Plane tickets

[tmmalave]

Hi all,

I have been pricing everything (with 2011 prices) for the possibility of a Med cruise in 2012. Part of the exercise has been to see how much private tours would run for the seven ports (assuming a similar itinerary) so that I can compare with an ABD add on (which incidentally there are no prices for on the ABD site). What gave me true sticker shock was the price of plane tickets to Barcelona (I checked July 2011), especially this far out. My question is, how far in advance to people purchase tickets to Europe, in order to get a decent price? Right now they are pricing at over 1300 per person.

 

[jjb52]

I started looking at airfare as soon as I booked my ABD to Ireland (booked 10 months in advance). I live in the midwest and have a major airport an hour from me. I would have saved about $150 on my ticket if I'd booked when I started looking. I kept thinking the price would go down but it never did. It started to rise a little in April so I booked it-this was a little more than 2 months out and it continued to rise after I booked and never did go down. I ended up getting the best price flying Delta into JFK which I booked with FF miles and then Aer Lingus from JFK to Dublin. Total price if all booked cash was just under $1500. I flew late June (prime summer travel time and no deals to be found this year.) I also wanted direct flights. My previous ABD was to Germany in October-much better prices due to summer travel being done. If I do another trip like this I will go in May or in the Fall. Summer airfare was awful this year to Europe.

 

[sayhello]

I bought my tickets to Barcelona in February for my Med cruise in May 2010. (I only waited that long to be *sure* the ABD portion was happening. Since they'd never done them before, there was no way to know if they'd sell or not. They sure did!) The airfare did nothing but go up. It never went down below what I bought my ticket for.

Sayhello

 

[DisFan10]

Hi all,

I have been pricing everything (with 2011 prices) for the possibility of a Med cruise in 2012. Part of the exercise has been to see how much private tours would run for the seven ports (assuming a similar itinerary) so that I can compare with an ABD add on (which incidentally there are no prices for on the ABD site). What gave me true sticker shock was the price of plane tickets to Barcelona (I checked July 2011), especially this far out. My question is, how far in advance to people purchase tickets to Europe, in order to get a decent price? Right now they are pricing at over 1300 per person.

I purchased our airfare to London (for Cities of Knights & Lights this past June) about 9 months out because the price seemed fairly reasonable. As it turned out, the fare only continued to go up in the months since.

 

[tufbuf]

We are booked for our trips in June and August next year. I just kept scouting how much is the most decent price and the best itinerary. As soon as I found the price which I thought was good, I went for it. $1300+ for a RT ticket to Barcelona is excellent for me since we are coming all the way from the west. If you are near a city in the east with direct flights, then that might be steep for you.

The ABD add-on price per person last year was about 2700 on top of the DCL cost.

 

[sayhello]

The ABD add-on price per person last year was about 2700 on top of the DCL cost.

Actually, the price was $2399.

Sayhello

 

[mouthdoc]

I have a similar experience as the other posters. I went ahead and booked airfare to Italy (open jaw into Rome and out of Venice) 10 months in advance. Wow! Those prices! I booked through Orbitz - they had the same price as everywhere else I checked including the airlines themselves. They also have a low price guarantee where that guy in the hovercraft will bring you a check if the rates drop. I checked back a month later, thinking there might be a check in the mail. But the prices have only gone up, now more than $200 a ticket compared to what I paid... so, I recommend booking early!

 

[Sharkbyte]

The cost of airline tickets on the web are your best bet. There are airline specials that you can only get on the web. I always get my tickets asap when I book a trip but sometimes it's nice to wait because specials open up all the time.

 

[corky441]

Booking our ABD Italy trip tomorrow. The trip is next September, so I think I'll be doing some serious airline/flight research during the next few weeks

 

[sayhello]

Booking our ABD Italy trip tomorrow. The trip is next September, so I think I'll be doing some serious airline/flight research during the next few weeks

Congrats, corky441! Viva Italia or Bella Italia? Either one, you'll have a great time!

