Can anyone provide guidance if air fare prices to Europe will become competitive? Seems that no major bargains to Europe have emerged for this Spring.

Could be tough to tell this year, but in my opinion, it is still a bit early. But, without knowing the routes and time frame you're interested in, it is hard to tell. Airlines have retired some flights, so less capacity in the market, but the economy is still in a slow recovery, and I haven't seen much sign that business travel has picked up. Basically, not a lot of signal either way. Based on my research for my own trip in June, I would recommend waiting, but watching closely. I think you will find better prices, but not as good as last year.

If we could predict airfares...we would have bought winning lottery tickets with that skill and wouldn't have to worry about it!

That said, griz_fan is right. Spring and Europe are a little vauge.

Also, I am seeing a lot of "unrealistic" expectations. The last few years have spoiled us. $500 airfares probably aren't realistic. The airlines had "fire sales" over the last few years, but seem to have wised up. FOr example, there used to be three or four non stops from Atlanta to London on Delta. Now... one a day. Lots of capacity gone allowing them to 'raise' fares. International is one of the few "profit" points for airlines. I like cheap fares too, but the airlines have to make money to stay in business.

I'm having the same issues, Peter. I keep hoping and checking, but am seriously looking at using our miles very soon and combining them with a few purchased tickets since we are buying five tickets.

Carol, I've always thought that Atlanta would be a more competitive market than it is. NYC, PHL and even BOS get better pricing than we do out of Atlanta! Not fair....

We've even driven to CLT or BHM before.

I'm still holding out for that $500 bargain fare!!

You have to understand that air fares are no longer "competitive". Each airline is fending for themselves without regard to what the others are doing.

And, it's late to shop "spring" fares.

The airlines have cut their schedules back so far that, as planes fill, fares go UP rather than down.

The only bargains, lately, to my observation, are far in advance purchases with consolidators.

"Cheap" fares are truly a thing of the past. Nowadays, you have to plan and shop like the dickens way far ahead for "reasonable".

There have been some "late" sales this year. THat said, I don't think they have been that much better then what I could have gotten booking early. I have a fare watch for several cities in Europe on Kayak and the best I am seeing is in the $900 range and some of those have just too many "connections etc" to make the $100 savings worth it. (I would rather spend the time IN Europe then in getting there!)

This is really a "how long is a piece of string?" question.

<b>Where</b> are you flying from, <b>where</b> are you flying to, and <b>when</b>?

I can see $560 or so round trip from NYC to Ireland in March/April. Is that "competitive?" Or are you looking for cheap fares from Honolulu to Bucharest in May?

This weekend, I am seeing a weakness in fare for a trip 5 weeks out on a flight with about 60% current occupancy.