Cheap Seats?

With the end in summer in sight and the economy sluggish, at best - it looks like the airlines are beginning their "Traditional Fall Sales" earlier this year. Industry experts suggest that carriers may remove their travel surcharges they add onto summer fares sooner. The deals they are offering are lasting longer. For example, instead of a carrier offering the sale for a 7 day selling period, they may look to 10 days - all good news for the consumer. Carriers want to "romance" flyers who may be reluctant to open their pocketbook while the economy is not robust. Analysts suggest that fares will be down 10-20% over summer levels. Sounds like great news!

Tags: airline, fall, fares, summer

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Comment by Alice Swan on August 2, 2012 at 11:22am: Would this apply to overseas flights? What are the best sights for checking fares - do you recommend the airline sights or sites like Orbitz?

Comment by Lisa Allen on August 2, 2012 at 5:25pm: Hi Alica. Generally speaking yes but if you told me more specifics ie what country you want to visit and what month, I could better talk about it.

Personally I prefer the airline sites gor a few reasons...
- most carriers dont practice an on-line agency - Orbitz, Priceline etc. To undercut their site because there is a distribution cost.
- I am very comfortable navigating the airline websites. Having worked in pricing and revenue management for a number of years in the airline industry ( where fares are set and number of seats sold at a specific fare are allocated), I have a very good understanding of "how to buy." let me know what country and what month and what area u want to leave from NYC or DC or Miami, etc and I will try to point you in the best direction.

Comment by Alice Swan on August 2, 2012 at 6:02pm: We are planning a trip to Germany in December to visit our son. We have been looking but appreciate any tips.

Comment by Lisa Allen on August 7, 2012 at 5:15pm: Hi Alice. Deecmber can be steeply discounted or very high due the holiday. Likely the fares will be premium priced starting o/a Dec 14 stright up til Christmas. Flying on Xmas Eve or Xmas Day will likely be cheaper. A connection rather than non-stop on Lufthansa might also lower the fare. Another option is to just get to Europe the least expensive way possible to a city that is service by EasyJet or Ryan Air and buy two tickets. US to Europe and then Europe to Europe. You would have to claim you bags at the entrance point and transfer them yourselves. We have done this on occassion. I would wait til after Labor Day since carriers tend to put "Europe On Sale" for the winter about that time.

Cheap Seats?

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