Good airfare?
 

My wife, infant, and I are planning a trip to Italy in October/November. We have been watching fares a couple months, and have just found an $800 each fare (including all taxes and fees)from Phoenix (we live in AZ) to Milan, and returning Rome to Phoenix.

Should we jump on this? Or could it come down more? I know this is guess work....but is $800 a good deal?

ttt

You might try this...

go to www.itasoftware.com and input your proposed itinerary.

Do the "month-long" view to see what the average prices are.

I'd also cross-check that with at least one search on www.sidestep.com or www.onetravel.com

Thanks for the advice. I guess what I really want to know is not if $800 is a good fare now (which I can figure out from search engines), but if many people have gotten cheaper fares from western US to Italy.

Anyone?

Hi z,

We live in Denver. We used to be able to find RT fares to/from Italy in the $600-$700 range in October and May, and even lower November through April. We flew RT to Frankfurt in February 2005 for $300-something, all fees included. The fares we've come across the past few years have been a lot higher however, and there doesn't seem to be any indication that fares are going to start dropping again. I don't think $800 is a great deal for late October and early November, but it's not a total ripoff. Italy is usually more expensive than other European cities like Paris, London, Frankfurt. Fares might drop some but I'd be really surprised if you ever find anything under about $675. On the flip side, fares could go up some as well. Were it me, I'd probably wait until August to make the purchase... taking the chance that fares might go up a little bit, but that some fall fare sales also might be coming out around that time.

The price around $800 is average November price Phoenix-Milan RT. If to that price you add the facts that you are actually flying out in October and that this is an open jaw ticket, then it goes from average to a good deal. Then add to it that October departures to Italy sell out fast. If you have exact dates you need to travel, then I will say you got a good deal; locked it in.