I have been investigating airfare from Philadelphia to Paris in July for my daughter, who may be studying in Paris this summer. Even on kayak, I have been coming up with round trip prices well over $1,400. This came as quite a shock to me, as I normally travel to Europe during the off season. My March, 2008 airfare was around $600. For comparison's sake, I checked off-season prices. Not surprisingly, they are more expensive than last year, but still in the $800 vicinity. So, I am wondering if summer airfares are usually this expensive, or is this an anomoly due to the current upset in the world economy? I've honestly never purchased summer tickets to Europe before. Thanks, as always, for sharing your experiences.

It is too early to book at that price. The airlines have little incentive to drop prices until closer to the date, when it becomes clear how much excess capacity they might have.

Personally, I would be targeting no more than $800, until closer to 60 days out.

I think that's too high, and wouldn't try to book something so far ahead anyway. Even in 2008, fares were not typically $600 as you said you got last year, so that was abnormal, I think.

Last summer that fare was around $1100-1200. Given that oil prices have dropped a bit recently, I think $1400 is too high.

You can't compare offseason fares to July, they aren't the same.

Hi mom,

You should see lower prices in Jan-Feb.

Thanks for the advice. I have gotten lucky in the past booking very early (that good March 2008 fare was booked 8 months in advance) but of course that is off season. I'll wait until after the holidays to start monitoring prices more closely for the summer, and be prepared for fares in the $1,100-$1,200 vicinity...and grab anything under $1,000 in a heartbeat!