Ideas for best airfare to Barcelona Summer 2013 - The DIS Discussion Forums

jnweinmann · 12-27-2012, 09:45 PM

We will be on the July 25th 2013 sailing on the Magic out of Barcelona

Was just wondering if anyone had any ideas of when to start looking for the best airfare.

I have been watching the American Airlines web site and find the fares to be in excess of $1300.

Is there a good time to buy.

jel0511 · 12-27-2012, 09:51 PM

We are on the 6/27 sailing and I bought my air back in August when it was first released. I paid just over 1000pp. We are flying from PHL. I paid just as much in 2010 so I was happy with it. So far the fare has only gone up from when I booked. Good luck! My advice to you, pick a price, if you see it book.

bibbidibobbidibecky · 12-27-2012, 10:02 PM

When flying internationally I tend to buy 8-12 weeks out. The airfare probably won't drop much from $1300 but if you're lucky and are flexible on where you fly out of you could find it for closer to $1,000. Fact is, flying overseas is expensive and July is one of the most expensive months.

Use kayak.com...search several cities and set up an airfare alert. Also, sales come out on Tuesday, so check first thing on Tuesdays. And Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the best days to fly international, so if you can fly on one of these days, it will help.

Good luck! I check daily for June and so far it's been the same since last July

In 2011 we paid $1100 per person from Chicago and bought them two months out.

I hope this helps--some!!

PrincessShmoo · 12-27-2012, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnweinmann

We will be on the July 25th 2013 sailing on the Magic out of Barcelona

Was just wondering if anyone had any ideas of when to start looking for the best airfare.

I have been watching the American Airlines web site and find the fares to be in excess of $1300.

Is there a good time to buy.

We just went with DCL air when we made the reservation. That way we could cancel it if we found lower rates later. As it turned out, we never found fares that were low enough for us to cancel it. Also, using the DCL air, if there were a problem and we didn't make it to the ship for embarkation, they would have to get us to the ship at the next available port. If we purchased our own airfare, and missed the ship, it would have been up to us to find a way to the next port.

Luv2Diz · 12-27-2012, 11:44 PM

International airfare is ridiculous. It is a major obstacle to us booking the TA cruise from Galveston to Barcelona. Last I checked it was $1,500 for us.

Four Swampers · 12-27-2012, 11:50 PM

I think the other posters are quite correct. Let me throw in this tangential suggestion: plan to arrive a day or two early in Barcelona. If there is a problem with your flight, getting delayed a day won't destroy your cruise. Also, Barcelona is one of the best ports in the Med: well worth your time. I posted a thread about our experience with DCL in the Med in 2010; try searching for Disney Mediterranean, our way.

kcashner · 12-28-2012, 01:54 AM

Definitely fly in a day or two early. If nothing else, you'll be able to reset your biological clock so that you can enjoy the first day or two on the ship.

woody73 · 12-28-2012, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnweinmann

I have been watching the American Airlines web site and find the fares to be in excess of $1300. Is there a good time to buy.

$1300 might be high or low, depending from where you're flying.

Woody

bfc2406 · 12-28-2012, 03:06 AM

Flying indirect we always find keeps the cost well down for us from the UK. Like a previous poster said, it's good to fly the day before and stay at a hotel with port shuttle service. That way you can get peace of mind about making it on time, plus get an indirect flight, which although takes a little longer, keeps the costings down.

bibbidibobbidibecky · 12-28-2012, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcashner

Definitely fly in a day or two early. If nothing else, you'll be able to reset your biological clock so that you can enjoy the first day or two on the ship.

Absolutely! We were flying with American Airlines to Barcelona and had to be rerouted back to Gander, Newfoundland on our way over (we were already out over the ocean) for a hydraulic leak. We had to stay the night in Canada and if we didn't give ourselves a two-day cushion we would have missed the boat. As it was we missed an entire day in Barcelona but it all worked out in the end. I'm pretty sure if you use DCL air you cannot choose to fly in early, but maybe I'm wrong about that.

heatherbelle · 12-28-2012, 10:06 AM

Welcome to our world, when us Brits want to fly to the US the airfare costs a bomb. VA are charging £1200 yes that's a pound Stirling sign not US dollars to fly to the US.

So I think $1200 is reasonable.

