Christina

If you are going through Newark, why would you stay a night in NYC, if the goal is to save money. That's the reason you would consider this Air India flight in the first place, to save money, and a hotel in NYC in June is going to cost a lot of money. Also, does that mean another day's work lost or an extra vacation day must be charged? that has a value on it, also, if so.

I don't know the safety record of Air India, but maybe the price would be worth it to some people if they don't care about schedules or service.

Aduchamp1

I am planning a multi-city trip in July to Europe including Paris. Right now the best price is AIr India from NYC, where we live. I have never flown Air India but like most air travelers over the past few years, I do not expect much, so I am rarely disappointed.

We have have been traveling to Europe for over 35 years and this is the first trip during the summer.

You can also try flights to London and then there are many modes to Paris.

littlehouse

Christina-
Well the return flight comes in so late on airindia that there's not a flight back to Springfield til the next morning. I'm still weighing my options.

littlehouse

Well has anyone found any good airfare deals?!?!?

djkbooks

Have you tried calling 1800FlyEurope? They are excellent on the phone and will work with you. And, they give you 24 hours to think it over, or start over. I've had the best luck with them way far in advance, but sometimes they get new blocks of seats later on. They seem to have the best bargains from Boston and JFK (probably because they are located in Maine). I've always been able to get non-stops for the same price or better than flights with connections.

Frankly, if you have been watching since October and have seen nothing less than $1200 other than inconvenient flights through LHR or on Air India, you may just have to spend a bit more than you'd like.

An overnight at Newark does not mean you'd have to spend the night in NYC. There a half a dozen or more modestly priced chains with 24 hour complimentary shuttles within a few miles.

If it were me, I'd shorten the stay a few days and pay a little more if I had to. With the higher prices in Paris, and the dismal exchange rate, meals are expensive.

We've always planned on 11 or 12 nights in Paris, but if we go again any time soon, we'll stay a few fewer days.

Almost another two weeks has passed since your OP. At this point, fares are more likely to go up than down. And, in my experience, if there are "sales" between now and then, it's not likely that the lower prices will be available for your departure and/or return date(s). And, they are also much more likely to be available from the major airports. Whenever I've checked dates for those "as low as" fares, there were dates, but either too close together or too far apart.

klondike

You might check out europeandestinations.com. for a package deal.

They had received positive reviews here on Fodors and so we looked into them when we were having the same issues you mention, except that we had to have something in August! I would add that we are normally "do-it-yourselfers".

But fearful of not getting anything affordable this year, we have taken the plunge with this company rather than wait. We were able to get 3 adults JFK-Paris (via Frankfurt), shuttle service to Hotel, 4 nights at a 3 ***hotel in Paris at the Best Western Nouvel Orléans (includes bkf & A/C) followed by 8 days rental (Paris-ville pick up and CDG drop-off) of a diesal, manual Mégane with A/C-- taxes etc. included. The total came to $4,003.35. Our house rental for the 7 days outside of Montpelier near Pézénas was $425 for a 3 bedroom, 3 storied house (won on ebay-got it last year for $385 same way).

The staff has been most responsive and helpful, with no "hard-sell". We could have saved ourselves $50 by arranging our own shuttle or taxi. or more by taking the RER, but my husband wanted everything "done". Europeandestinations will "add-on" to your package as you want.

We were able to get from Alaska to JFK throug various FFmiles, companions fare, etc combinations. Tickets for those ended up costing us $20 and $50.

Anyway...can't hurt to take a look at their website. Good luck.

littlehouse

Has anyone used vayama.com for airfare? I found a fare of $878 from Icelandair from Boston. I'd like to take this but since I don't know about this company, I wanted some feedback.

Travelnut

"At this point, fares are more likely to go up than down"

The fare I'm watching for Paris in October has gone down $7 in the past month.

rex

I think I would be tempted to call Vayama, and "see how they sound" over the phone.

IcelandAir pricing can be more "fluid" than some airlines, as it appears to me that they do cut some deals with other sellers. Looking at (just one arbitrarily chosen set of) June dates, I get $812 from Vayama, $872 from Expedia (says "special Web fare&quot and $1098 from the IcelandAir website itself.

They sell each leg separately, and the reverse (though the differences are minor) occurs for a simple BOS-KEF one-way trip (again, choosing one date, arbitrarily) - - Vayama $276, Expedia $271, IcelandAir website $266. This basically represents the booking fees of Vayama and Expedia.

But IcelandAir is evidently allowing them to sell RT travel at a special price.

You may have indeed found a genuine savings of $60 per person.

Congratulations - - if you feel good about talking to them, over the phone.

I did a search for "vayama feedback" and found this:

http://community.livejournal.com/tra...ge/138342.html

Self-promotional? A meaningless caveat? I wouldn't judge one way or the other.

AAFrequentFlyer

the following would be good enough for me:

Vayama has completed all the required certifications and hold all required licenses to operate as a travel agency. We are registered in California as a Seller of Travel CST 2081741-40.

Airtrade International Inc. is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents.
We are fully accredited by IATAN (International Airlines Travel Agency Network).

We are an ARC (Airline Reporting Corporation) appointed travel agency.
We are members in the BBB of Santa Clara Valley, and the online BBB program.

littlehouse

Anyone ever used airfare.com? What was your experience with them?

Nikki

I purchased tickets through www.airfare.com last year and everything went smoothly.

bardo1

I've also used airfare.com - no complaints.

One thing to note: the airlines consider tickets purchased through airfare.com to be "discounted tickets" which just means you don't get FF miles, if that matters greatly to you.

littlehouse

It doesn't matter to us about the miles since we won't use that airline again.

How about cheaptickets?

Nikki

I also have purchased through www.cheaptickets.com with no problems.

littlehouse

Thanks Nikki!!

littlehouse

Wanted to let everyone know that we got our airfare booked. What a relief to be done with that part of the trip now the planning of the sightseeing begins

Thanks for all your help,
Amy