Sayhello

 

[corky441]

The Viva Italia adults only trip - Sept 22-30, 2011

 

[Mirthrindr2]

The Viva Italia adults only trip - Sept 22-30, 2011

Cool. See you in Sept. Corky, I just booked the Sept 20, 2011 Viva Italia yesterday! It was a surprise Christmas present to my wife, she had NO idea what so ever, it was totally out of the blue. Our first trip to Europe and our first ABD trip. 270 days to go.

Italy, stiamo arrivando!

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

We booked using air miles in September (for our June cruise). The taxes and airport fees still cost almost $1,200.00 total for the 3 of us. I am happy because we were able to book first class so I will be able to get some sleep (at almost 6 feet tall I need the extra room for my legs).

 

[corky441]

Cool. See you in Sept. Corky, I just booked the Sept 20, 2011 Viva Italia yesterday! It was a surprise Christmas present to my wife, she had NO idea what so ever, it was totally out of the blue. Our first trip to Europe and our first ABD trip. 270 days to go.

Italy, stiamo arrivando!

Sept 20th ??? according to ABD the trip begins the 22nd.

Is the 20th the day you're flying over to Europe?

My husband, Dino & I have never been to Europe either, but we were fortunate to be on the DISunplugged ABD trip this past April to Hollywood & Disneyland. If that is any indication of what this ABD trip is going to be, we are in for a wonderful experience. ABD & our guides were always a step ahead of us, we waited nor wanted for anything.

Glad to hear that another DISer is going to be on the trip too.
Pleased to meet you Jim I hope we get the chance to get to know each other better before the trip

 

[beachbunny]

I just booked my flights yesterday. I'm going to South Africa via London from Hawaii. I started watching the flights at the 11 month mark and all they've done is go up. In fact, right after I booked, my London to South Africa segment went up $200 per person. It seems like airfare goes up and down for U.S. flights, but flights to Europe and further abroad just seem to go up and up and up.

 

[Mirthrindr2]

Sept 20th ??? according to ABD the trip begins the 22nd.

Is the 20th the day you're flying over to Europe?
...
Glad to hear that another DISer is going to be on the trip too.
Pleased to meet you Jim I hope we get the chance to get to know each other better before the trip

The pleasure is all mine Marilee.

Oops, sorry I meant to say 9/22. We are considering a 3 night POST stay back in Tuscany region, but no Pre stay so we're planning on arriving the morning of the 22nd.

Yes in deed, I'm sure we'll talk some more by the time Sept. 22 rolls around, there's so many exciting things to talk about between now and then!

I so don't want to rush the beautiful 2011 spring and summer by in a hurry but oh how I cannot wait for next Sept. to get here!!!

Jim

 

[corky441]

The pleasure is all mine Marilee.

Oops, sorry I meant to say 9/22. We are considering a 3 night POST stay back in Tuscany region, but no Pre stay so we're planning on arriving the morning of the 22nd.Yes in deed, I'm sure we'll talk some more by the time Sept. 22 rolls around, there's so many exciting things to talk about between now and then!

I so don't want to rush the beautiful 2011 spring and summer by in a hurry but oh how I cannot wait for next Sept. to get here!!!

Jim

My husband and I plan on arriving then also. I've been playing around with diffferent flight combinations, but it looks like our best prospects are going to be flying in and out of JFK in New York. Now if only I could get the cost down, it's just crazy right now. Hopefully after the first of the year I'll see some better pricing.

We're going to do just one extra night POST trip in Venice. We're already booked thru ABD to stay at the same hotel - that way we'll still get our airport transfers to Marco Polo airport and breakfast rolled into the cost.
By the time I priced what everything would cost on our own for that day, it was almost the same as what ABD was charging. The peace of mind is worth it in the end

I see that you and your wife live in Celebration, how wonderful
Which airport will you be flying in and out of?

I certainly don't want to rush Spring/Summer either. Here in the Northeast, we love every minute of that beautiful weather. Besides, we have a 7 night cruise planned for early May and I can get my "planning" fix for that first