I finally decided to pull the trigger on flights to Italy for June. For the first time in weeks, the lowest fare has gone up by $100 and the second lowest fare says "this flight is unavailble" on the websites that kayak takes me to!!!! D'oh!!!!! Why oh why did I not jump!??

Since the economy stinks, there will be other sales before summer.

I won't know when I will be able to take vacation time until February so I couldn't buy those bargain tickets - but I'm planning my vacation assuming that I'll be able to buy less expensive tickets later.

That being said, I would have bought tickets last week if I knew my vacation dates. Why wait for another good deal if you don't have to?

It's kinda like antiques; if you see something you like, better get it right then. But I know how you feel. I would have liked to have booked the cheap fares on US Air for my September trip, but my son did not know the dates he could travel. So, now I'll have to pay lots more.

Well, Lord have mercy, the cheapest flight is now $200 more than it was this morning!!!! And I just booked that kind of expensive hotel in Venice because I was going to save so much on airfare!

But the Euro has dropped lately. 1.00 EUR = 1.29855 USD. But do you wait until it drops more or buy now? Hmm...

Just mentioned this on the airline website. I just booked a flight to Rome on USAir for Sept. 27 returning Oct. 9. Over the weekend it was $705.
Today it is $1,231. Every other airline was at least that much or more.
I am so glad I booked it as I was buying 2 tickets. A savings of over 1,000 for the 2 tickets.
I would say if you see a good flight book it if you are able to vacation the dates offered.

Hi,

Yes, I just bought tickets to Paris for $630 out of Tampa. These had been $1000-1100 - and the morning after I purchased them (2 days ago), they went back up again.

I'm glad I got them but now wish I had added 2 extra days on. So just be sure of your dates as well if you see a good deal.

With the economy, I do think prices will come down again. I always check travelzoo to compare flight prices.

Have you tried the website IRA posted? www.flycheapabraod.com ?

I found a great fare there, didn't buy it.. then it went up.. but came back down LOWER a week or so later.

i was impressed with the prices.

Be sure to clear the cookies from your computer every time you look for fares repeatedly.(Someone posted that suggestion, not MY computer-ignorant advice)

Hi rbn,

Also, when you are traveling and you see something that you would really like, BUY IT.

It won't be there when you go back.

I just got a Yapta alert for WashingtonDC to Rome in March nonstop on United for under $600 (midweek flights). Unfortunately I booked on another airline a few weeks ago.

make that "www.flycheapabroad.com"

Well, I decided to book a SwissAir flight that, although not cheap, was under $1000 per person for June. It was the most convenient times and connections for us. We could have saved a little less than $400 total by using AerLingus but we would have had to spend 10 hours in the Dublin airport (done it before!)on the way to Italy and then stayed in an airport hotel in New York upon arrival back in the States, so I booked the more expensive SwissAir. Now, no one post ANYTHING about GREAT fare sales to Europe for summer or I will become ferklempt!!!!!!

Good airline and good connections are worth the extra money.

amen, scatcat.
Since I'm not financially ready to buy I'm advising myself that as long as the airfare is under $900 it's going to be just fine, whatever the cost. If it's $150 under that, it's gravy. Gravy = a lovely dinner or a nicer hotel, but even if there is no gravy I'm going and that's the main thing.

Read financial results today for AMR and United Airlines. Both are cutting flights and taking planes out of service beginning in the 1st quarter due to soft bookings.

With less capacity, you may not see that many big bargains out there, especially for the summer travel season which is still when most families will have to travel.

By the By...for Canadians out there or American's close to the boarder -we looked forever for flights for September and finally settled on flying in and out of the UK through Canadian Affair (Air Transat)- our seats were significantly less than anything else we'd seen - about $975CAD round trip each (though we had to travel a bit out of our way to a neighbouring city). More over we saw extremely cheap flights (from 100-500CAD one way)if you have some flexibility. Once in the UK we are taking advantage of some of the cheap airlines there to hop elsewhere.

Naxos

I too found a great deal through Air Transat, flying from Halifax, NS to London Gatwick. Under $700 total, and then it's only 20GBP return ($130Cdn total after taxes and fees) to fly to Malaga, Spain on Aer Lingus from there. I booked a couple weeks ago and both of those flights are holding at that price for now.