We hope to go to Ireland for two weeks in September. Right now I am pricing out Charlotte, NC to Shannon return from Dublin back to CLT. Currently the lowest price I can find is $809pp, but this is using multiple airlines. If I book with one airline for the whole trip, it is $919pp. There is no real price difference if I fly RT from the same destination.

Having never been to Europe - is this reasonable in today's environment? As I have some time before we go, should I wait? I know airfare is hard to predict, but just looking for info from folks that fly a lot to see if this is potentailly reaonsable or way overpriced.

Thanks.

It's reasonable, but I would wait a little for a September flight. It might drop (might not) but for that season it's possible.

I agree it is reasonable.

cmf, are you using an airline search like kayak.com for alerts? USAir had a brief sale to Ireland a few weeks ago and I was able to buy BWI to Dublin for 607, it's now 847 for Sept 7 to the 30th. I'd watch for awhile because I think the prices you are seeing are high for Sept. Check to see how many seats are available on the flights you would book, that might give you an idea whether there might be a price drop. Good luck. Deborah

Yes, I have used kayak, & find it useful. If you register they offer to email you a "fare alert" if the price drops below a certain figure, they can also display a matrix of highest & lowest prices on many routes between certain dates. Play around with the site a bit. I hope you make it to Ireland.

Unless some airline has a cash flow problem, it's a bit early to be tickets for September. Best prices usually (emphasis on "usually") come out 3-4 months before flight date. But do keep checking as airlines do sometimes need a sudden cash infusion and will hold a sale to get that cash.

Re: booking with more than one airline:remember that in this case if you miss connections you're out of luck and that transatlantic flights can run late.

Hi cmf,

Have you tried www.kayak.com, www.1800flyeurope.com, www.flycheapabroad.com?

I have been looking at Fall flights since last Sept. Prices are somewhat higher than expected. If $919 is NS each way, it is a good price.

As noted, prices might go down, but there is a lot of contraction in the number of seats being offered.

Enjoy your visit

Your heading says Europe but you are going to Ireland. The Ireland experts may not see your post.

It has been tagged "Ireland". I'm no expert, but I found it.

Thank you so much, everyone, for your replies. I found my rates on Kayak, and do use the email alert feature. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Charlotte to Ireland (at least not when I would like to go), so the Delta price has a stop in NY.

Based on your replies, I will wait a bit before I book. Thanks so much! We are really looking forward to our trip and I am sure I will have other questions as we get closer to booking.

I usually find June fare sales in February, so I will say that you might find September fare sales in May. I will agree that you found 'standard' fares, but not great fares. Kayak, itasoftware.com, yapta are all tools I tend to use.

I have been waiting for those fare sales for June and simply have not seen them yet! I am hoping that they will hit this month (March)

GreenDragon - no fare sales for June in February this year. I know because looking for good airfare for a June trip to Paris has been my part-time job for a month!!!!

It varies - they may be waiting longer this year. I remember getting good fares in January in 2006, in late February 2008. Haven't looked this year, as I'm not going again until 2011 June.

was just checking Vayama.com for sfo/venice/nice/paris/sfo. There is a button to click for biz class. It's only about $1200 more for biz class on AF & $1000 less than the next cheapest biz class (US Air). With a difference of only $1200 I am tempted to go Biz class as it's such a looooong trip from SFO. Try vayama.com.