Best Time to Buy Flight - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!



Go Back   TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards! > Backpacker College Student Travel Message Boards > Travel Transportation

Travel Transportation Airs, Trains, Buses, and Boats, what should I do ? What´s a Eurail Pass? How to rent a car abroad ? Is it safe to take the bus?

Raileurope.com: See Europe by train
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-16-2006, 12:10 PM   #1
RootBrewskies
Members
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 130
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to RootBrewskies
Cool

im looking to going to europe in may, around mid may and staying for 2 or 3 weeks. i was wondering when would be the best time to buy. im gonna be heading out of the east coast, nyc, philly, washington dc, pittsburgh are all options. ive found a flight for 409 r/t but i was hoping to find something under 400. i didnt know if i should be buying my ticket now or if you think sale flights will open up in march or april and i should wait.



also my girlfriend will be flying out at the same time but wont be coming back til june 30th or early july. what would you advise for those kinda dates too.


where we fly into europe isnt too important, dublin seems like the cheapest but i can make any city work.

thanks.
__________________
the world is a book, and those who don't travel only ever seen one page
RootBrewskies is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2006, 12:45 PM   #2
xanthuos
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New York, NY & The Road
Posts: 1,447
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to xanthuos Send a message via MSN to xanthuos Send a message via Yahoo to xanthuos
Default

It's VERY unlikely that you'll find anything sub-400 from here on out. Flights only get more expensive as you get closer to the summer, except for an occasional last-minute fare sale here or there. However, you never know IF those are going to happen, not to mention WHEN.

Right now, I can pull up a flight on Delta from JFK to DUB (NY to Dublin), leaving Wed May 17 and returning Thurs June 8 (about 3 weeks) for $415.30.

Important things to note from the fare rules:
-PERMITTED MON THROUGH THU ON EACH TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.
-PERMITTED 15MAY 06 THROUGH 15JUN 06 ON THE OUTBOUND TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.
-THE FARE COMPONENT MUST INCLUDE TRAVEL VIA EACH TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR ON ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: DL FLIGHT 98, DL FLIGHT 99, DL FLIGHT 112, DL FLIGHT 154, DL FLIGHT 155.
-RESERVATIONS FOR ALL SECTORS ARE REQUIRED AT LEAST 7 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE. TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 72 HOURS AFTER
RESERVATIONS ARE MADE OR AT LEAST 7 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE WHICHEVER IS EARLIER.
-TRAVEL FROM LAST STOPOVER MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN MIDNIGHT 1 MONTH AFTER DEPARTURE FROM FARE ORIGIN.
-TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/BEFORE 27 FEB 06

Basically, what all that says is...
You can leave Monday through Wednesday, between May 15 and Jun 15 on the outgoing flight. You can't stay longer than 30 days. You should buy your tickets on Feb 23rd at the latest.

Hope this helps.

It's actually much more difficult to try to search for travel for other people without EITHER specifics dates OR specific cities.
__________________
Regards,
Matthew
xanthuos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2006, 02:54 PM   #3
RootBrewskies
Members
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 130
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to RootBrewskies
Default

thanks. yea i know its hard without specific dates and such. i was just basically wondering if people knew if there are sales that usually spring up for May or if once all the winter sales that are going on are over, that sales end. anyway, as far as exact cities and stuff, i was just saying that im basically super flexible and can leave or fly into different cities based on cost. thanks for you help.
__________________
the world is a book, and those who don't travel only ever seen one page
RootBrewskies is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2006, 07:05 PM   #4
xanthuos
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New York, NY & The Road
Posts: 1,447
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to xanthuos Send a message via MSN to xanthuos Send a message via Yahoo to xanthuos
Default

To add, I found a flight for the girlfriend with a fare of $472.20.
The downside would be that she wouldn't be on the same outgoing flight as you.

JFK to DUB, Stops in LHR - Wed-Thur, May 17-18 - 6:12p-10:20a - 11h 8m
DUB to JFK, Stops in FRA - Mon, July 3 - 12:20p-7:15p - 11h 55m

The outgoing flights are on United & Aer Lingus, and the return flight is on Lufthansa.

Just suggestions...if you decide on specific dates, it may be easier to find cheaper fares. Others can chime in whether they think you'll find a return flight for under $400, but even during winter, I spent about $480 to fly two one-ways.

__________________
Regards,
Matthew
xanthuos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2006, 10:52 PM   #5
Slacker
TPunk Recognized
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 176
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Maybe some of you could help me find tickets??

Leaving Thurs, May 11 and returning Thurs, July 20.

Gotta leave outta DIA (Denver International) its the only airport close to me.

I can only find flights for like 700 - 800?
Slacker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2006, 12:24 AM   #6
xanthuos
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New York, NY & The Road
Posts: 1,447
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to xanthuos Send a message via MSN to xanthuos Send a message via Yahoo to xanthuos
Default

OK, you gave me the OUTGOING airport...how about the destination? :D
__________________
Regards,
Matthew
xanthuos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2006, 04:51 PM   #7
Slacker
TPunk Recognized
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 176
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally posted by xanthuos@Feb 17 2006, 12:24 AM
OK, you gave me the OUTGOING airport...how about the destination? :D
[snapback]103158[/snapback]
Lol howd i know i'd screw something up??

London, anywhere in london.
Slacker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2006, 04:57 PM   #8
xanthuos
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New York, NY & The Road
Posts: 1,447
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to xanthuos Send a message via MSN to xanthuos Send a message via Yahoo to xanthuos
Default

With those exact dates, there's not much help I can offer.

Best price I can find is $761 from Denver to Heathrow on bmi/United.

I DID find a fare for $724 on NWA but it's from Colorado Springs to Minneapolis to London Gatwick, so the cost savings are negligible when you consider getting to/from CS and Gatwich/Central London.

I've even tried looking at a low-cost carrier out of Denver to an airport that would have cheaper fares, but no luck as of yet.

You can try using Priceline's name-you-own price, and for that I would putting $300-$400 as your price (since after taxes and fees it would make the ticket $550 to $650-ish). It's unlikely that you'd get a ticket at that price, but it's worth a try for the first go-round since I don't think you'll get anything lower than the ~$700 we've found.
__________________
Regards,
Matthew
xanthuos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2006, 11:04 AM   #9
Slacker
TPunk Recognized
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 176
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Do you think its because of my "exact dates" that we cant find a better deal?

Thanks I really appreciate your help!
Slacker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2006, 12:20 PM   #10
xanthuos
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New York, NY & The Road
Posts: 1,447
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to xanthuos Send a message via MSN to xanthuos Send a message via Yahoo to xanthuos
Default

It's because of the dates (the summer is the most popular time in Europe, obviously)...and also because of your departing airport.
__________________
Regards,
Matthew
xanthuos is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply






Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
your best flight ever ..? mermaidnz Travel Stories 57 09-05-2010 05:44 PM
The next flight is booked omisan Europe: Western 29 03-06-2006 05:59 PM
Best Seat on the Flight noke_travel Travel Transportation 7 01-17-2006 07:16 PM
aus. to fiji flight beeltee Australia/NZ/S Pac. 0 12-30-2003 02:21 PM
My Flight Over... Canadian Dude Travel Transportation 2 11-02-2003 04:23 PM


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:43 AM.



 

Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.2.0 (Unregistered)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121