Trying to figure out if airfares will go up or down in the next 7 months is a fool's mission. There is no way anyone can give you an accurate prediction. Most savvy travelers will tell you to monitor airfares and when you find a fare you can live with you should go ahead and purchase your tickets then forget about what price others might pay at a later date.

If paying $50/person more now gives you peace of mind you should probably buy your tickets. If, however, that price will cause you to lose sleep than you’ll have to decide whether you want to buy less expensive tickets on an airline that you believe might be financially unstable today or take the chance and hope that airfares on your preferred airline will go down when you are ready to purchase tickets later on. If airfares go up you’ll be the “big loser”.

Really, the choice is yours alone to make.

Sorry...I disagree. In my original question I did state "I realize guessing at airline costs is always a gamble, so hoping some have flown Finnair before and have some experience." Obviously no one can know exactly what costs will do. But for those that have experience with flights in that area or on that airline they might have a feel if $260 each way for that flight is typical or not. It's certainly higher than the other two one-way tickets we've purchased.

I can tell you right now that you should be able to fly around in the SE United States on Southwest for around $100 each way. If someone told me they saw a flight for $260 each way from Atlanta to Chicago on Southwest...I'd be able to say "that's higher than usual". That's all I'm asking for.

If this question frustrates you...then move on.

Comparing what happens with US domestic flight prices to inter-European ones is a fools mission. They are completely different markets with a whole set of different regulations.

And you are right, a seat map is no indication of how full a flight is. Inventory control is much more sophisticated than that.

Worrying about Norwegian’s finances is pointless too. If you were to believe the Fodor’s posts, they should have folded a year ago. Instead what has happened is they withdrew loss making/expensive routes and have secured much coveted slots at LHR. They are still fighting. Have you looked into Finnair’s finances? They are not great but who cares. If I looked into the finances of every airline I intend to fly on I wouldn’t go anywhere.

Bottom line is no one knows the answer to your question.