high euro vs. $USD = lower airfare?

"Felix" wrote in message

 > Hey folks,
 >
 > I'm planning a trip to Portugal this summer (end of July through
 > Mid-Late Aug) out of Dallas and am wondering if the high Euro will
 > decrease the airfare rates. When I go to Europe, I usually book about
 > 2-3 months in advance, but this year, with the unusually high Euro, I'm
 > wondering if airfare prices will drop as less Americans travel abroad?
 > Should I hold off buying the tickets and wait until the summer months
 > roll around? Thoughts?
 >
 > Felix
 >

The Euro isn't high. It is the US Dollar which is sick. This will remain
so until/unless the USA does something about it's deficit.

JohnT
 >> Stay informed about: high euro vs. $USD = lower airfare? 

"Felix" wrote in message

 > Hey folks,
 >
 > I'm planning a trip to Portugal this summer (end of July through
 > Mid-Late Aug) out of Dallas and am wondering if the high Euro will
 > decrease the airfare rates. When I go to Europe, I usually book about
 > 2-3 months in advance, but this year, with the unusually high Euro, I'm
 > wondering if airfare prices will drop as less Americans travel abroad?

From what I've seen from shopping around, NO, quite the opposite really.
IME, Airfare to Europe is more expensive now than it was when the Euro/$ was
at parity.

 > Should I hold off buying the tickets and wait until the summer months
 > roll around? Thoughts?

I don't really think there's a method to the madness. The way I generally
shop for tickets is that I have a target price in mind first which comes
from the "average" price I've seen in the past. Then I keep checking until
I get acceptably close to that number, and pull the trigger. I checked a
couple sites, and it looks like Dallas - Lisbon RT off-peak is about $500,
and during peak months, $700+. These are before taxes/fees. People could
argue when exactly peak times are, but I'm betting August falls in there
someplace.

I'm travelling from the East coast, slightly different market, but if I can
get to Europe for under $400 RT, I'm happy(this doesn't happen often). I
would say average is about $500-$600. The most I've ever paid has been
about $1200 / ticket, but this was flying into one city, and flying out of
another. Expensive, but it saved a day's drive, a hotel stay, the trouble
associated, and this was during peak season. We travel more and more
off-peak, on the so-called shoulder-season. The crowds are a lot smaller,
the weather cooler, hotels are more flexible on the prices, no trouble
getting reservations, etc.

Some airlines will do a partial refund, or give you a credit certificate
towards future travel, if you find a lower price on exactly the same flight.
I had a domestic flight that cost $450 via USAirways two months before the
flight, and dropped to $300 about 2-3 weeks before the flight. A quick
phone call to the airline and I ended up with a credit of $150.

 >
 > Felix
 >

Keith M
Pittsburgh
 >> Stay informed about: high euro vs. $USD = lower airfare? 

Felix wrote:

 > Hey folks,
 >
 > I'm planning a trip to Portugal this summer (end of July through
 > Mid-Late Aug) out of Dallas and am wondering if the high Euro will
 > decrease the airfare rates. When I go to Europe, I usually book about
 > 2-3 months in advance, but this year, with the unusually high Euro, I'm
 > wondering if airfare prices will drop as less Americans travel abroad?
 > Should I hold off buying the tickets and wait until the summer months
 > roll around? Thoughts?

Given the increased costs to the airlines of almost
everything, I suspect fares are much more likely to increase
than decrease - especially during "peak" season. BTW, what
gives you the idea fewer Americans are traveling abroad?
Most of the flights I've been on recently were pretty well
filled!
 >> Stay informed about: high euro vs. $USD = lower airfare? 

"JohnT" wrote in message

 >


  > > Hey folks,
  > >
  > > I'm planning a trip to Portugal this summer (end of July through
  > > Mid-Late Aug) out of Dallas and am wondering if the high Euro will
  > > decrease the airfare rates. When I go to Europe, I usually book about
  > > 2-3 months in advance, but this year, with the unusually high Euro, I'm
  > > wondering if airfare prices will drop as less Americans travel abroad?
  > > Should I hold off buying the tickets and wait until the summer months
  > > roll around? Thoughts?
  > >
  > > Felix
  > >
 >
 > The Euro isn't high. It is the US Dollar which is sick. This will remain
 > so until/unless the USA does something about it's deficit.

It's got bush fever.
 >> Stay informed about: high euro vs. $USD = lower airfare?