You have been very helpful in the past and I absolutely love your show.
We are planning to fly into Rome last week of August into Labor Day. Last month the fares came down to a stunning $780 (Continental) . Unfortunately I was not ready to buy at that time. The fares are now back up to $958. Do you think they will go down again, or do you think I should buy now?
Thanks for your help.
Monica Puri Bangia
Hi Monica,
Thanks for your kind message. I wish I had a more definitive answer for you, but airfares are totally wacky right now, and I really don't have any idea which way they'll be going. Traditionally, you wouldn't see a drop in August airfares going into summer, but this year, you just may. It really depends on how severe the drop off in international travel is this summer and consequently how desperate the airlines get.
Some suggestions for you:
1) Eurofly has been offering some very good prices into Italy, and my beat the fares you've been quoting. You may wish to look at what it's offering for August.
2) You might be able to find a deal into London and then hop one of the low-cost "Intra-European" carriers from there (for their prices, go to www.wegolo.com). The downside (and it can be a big one): you may have to switch airports, which can be not only inconvenient but also expensive, as the airports where the majority of intra-European flights originate from is nowhere near Heathrow (where most transAtlantic flights land). Still, if you find a great airfare into London--and it is always the cheapest gateway to get to from the US--it might be worth your while. Crunch all the numbers first, before committing.
3) You might consider booking now (book on a Tuesday or Wednesday; most airfare sales hit on Mondays and it's on Tuesdays and Wednesdays that airfare wars erupt lowering prices). Then after you book, register your flight with www.yapta.com. It will let you know if prices on your flight drop. If the drop is steep enough, you might be able to get some money back on your ticket (even with the hefty change fees you'll incurr).
4) Look at air/hotel packages. If you're staying in Rome for your entire trip, this might be the most cost-effective way to go. If you're planning on traveling around Italy, ignore this advice. Good sources for low cost packages to Rome include: Gate1Travel.com, GoToday.com and VirginVacations.com
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