Try looking on Orbiz.com, set up alerts on Kayak. Also KLM/ airfrance let you have free stop overs in major cities, like Amsterdam, Paris and I think London, so that might be worth considering, although there will then be extra expenses on hotels.

Also have you priced flying into LHR on one carrier and then flying out o BCN on a budget airline? Make sure you fly out from LHR. London has more than one airport and they are a long way away from each other and not easy to get to, from one to the other.

Budget airlines here in the UK are Jet2, Ryanair, easyjet. Watch the luggage allowance.

Have you any air miles to cash in? That might cut costs.

Good luck and I hope you find a bargain.
From the UK airfare to BCN for the three of us is around $1000.

Candy Apple · 12-28-2012, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bibbidibobbidibecky

Absolutely! We were flying with American Airlines to Barcelona and had to be rerouted back to Gander, Newfoundland on our way over (we were already out over the ocean) for a hydraulic leak. We had to stay the night in Canada and if we didn't give ourselves a two-day cushion we would have missed the boat. As it was we missed an entire day in Barcelona but it all worked out in the end. I'm pretty sure if you use DCL air you cannot choose to fly in early, but maybe I'm wrong about that.

Yes, you are mistaken about that. We are going through DCL air for our June Med cruise. We are arriving one day early and staying 2 days after. We are using their hotels, so maybe that is the only way it works. I'm not sure.

lmcarr · 01-19-2013, 10:45 AM

we were lucky and snagged airfare from Orlando for 832pp!

just booked it last weekend.

pillow · 01-19-2013, 10:57 AM

Check Iberia airlines. They tend to be a little less.

Jodie

LeslieG · 01-19-2013, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmcarr

we were lucky and snagged airfare from Orlando for 832pp!

just booked it last weekend.

Can you give details; airline, connections? Thanks.

12-27-2012, 09:45 PM	#1
jnweinmann Earning My Ears Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 41	Ideas for best airfare to Barcelona Summer 2013 We will be on the July 25th 2013 sailing on the Magic out of Barcelona Was just wondering if anyone had any ideas of when to start looking for the best airfare.I have been watching the American Airlines web site and find the fares to be in excess of $1300.Is there a good time to buy. __________________

12-27-2012, 09:51 PM	#2
jel0511 DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 9,170	We are on the 6/27 sailing and I bought my air back in August when it was first released. I paid just over 1000pp. We are flying from PHL. I paid just as much in 2010 so I was happy with it. So far the fare has only gone up from when I booked. Good luck! My advice to you, pick a price, if you see it book. __________________ DVC Owner VWL BWV SSR Cont 6/93 Poly 9/96 ASMo 8/00 DVC Member 6/01 VWL 8/01 Poly Concierge 12/01 GF RPC - YC - VWL 7/02 Disney Wonder 11/03/02 AKL Concierge-VWL 2/03 Poly-BCV 7/03 GF-BWV 7/04 Disney Magic 11/06/04 Grand Californian Concierge - Disney Magic 7/09/05 BWV - VWL 4/06 POP 08/06 SSR 11/06 SSR 3/07 AKV 3/08 BWV 12/08 HRH-Disney Magic 8/29/09 BLT 3/10 10 night Med Magic 8/18/10 AKV - Disney Dream 4/17/11 Alaskan Wonder 8/23/11 SSR - Disney Fantasy Inaugural Sailing 3/31/12 GCV - Aulani 7/12 VWL 3/13 Disney MAGICal Med to Venice 6/27/13 BWV 10/13 SSR 4/14

12-27-2012, 10:02 PM	#3
bibbidibobbidibecky DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,648	When flying internationally I tend to buy 8-12 weeks out. The airfare probably won't drop much from $1300 but if you're lucky and are flexible on where you fly out of you could find it for closer to $1,000. Fact is, flying overseas is expensive and July is one of the most expensive months. Use kayak.com...search several cities and set up an airfare alert. Also, sales come out on Tuesday, so check first thing on Tuesdays. And Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the best days to fly international, so if you can fly on one of these days, it will help. Good luck! I check daily for June and so far it's been the same since last July In 2011 we paid $1100 per person from Chicago and bought them two months out. I hope this helps--some!! __________________ Me , DH , DS (9) , DD (7) , DD (5) DCL 2011 Med trip report and WDW info: http://thefairygodblogger.blogspot.c...1_archive.html DCL: 2011 11-night Med, 2009 4-night Wonder. WDW: 2012 Oct., 2011 Oct., 2010 Oct., 2009 Dec., 2008 Oct., 2008 May, 2006 Oct., 1997 April, 1996 April, 1993 Feb., 1992 Feb., 1980s various trips, 1977 First trip. DL California: July 2012

