decision and go with it!

kismetchimera

Your friend can find a better fare if he/she can wait a little longer, $831 seems a little steep especially if you leave from NY.
I paid $ 755 for my ticket with AA but I live in Texas.
Leaving from SAT to FCO and from CDG to SAT, coming back June 25th.
Good luck,

Flyboy

Remember that Robin's ticket includes travel insurance. That makes a head-to-head comparison difficult without knowing the premium for that add-on.

RufusTFirefly

Checking Orbitz, Iceland Air is showing a fare of $561.75 from New York leaving June 8 and returning June 22. That includes Orbitz' $10 processing fee.

jeffwill4you

Our tickets from LAX May 18 are only
$644.00 RT non stop to Paris on Delta,
I would think you could get a better price going from the east coast?

RobinBinNYC

I guess that depends on when you purchased the ticket - did you purchase a month or two ago? You would think it would be less to fly from NY, wouldn't you? The kicker is that I have plenty of Delta freq. flier miles to go for free, but they do not have any more of those seats left. The $810 flight I found includes insurance (a $28.95 value). I saw the lower fare from Iceland, but there's a stop in Iceland which adds a few hours to the trip. This is where you do the weighing of time vs. money...I think I'd rather fly non stop and have the extra few hours in Paris. I guess if I wait w/ them & prices go up, I'll have the right to say, "I told you so!" Of course, if it goes the other way, they can say that to me, too