airfare in august to rome?

[subwaysigns]

hey folks...got a great military price for a 12 nighter aboard the Liberty in August, leaving Rome. But the airfare is "killing" me. I'm leaving NYC and average fare is around $1000 r/t. any suggestions?

[Hootsie]

We spent $980 each (five in our family) from Helena, Montana to Oahu, Hawaii over Christmas. I think it will only go up from here on out. They were just saying gas prices will top $4 a gallon this summer.

[elaineb]

We are going to Italy for our 30th in a couple of weeks. We bought our airfare in October as we were told that air to Europe needs to be booked at least 6 months in advance for a cheaper rate. We got $875 per person with Air France and will have a stopover in Paris (CDG). Just did a quick search and looks as if air would be cheaper for you from Newark. August is the peak time for Europe, and with the gas prices skyrocketing, you probably won't do better than $1000.00. My son is flying in August and his ticket is $1200!!! Try to go directly to the Air France website or British Airways. It won't be a direct flight, but it may be cheaper for you.

[Ms Belvedere]

In today's Washington Post "Coming and Going" column they say this about the price of air in general:

 

COMING AND GOING

Summer Airfares: To Buy or Not to Buy

Sunday, April 30, 2006; P01

 

UPRIGHT AND LOCKED

Summer Airfares: To Buy or Not to Buy?

 

Given the generally high airfares for summer travel, should you wait to buy tickets, gambling in hope of a deal?

 

"You can always hope, but you'd have better odds playing the black and red at Vegas ," says Tom Parsons of BestFares.com. Adds analyst Darryl Jenkins: "Fares are high, and they're going to stay high for some time ."

Record numbers of air travelers are predicted for July and demand is high throughout the summer. That, coupled with exorbitant fuel costs , means premium prices at least through Labor Day -- and possibly more price hikes.

 

Prices to Europe are high all summer, but you might save a couple of hundred dollars by going after July 18, says Parsons.

 

Click here for article.

 

Good luck in your search for a lower rate, at least you got a good price on the cruise itself! :)

 

Ms B

[big_duck]

Don't rule out Carnival air. Depending on the circumstances they sometimes work out cheaper. When calculating the difference remember Carnival includes transfers to/from the ship.

[deb1835]

We booked in Feb. for May - we paid $893 BDL to EWR then nonstop EWR to FCO. We definitely thought this was a great price considering we got the non-stop from New Jersey to Rome. We booked this through Orbitz.

[greatam]

hey folks...got a great military price for a 12 nighter aboard the Liberty in August, leaving Rome. But the airfare is "killing" me. I'm leaving NYC and average fare is around $1000 r/t. any suggestions?

 

Please see this thread. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=337484

 

Flying into Rome on one ticket from the US is EXPENSIVE, especially at this late date. Most of the "cheap seats" were gone by January.

 

However, flying from NYC to London or Dublin and then a totally separate ticket to Rome is usually considerably cheaper. If you use RyanAir or EasyJet, please pay attention to the luggage weight restrictions. Either plan on paying excess luggage with normal cruise luggage (about 3 checked suitcases and 2 carryons for 2 people) or consider shipping excess luggage (the formal clothes, etc) to a hotel in Rome. USPS (THE POST OFFICE, not UPS) can do it surface in about 4 weeks, USPS Priority in about 10 days. Costs for shipping are usually cheaper than than excess luggage charges on the European LCC's.

 

BA has some pretty good fares to Rome from London. And their luggage restrictions are not as strict.

 

Another option-consider the cheapest fare you can get to an airline hub in Europe-usually Paris (Air France), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), London (AA, Air India, BA and others), Dublin (Aer Lingus), LHR/AMS/MUC via Iceland (Iceland Air) and take the train to Rome.

 

Lots of combinations, but at this late date, to get a decent fare it will require creativity and maybe some hassle.

[Globaliser]

If you use RyanAir or EasyJet, please pay attention to the luggage weight restrictions.

Also, if you choose to do this, please note the airports from which all your flights depart and arrive.

 

When you consider that the time and money that it takes (and the hassle involved) to transfer to Luton or Stansted just to get an onward flight on Ryanair or easyJet, you might think it worthwhile to pay extra to have a same-airport connection.

 

Also, if you hadn't already noticed it, it could come as a bit of a shock when you fly Ryanair to "Venice" or "Barcelona" and find that you're actually being taken to Treviso or Girona.

[greatam]

Also, if you choose to do this, please note the airports from which all your flights depart and arrive.

 

When you consider that the time and money that it takes (and the hassle involved) to transfer to Luton or Stansted just to get an onward flight on Ryanair or easyJet, you might think it worthwhile to pay extra to have a same-airport connection.

 

Also, if you hadn't already noticed it, it could come as a bit of a shock when you fly Ryanair to "Venice" or "Barcelona" and find that you're actually being taken to Treviso or Girona.

 

Ah, yes, all the "off the wall" airports the European LCC's use. Although AerLingus or AA into Shannon, Ryan Air from the same airport, and then maybe BA, Alitalia (generally not cheap) or someone else from London works pretty well. SNN/DUB has been running about $150 cheaper than London and you can get a RT on RyanAir for about $50.00. So still $100.00pp ahead of the game. You are correct, there is no easy way to do this on a bargain fare this late in the game.

 

As I posted, it will take some creativity, as well as some hassle, to get anyplace close to a "cheap" fare to Rome from NYC. The cheap fares were gone by February. Guess it depends on whether you want cheap or whether you want hassle free. Cheap doesn't come without hassles.