The Best Deals to Europe Are Yet to Come
by Wendy Perrin
Today's the final day of a three-day British Airways sale on fares to London and other European cities, with prices starting at an advertised $396 between New York and London. Virgin Atlantic responded yesterday with its own counter offers, starting at an advertised $416.
If you've already read my November Perrin Report on how to snag affordable air fares, no need to read on. If you haven't, here's what you need to know about these come-ons we're seeing: Prices for transatlantic travel will most likely drop lower--perhaps even much lower--thanks to the downturn in business travel, overcapacity, and further reduction of fuel surcharges.
Of course, we all know that the ticket prices that airlines advertise and what they actually cost in the real world bear little relation to each other. After the jump, the actual cost of the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic tickets.
In addition to $396 roundtrips between New York and London, B.A. is advertising $478 fares between New York and other European cities (including Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Madrid, Munich, Nice, Prague, Rome, and Vienna), $518 between Boston and Madrid, $538 Miami-Vienna, $558 San Francisco-Madrid, $598 Dallas Fort Worth-Nice, etc. Virgin Atlantic is advertising fares of $416 for New York-London, $426 for Boston-London, etc.
Reality check: Once you add in all the taxes and fees, the fares look more like these prices, found yesterday on Kayak and Orbitz (for a relatively cheap midweek departure date of Tuesday, December 2, returning Tuesday, December 9):
British Airways:
New York-London: $545 on Kayak
Washington, D.C.-London: $555 on Kayak
Boston-Madrid: $738 on Orbitz
Miami-Vienna: $798 on Orbitz
San Francisco-Madrid: $684 on Kayak
Dallas Fort Worth-Nice: $878 on Kayak
Virgin Atlantic:
New York-London: $565 on Kayak
Boston-London: $661 on Kayak
etc.
The most interesting thing about these sales, in my opinion, is not the coach prices but the fares for premium economy. On B.A. it costs only $150 extra each way to upgrade. On Virgin it's about $200. This means you can fly in premium economy for less than many people paid to fly in coach last summer.
I'm curious: Would you buy a coach ticket to Europe this winter? Would you spend the extra $300 for B.A.'s premium economy? Would you splurge and spend the extra $400 for premium economy on Virgin? Would love to hear. Just click on "Comments." Thanks!
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I need coach airfare for next fall and have despaired that it would be 1,000+. I'll hold out for better fares now. And no, I want the lowest fare I can get -- $300 extra for premium seats (times 2) would buy a lot more fun once I'm in Europe (that I'm awake to enjoy).
-travelingmcmahans
Posted by: travelingmcmahans | November 13, 2008 at 11:25 AM
i'd probably pay for coach and spend the money on a better apartment where we're going. or, buy more things and send them home! :)
i can't blv fares are THAT cheap. my goodness.
Posted by: jessiev | November 13, 2008 at 11:39 AM
My husband and I travel to a lot of cool destinations by ourselves for Jet Set Life, but when it comes to Spring Break we're always looking for great ideas. A great trip to plan for a tween girl is a trip to Southern California (the home of Hannah Montana). We'll hit sprinkles cupcakes, take her on a studio tour, celebrity spot, ride bikes in Santa Monica blvd...the list is endless!
Posted by: kmurgatroyd | November 13, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Just scored tickets on BA as part of their 3-day sale for winter travel for $566.
Also used 15,000 pts + $136 to get a roundtrip from London to Stockholm.
$702 in total for travel from Baltimore to London to Stockholm and back with stopovers!
Lola
http://www.lemurworks.com/lola
Posted by: augustgreen | November 13, 2008 at 03:01 PM
altho interesting prospects... my travel this year is smack dab in holiday season. there are NEVER any breaks for that peak travel. the fares you are looking at are for NOW not xmas in Tuscany. We almost never take advantage of these tease sales... they aren't for the working stiff, but more for the student or retiree who can jump on short notice instead of the long term planning one needs to prep for Europe.
Posted by: deannadv | November 14, 2008 at 10:26 AM