Any suggestions for finding less expensive flights from Raleigh, NC (RDU airport) to Rome the first two weeks of October? The prices I am finding are more expensive than the summer rates?? Any ideas? Thanks in advance. <BR>Meredith

Meredith, we found that prices were high, also, as we are going to Rome on October 6th. My wife and I were fortunate as we are using FF miles, but our three travel companions paid over $800.00 flying from Erie, PA to Rome. <BR> <BR>The prices that we originally found were actually higher, but checking back almost daily got better prices than we started with. If I remember, they saved almost $200.00 each by doing this. Being flexible with your actual travel dates (day of the week), and by looking at prices frequently, you may have better luck. <BR> <BR>Happy hunting.

1) If your Sunday paper has a travel section, check the travel agency ads that offer discounted airfares; many of them have websites and 800#s <BR>2) try hotwire.com <BR>3) call consolidators (council travel is the only one I remember; there are others) <BR>4) be willing to travel Tues-Thurs <BR>5) check airports near you (from my end of the country, it's sometimes cheaper to fly r/t LAX than r/t PHX) and near Rome (might be cheaper to fly to Milan, then take a train, as an example)

Demand for Italy this fall has apparently been running very high, and the bargains have NOT been forthcoming. We ended up with the best price from www.the-joy-of-travel.com - - consolidator fares - - I am a little unnerved, though, that we have not YET received tickets (two weeks later). They do have a toll-free number; in fact, they are on my list of people to call today! <BR> <BR>I have also been checking www.orbitz.com a lot lately (but not seeing any great bargains there) - - for what it's worth, PHL seems to be running lower prices than many other comparable east coast markets for Italy. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Several airlines started sales this week, for international travel in Sep-Oct. <BR> <BR>I was hoping to go to Paris the last 2 weeks of September. But to get the sale prices, I'll have to wait until October. <BR> <BR>American Airlines has one of the sales, plus you get 10% off by booking on their web page. Isn't AA big in RDU ? <BR>

Assuming your email address is a real one, I've sent you information about SideStep, which is a GREAT way to check for airfares. At work I use it to bargain with our company Travel Agency!

Thank you everyone for your help! The response was wonderful. <BR>Meredith