Continental From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 5476 posts, RR: 21 Posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 3866 times:
This thread was supposed to be transferred to this forum from the civil av forum but was deleted along the way.
So, as I said in the previous thread, I'm looking at flights from MSP-VCE that are around $1,700 r/t in July, while I paid around $1,100 (friends paid $800) the same time last year.
Some have mentioned the reduced capacity this year as a cause for the price increase. How much is capacity down?
Others have mentioned that we shall no longer see many sub-$700 flights US-Europe.
Having flown to Europe several times since 1998, this is the first year for me that the prices are so high. I really hope they come down a bit from $1,700. Prices even to larger cities (FRA, MUC, VIE, CDG) seem very expensive.
B747forever From United States of America, joined May 2007, 16574 posts, RR: 11 Reply 1, posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3839 times:
I do believe they are more epensive this year. Last year I book a $600 ticket from ARN to LAX and back, but this year the cheapest I can find is about $900.
Continental From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 5476 posts, RR: 21 Reply 2, posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 3815 times:
Quoting B747forever (Reply 1): I book a $600 ticket from ARN to LAX and back, but this year the cheapest I can find is about $900.
WTF? So is LAX notably cheap to Europe? I'd kill for a MSP-Europe flight for that price, even if it had 17 connections.
PI4EVER From United States of America, joined May 2009, 599 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 3784 times:
I've been researching Europe fares for months for several clients, and there is no doubt the lower fares from last year will not repeat for this year. It is rare to find fares less than $1000 for Europe travel in May and June.
Continental/John. July to VCE is absoulute drop dead peak season so no doubt that $1500--1700 fare range will hold. While last year I found fares of $500 to CDG and LHR on DL/AF and $600 to AMS on DL/KL/LH, this year the fares start at best at $1000.00. SkyTeam carriers in general and KL specifically have priced high and hold at relatively high levels. Advance bookings appear to be strong for the May-Sept peak season period.
Another factor is that Europe cruise bookings have been priced lower for this season, pumping up demand (VCE is a big summer cruise port) to BCN, FCO, VCE, LHR, AMS and MAD. Cruise lines move as many as 15,000 passengers a week between the US and Europeann cruiseports alone during peak season.
The only reductions I've found? Surprisingly, BA for Premium cabin bookings. A Club World ticket for May prices at about $3300 compared to $4500 for others, and not far off their own Premium Economy prices. I recently booked a MCO-LGW/LHR-SIN-SYD RT on BA/QF in Club World that was $3900 cheaper than DL to SYD via ATL and LAX! Is BA enhancing their pricing policies due to the labor unrest/strike? Not sure - a bit obvious - because traditionally THEY DON"T GIVE AWAY PREMIUM SEATS.
So Continental/John. Keep looking and searching. Consider a nearby city and train add-on to VCE. You might find that elusive $1000 ticket somewhere....at one time US had the lowest fares to just about everywhere in Europe, but not so much now for travel in May and onward. Earlier AA also offered some good fares if you avoid the Fri-Sun travel period, but alas their fares have trended up as of late. Keep in mind John...the LAX market is of no comparison to MSP so even with 17 connections you'll likely not see fare deals in MSP that match LAX or other big markets. Supply and demand obviously.
Most of my clients have begun to change plans. Several to SYD have held, but regrettably at the expense of DL who lost business to UA, QF and NZ. Several cancelled big ticket trips/cruises to Europe but Hawaii and Alaska has held up, and some new business to the Caribbean. YVR a popular new summer choice thanks to the Olympics but flying on cheaper tickets to SEA.
I suspect the low cheap tickets to Euope are done......except the typically off peak period/1st quarter of each year.
Continental/John. Good Luck with your trip plans,
Thomas
shamrock604 From Ireland, joined Sep 2007, 4039 posts, RR: 13 Reply 4, posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 3734 times:
Quoting B747forever (Reply 1): I do believe they are more epensive this year. Last year I book a $600 ticket from ARN to LAX and back, but this year the cheapest I can find is about $900.
They definitely are! I'd noticed that across many carriers. I just did a search on aerlingus.com for MSP-ORD-DUB-VCE, and you are talking over $2500...... and EI are generally one of the bargain carriers!
Flown EI,FR,RE,EIR,VE,SI,TLA,BA,BE,BD,VX,MON,AF,YS,WX,KL,SK,LH,OK,OS,LX,IB,LTU,HLX,4U,SU,CO,DL,UA,AC,PR,MH,SQ,QF, EY, EK
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