help on flights to belfast/london - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**juliagulia** · 07-28-2009, 02:29 PM

So, I'm planning on studying abroad next spring to Oxford through my school. I haven't been accepted into the program since I apply in September and don't find out until October/November. However, I know that whether I go or not, I'm going to be going to Belfast to visit a friend for a couple of weeks.

The dilemma is: prices right now for a flight from Washington (either Reagan, Dulles or BWI) to Belfast are around $400-500 (one way... I won't know when I'm coming back to the US until around March, so can't get round trip). I'm planning on going either December 25 or the 26, depending on price, time, layovers, stops, etc. I have the money right now and could buy the ticket to Belfast (and then buy the ticket to London later on).

I'm definitely going to Belfast if I get into Oxford, and I'm pretty damn sure I'm still going if I don't, but still, I'm hesitating when it comes to buying the ticket. Not exactly cold feet, just, it seems so far away and I hate commitments! What if something goes wrong and I can't go? I probably won't get my money back and that's a lot of money, etc. etc. But, I'm afraid that the prices will continue to go up, especially once the summer ends, since I'm looking to fly either Christmas afternoon or soon afterwards. I really don't want to pay more than $500 for a one way ticket, but even dirt cheap search engines (I'm using mobissimo) aren't showing me that there's much wiggle room. If it goes any higher than it is now, I'll me outside my budget

To complicate matters even further, a lot of the flights I'm finding have a layover in London, THEN go to Belfast. So, would it be cheaper for me to get a flight to London then a round-trip flight to Belfast from there? In that case, should I just wait until November? Will prices be exorbitant by then? Would the hassle of flying out the 25th be worth the cheaper prices than the 26th?

Help, travel punks. I really suck at making decisions!!