Delaney

The bf and I are trying to book flights to Europe and I am having trouble. When I try to search for flights on STA it says they are unavailable. Could it be because we are going for too long?

We are looking to go b/w the 18th - 25th of April and coming home 8 - 9 weeks later (around the 21st - 26th of June). We are flexible about the dates, just want a good price. We were thinking A-dam would be one of the cheaper cities in Europe but if there is another one (besides London) we could do that to.

Any advice! I don't know why I am having so much trouble! Travelocity, etc seem really spendy. Should I just go to a travel agent?

Thank you!

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Why I'm not on TPunk as much anymore: http://www.kaushallab.cbl.umces.edu/people.html#katie

blinkchick2134

First, don't go to a travel agent unless you have no other choice (what they charge in fees will probably make it just or more inexpensive that what your finding on flight search engines. The cheapest flights into Europe from the US is into Dublin and London for the most part. Keep in mind the dates your planning on traveling are during spring break and doing the beginning of summer - two of the highest travel times.

Honestly, your best choice may be to book tickets into Dublin or London and catch a cheap RyanAir flight to A-dam. Also checking out actual airlines website (AirFrance, United, etc) may be cheaper than STA or search engines. Try buying the tickets just after midnight when the airlines update the flight status and may reduce ticket prices.

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omisan

Flights directly from the US to A-dam are usually cheapest and most readily available on Northwest/KLM. What city are you departing from?

Other hubs of interest, and often cheap, would be Aer Lingus to Dublin, BMI to Manchester, Lufthansa to Frankfurt, and sometimes Air France to Paris - check all of their own website's web specials for the best spring departure deals.

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Delaney

We are flying out of Portland (PDX). It's not spring break here at that time so I didn't even think of that affecting the prices!

I will check the airlines directly, the ones you guys mentioned. I emailed the local STA travel office and they quoted us $1922 (US$) for 2 tickets going to Barcelona on the 18th of April and returning home from A-dam on the 18th of June. I thought doing 2 different cities like that would be more spendy but it was the same price as what they quoted for roundtrip to A-dam. Is this too much, its $961 each and includes the ISIC card (I think they make you buy it).

I will check out the other airlines tonight at midnight. Thanks for the advice so far!

__________________
“If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” - Albert Einstein


You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go. - Dr. Suess


Why I'm not on TPunk as much anymore: http://www.kaushallab.cbl.umces.edu/people.html#katie

Delaney

One more question. Do I check the flights at midnight my time (PST)? Or Eastern Standard? Just wondering, thank you!

__________________
“If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” - Albert Einstein


You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go. - Dr. Suess


Why I'm not on TPunk as much anymore: http://www.kaushallab.cbl.umces.edu/people.html#katie

marc873

Ok, this is how it has worked for me. I flew round trip to A dam last year from charlotte for $1300.00 total 2 people. I had been watching the travel sites for a month or two, and the prices were always $1900.00-$2100.00 . So like others have suggested I tried after midnight E.T. The priced dropped some but not a ton. So I heard from another travel friend, that I should check the sites (I used Orbitz) 90 days out from your departure date @ midnight. So I did, but I didn't check till a little after 5 in the morning. There had been ticks for $450.00 including taxes, but they weren't available anymore. I got mine for $650.00 including taxes each. And sure enough at 6:15, the prices had gone back up to where they had been.
I am flying back into A dam in June, and am planning on doing it the same way. I have not heard anyone else say that this worked. I posted it here one time before, and some said they were going to try it, but I haven't heard. So anyone who does, please post your results for all to know, and when it works for me, I will post as well.

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