12-27-2012, 11:44 PM	#5
Luv2Diz We love the Wonder and Magic of Disney cruising! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Great Northwest Posts: 937	International airfare is ridiculous. It is a major obstacle to us booking the TA cruise from Galveston to Barcelona. Last I checked it was $1,500 for us. __________________ DL 1969, DL 1971, DL 1972, DL 1996. WDW 1974 Offsite, 1977 Offsite, 1981 Offsite, 1985 Offsite, 1988Offsite, Sept. 2005 Shades of Green, Sept. 2008 SOG, Sept. 2009 POR, January 2010 POR, Sept. 2011 POR, Wonder Alaska 8/27/12, Magic W. Caribbean 12/1/12, Magic Bahamas 5/10/13

12-27-2012, 11:50 PM	#6
Four Swampers Picture is Disney Wonder at Cabo San Lucas Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 309	I think the other posters are quite correct. Let me throw in this tangential suggestion: plan to arrive a day or two early in Barcelona. If there is a problem with your flight, getting delayed a day won't destroy your cruise. Also, Barcelona is one of the best ports in the Med: well worth your time. I posted a thread about our experience with DCL in the Med in 2010; try searching for Disney Mediterranean, our way. __________________ Disney Wonder 11/19/09 Bahamas // Disney Magic 08/07/10 Mediterranean // Disney Wonder 03/27/11 Mexican Riviera Disney Dream 11/17/11 Bahamas // Disney Fantasy 03/31/12 Maiden Voyage Disney Wonder 06/11/12 Alaska // Disney Wonder 09/10/12 Vancouver to LA

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12-28-2012, 01:54 AM	#7
kcashner DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 33,275	Definitely fly in a day or two early. If nothing else, you'll be able to reset your biological clock so that you can enjoy the first day or two on the ship.

12-28-2012, 03:06 AM	#9
bfc2406 Earning My Ears Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Blackpool, England Posts: 54	Flying indirect we always find keeps the cost well down for us from the UK. Like a previous poster said, it's good to fly the day before and stay at a hotel with port shuttle service. That way you can get peace of mind about making it on time, plus get an indirect flight, which although takes a little longer, keeps the costings down.

12-28-2012, 10:06 AM	#11
heatherbelle DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: W.Yorks, UK Posts: 1,250	Welcome to our world, when us Brits want to fly to the US the airfare costs a bomb. VA are charging £1200 yes that's a pound Stirling sign not US dollars to fly to the US. So I think $1200 is reasonable. Try looking on Orbiz.com, set up alerts on Kayak. Also KLM/ airfrance let you have free stop overs in major cities, like Amsterdam, Paris and I think London, so that might be worth considering, although there will then be extra expenses on hotels. Also have you priced flying into LHR on one carrier and then flying out o BCN on a budget airline? Make sure you fly out from LHR. London has more than one airport and they are a long way away from each other and not easy to get to, from one to the other. Budget airlines here in the UK are Jet2, Ryanair, easyjet. Watch the luggage allowance. Have you any air miles to cash in? That might cut costs. Good luck and I hope you find a bargain. From the UK airfare to BCN for the three of us is around $1000. __________________ 2005 - WDW -Off site LBV, 2006 WDW Regal Palms, 2007 - WDW Regal Palms, 2008 - Disney Old Key West, 2009 - Disneyland LA/SD, 2010 Yacht Club, 2011 Med Disney Cruise. 2012 Yacht Club again! 2013 - Carnival Sunshine Med .

01-19-2013, 10:45 AM	#13
lmcarr Earning My Ears Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ga Posts: 64	we were lucky and snagged airfare from Orlando for 832pp! just booked it last weekend.

01-19-2013, 10:57 AM	#14
pillow DIS Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,600	Check Iberia airlines. They tend to be a little less. Jodie

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