“BOOK now or play the waiting game? That’s what a lot of travelers planning a trip to Europe this summer are asking themselves as they watch the price cutting that has gone on among the major airlines this spring, yielding some pretty sweet deals for bargain hunters.
In recent weeks, travelers have been able to find nonstop round-trip flights, including taxes and fees, for $477 from Chicago to Madrid for travel in April, $312 from Newark, N.J., to Dublin in May, and $482 from Washington to London in early June.
But even though some summer fares look attractive compared with last year’s prices – about 20 percent less on average from June through August, according to Farecast.com, which tracks airfares – they are still considerably higher than those that were being offered this spring. (For instance, that Chicago to Madrid flight would now cost about $1,019 if you were looking to travel in mid-July.)
So here’s where the waiting game comes in: Will airlines go through another round of price cutting as summer nears, providing great deals for those who held off buying their tickets? Or are the relatively low summer fares being offered right now the best that travelers are going to see – especially as the stronger dollar has made Europe a more attractive option for many travelers, thus increasing the potential for fuller planes?
In recent years, that was almost never a calculation that travelers had to make. The rule of thumb was book early, book cheap.
But a look back at this past Christmas-New Year’s travel period – like summer, a time when airfares typically jump – is instructive. Many travelers found that if they waited until shortly before they flew, they were sometimes able to score considerably lower airfares than if they had booked well in advance, as airlines started cutting prices as the holidays neared and they realized a lot of seats had gone unsold.
Will summer offer a repeat of that trend? “It’s an important question given the current economy,” said Steve Danishek, a Seattle-based travel agent, who has been getting asked more frequently by clients if they should book now or wait.
His advice: “If they have firm dates – a bargain cruise in Europe with specific dates – book now because fares are very reasonable. A lower fare may occur in a week or two but may not be on dates they need.”
Of course, those who don’t want to gamble will find plenty of reason to book now. Lower fares traditionally found in the quieter shoulder seasons of May and September have already been creeping into June and August, according to Farecast.com. For example, travelers have been able to find fares between Boston and Madrid in early June for $561 compared with $840 a year ago, or New York and Paris the first week in August for $480.
And some deals have begun to pop up even for the peak month of July. Earlier this month, Air France was offering flights from New York to Zurich with a stop in Paris for $483 round trip, including taxes, on nearly every day in July, for example. And American is offering round-trip fares between London and New York starting at $707 round trip; last year at this time, that same fare would have been around $1,000.
Even better deals are being found in the front of the plane. Business-class fares to Europe, which normally run from $4,000 to $10,000 round-trip when demand is high, have been falling as corporate travel has slowed and companies have asked their employees to trade down to cheaper seats in coach.
American, for example, has been running a summer business-class sale to Europe, making it possible for a traveler to fly from New York to London in late June in coach and return in business class in July for $1,677 round trip, including taxes and fees. (That compares with $797.30 for a discounted coach seat in both directions – but you also earn 863 extra miles for flying business.)
Continental, British Airways and Delta have also been offering attractive business-class fares aimed at leisure travelers who can book well in advance, like $1,894 from Newark to Amsterdam and $1,998 from Cleveland to London. (Keep in mind that these fares usually come with more booking restrictions than a standard business-class fare.)
For those deciding on whether to book now or hold off, the timing of their trip might be a key consideration. Rick Seaney, chief executive of Farecompare.com, which tracks ticket prices, recommended booking now for trips to Europe in May or early June but holding off for flights later this summer.” (via mobile.nytimes.com ) by MICHELLE HIGGINS
Pointswizard.com Spin: There’s more to read about- Airfare Debate: Buy Now or Wait?
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