Please, people, you don't know how good you've got it. i just paid $1250 cdn (~$875 US) to go from Western Cda to London on Air Canada return. Five months before my travel date. That's what you get with a air carrier monoploy. I tried flights out of the near US states, and with the exchange rate those were more expensive. Remember this the next time you buy a $400us or $500us return ticket...You've got it good!

For quite a while, I read posts here of folks traveling overseas in the winter months...and I shivered...and thought, no that's not for me (despite living in a very wintry midwest state). Then, in late December, when we happend onto a USA Today item about an Iceland Air special deal (good till mid-march, I think it was)...well, suddenly March in europe (warmer than where we live..fer sure)..seemed a whole lot more enticing. And reading all these posts, has just confimred that and revved my engines (very warming!) for our March jaunt. We'll be travelling r/t, Minneapolis to Amsterdam...TWO of us for a grand total (including airport/departure taxes) of $508....This isn't gloating..Just a thought that the next time, the off-season cheapies come around, they'll look a lot more attractive to a lot more people.

I have found that I sometimes overpay when I purchase tickets too far in advance. Airlines often take a wait and see approach before discounting. <BR> <BR>I'm going to Paris from San Francisco in May. I have since found out that May, June and September are the "high" months and can be expensive. In January the cost was almost $1100 (I wanted an evening, direct flight). But by searching two search engines daily, I found a fare for $600 the beginning of Feb. When you see a good price take it, because it can disappear. This rate did (but I again saw it today). Two good search engines are farechase.com and qixo.com. They cover several internet sites (including Expedia, Travelocity, Lowestfare.com, TravelPlanet, etc.). Also bestfares.com (or bestfare.com?) has specials. You have to be a member to take advantage ($69/yr plus a monthly budget travel mag.). They have listed some pretty astounding rates. <BR> <BR>If you're adventuresome, you can wait till a month before you go and try consolidators (who may be getting anxious) or Priceline. Still check the a few times internet daily for airlines ready to unload the remaining seats. I'm not that big a risk taker and I prefer to have more control for the day or time I travel, but if you're flexible, this is also an option.

I guess what's 'good' has to be evaluated relative to the season, otherwise one is comparing apples and oranges. Winter in Europe can be fun, but it is a different experience from Europe in the summer months. <BR> <BR>

Compared to the prices I'm getting for a july/august jaunt to Skopje, Macedonia, that price is a veritable bargain. Prices this summer are OUTRAGEOUS.