I'm tracking airfares for late May, and I thought that they would go down after the New Year, but they've actually risen since before Christmas. (I'm tracking Paris specifically.) Is now the time to buy--will they get higher? Or is there likely to be a sale? (I usually don't even think about buying this early, but I seem to be more anxious about fares than usual...)

You may catch some last minute deals but typically cheaper flights to Europe will end around March or beginning of April. Once Spring arrives, the prices go up. Not sure where you are flying from, but anything under $500 for that time frame I would consider a good buy @ this point. You may want to try Iceland Air if you don't mind a stopover there.

Flying from Atlanta. Lowest I found was $890.

Hi D,

www.mobissimo.com has ATL/CDG in late May, one-stop for $700.

So does www.kayak.com

Kayak has a nonstop for $875.

You might google '1800flyeurope'.
I have never used them but I just got $700 (all inclusive) Atlanta to CDG for late May.

Day of week is important (of course).

I went to one of those 'economists talks' this morning. The economist said that fuel increases alone have raised the airlines expenses by 20% (fuel costs have tripled).

Based on this, airfares at prices similar to two years ago will be darn hard to find.

Definitely check out 1800FlyEurope. If you're nervous about booking online without knowing the specific airline or being able to select seats, just phone, they'll tell you the airline and book your seats. The phone reps could not be more pleasant, knowledgeable, and accomodating. Also, you are not confirmed (or charged) until you receive an e-mail a few minutes later and reply (giving you time to deliberate and double check all the details once again).

I had fabulous luck with them for Boston-Paris in May ($631, non-stop, convenient times), but this was back in November, many thanks to a post here on Fodor's (and I haven't previously booked that early either). I've seen nothing whatsoever lower since.

In my experience, it's best to start shopping as soon as you know you're going. Fares are more likely to rise than fall, and those "airfare sales" and "cheap seats" seem to truly be a thing of the past. Nowadays, all promotions start with "as low as" and fares on your dates from your city are several times higher.

Keep in mind that the airlines have way scaled back the number of flights, especially direct flights. So, if you wait too long, you're lucky to get any seat at all at a convenient time, or even a cheap seat at an inconvenient time with connections.

DejaVu Hi! Go onto the airfrance website asap. They are having a sale and I think it might be finishing today.

Any time in May looks like $674.90 and that is including taxes! From New York, Im not sure where you are coming from.

Thats a great price and direct I think.

Good Luck. Anne

by the way, they have NY - Paris direct for $160 each way!

Valentines Day anybody???

Thanks for these tips, everybody. I've never used (or heard of) mobissimo.com or 1800flyeurope before. I'll check them out.