Pat_in_Mich

I'm planning a family trip to France for May 16 - 30, 2009 and I have started watching airfares (Detroit to Paris). But I haven't flown out of the US in about 7 years so I have no idea what a good airfare would be. Right now the best I'm seeing is $930 on Air Canada with one stop each way in Toronto and an airport change (departing Detroit, returning Windsor).

I know none of us has a crystal ball and getting a good fare is something of a crap shoot, but opinions from more experienced folks would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Gretchen

I think air fares are going to be high beginning in the fall, from what everyone is projecting, and May is beginning to be "in season". It may be a little early to buy. That is about the fare I am getting for late winter!!
I'd watch all the sites EVERY day and jump on the one that you can live with and never look back if they go down.

Pat_in_Mich

It's the never looking back part that's hard!

ira

Hi Pat,

$930 is Very Very Good, especially for flying on Sat.

Where did you find it?

Kayak.com has DTW-YYZ-CDG RT for $1313. Their lowest pricw is $1201.

Mobissimo.com has one for $1166.

dfr4848

I agree that's a good fare. The other thing you can do is to use the "buzz" feature on kayak.com. Plug in your dates etc and it will alert you each week as to the lowest fare for that route.

Christina

That fare seems very good, I can't imagine things will get cheaper much. But I am also wondering where you found that cheap a fare, as the websites I use show that flight at around $1300? (that specific flight on Air Canada) NW NW actually flights that route nonstop and is a bit cheaper than AC -- usually, they are around $1275, but that's comparing to $1300.

End of May is really summer season airfare, I think. Beginning of May might be Spring level.

dwzemens

I also would be interested in where you located that fare at. I live in Michigan and could fly out of Windsor, Canada if need be.

Perhaps the fare you quote did not have taxes and fees added in?

Pat_in_Mich

I used www.itasoftware.com. I entered May 16 - 30 (exact dates) DTW to CDG and airports within 50 miles. The airport change is a bit of a nuisance since we'll have to have someone drive us to the airport, but it might be worth doing.

Here's the details from itasoftware:
4 adults fared as:
Fare construction (sometimes useful to travel agents): DTT AC X/YTO AC PAR 416.50N0MSKWFR AC X/YTO AC YQG 414.93Q0MSLWL NUC 831.43 END ROE 1.00 FARE USD 831.00 XT 15.40US 2.50AY 16.00SQ 0.80XG 26.55FR 6.37IZ 27.62QX 4.50XF DTW4.50

Fare (A1): AC DTTPAR N0MSKWFR fare (rules) $416.50
Fare (A2): AC PARYQG Q0MSLWL fare (rules) C$423.00
Tax: US International Departure Tax $15.40
Tax: US September 11th Security Fee $2.50
Tax: US Passenger Facility Charge $4.50
Tax: Toronto Airport Improvement Fee C$16.00
Tax: Canadian Goods and Services Tax C$0.80
Tax: French Aviation Civile Tax €7.04
Tax: French International Passenger Service Charge €17.34
Tax: French Airport Tax €9.63
Tax: French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax €4.00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

$930.74

Pat_in_Mich

I just went to the Air Canada website and found that it is possible to get that fare online by entering multi-city.

dwzemens

Thanks Pat!

= Dave from Rochester, Michigan.

Christina

looks good to me -- I use itasoftware also, and they wouldn't quote that fare for me, and I used the exact same dates. It was weird, they claimed DTW wasn't a valid airport, so I thought maybe I had it wrong and just typed in Detroit. Then it came back with the $1200. Must have been a glitch.

Pat_in_Mich

It only came up on itasoftware if I specified airports within 50 miles. Weird.

Viajero2

According to farecast and farecompare (websites track flight fares historical info to predict trends), the average fare Detroit-Paris route in May is around $1100/pp. Air Canada is typically on the lower end. Their leg Toronto-Paris sells fast as Air Canada is partners with Continental and they get a lot of Northeast travelers directed their way. So, if you HAVE TO fly 5/16-5/30, you would have to pay for not been flexible and I think $930 from Detroit is not a bad deal. My thoughts.

Guenmai

I wish I could get such a good fare. Just for March 2008, I paid over $1200. total, for my mom's ticket, for the LAX-Paris route. I used frequent flyer miles for my ticket. And I bought her ticket right after the 331 day, before departure, purchase window. So,before gas prices got out of hand. Happy Travels!

apersuader65

Funny thing - I tried 5-15 to 5-31 to avoid saturday flights and got a price of $1283 DTW - CDG, AND then tried the same dates from MCI (KC) - CDG, traveling through DTW and got the price of $1153. For Saturday travel, I believe the price you quoted is likely as good as it gets.

goldwynn

Keep an eye out at Air Transa.Com, a charter operating out of Toronto to Paris........ a sample return fare for the last week of October this year is $644 Canadian with all taxes. Do not know when they list flights for next year but they do have a tel # one can call.

I always buy their Club Class seating for extra $ and they use Terminal 3 at CDG in Paris.

goldwynn

Sorry ......that is Air Transat.Com