Plane ticket question!

[Rathma]

I am very eager to buy this roundtrip ticket from Toronto - Amsterdam through a dutch airline Martinair Holland.

It says the total is 494 including taxes. But the taxes are 72 dollars, and that seems sort of low. I looked through their long and complicated fine print and spotted;

"A security surcharge of 81.00 per direction will be added to the applicable fare for international sectors"

What? Are they really going to charge me more money both ways when I arrive at the airport?

[Elizabeth]

no but on the next page the total will probably go up 160 dollars. if its already in there that seems kind of a low price, what month is this for?

[joe7f]

^Ditto, it seems like the fares I am seeing from YYZ and BUF to AMS are in the 760 range so... 500 + 160 still saves you about 100 bucks

--Joey

[Rathma]

Originally Posted by lizz

no but on the next page the total will probably go up 160 dollars. if its already in there that seems kind of a low price, what month is this for?

April 16 - May 7

I was on page 5 of 6 when I was buying it. I put in my name, e-mail, phone number and everything. The price was still 494 with "all taxes included".

I got it from this site if it helps.

Tomorrow I can call their help line and ask. 1-800 numbers are free right?

[SGRHewitt]

Yes 800 numbers are free, well in America... Not sure what Canada is like, although I would guess its the same.

One thing you can try is to mess up your card number "accidentally"... That way the charge will get denied, but you will find out the total price on the final page you visit. The trip will never get charged, and you'll know what you're paying.

[MeTurk]

Originally Posted by Rathma

I am very eager to buy this roundtrip ticket from Toronto - Amsterdam through a dutch airline Martinair Holland.

It says the total is 494 including taxes. But the taxes are 72 dollars, and that seems sort of low. I looked through their long and complicated fine print and spotted;

"A security surcharge of 81.00 per direction will be added to the applicable fare for international sectors"

What? Are they really going to charge me more money both ways when I arrive at the airport?

I just checked on the Aerlingus website and the taxes are around $35 for a one way flight from St louis to Shannon so that looks about right. Seems very low though the taxes to fly around Europe would be higher than that. Might be some sort of concession to lure Americans back to over priced Europe.

[maracle]

Some countries have additional taxes that aren't built into the ticket costs. Peru for example you have to go pay a departure tax in person and get your boarding pass stamped. I'm kind of doubtful that Amsterdam is one of those places but if it is I'm sure people here would know since that is a common country to visit.

[Rathma]

I called them up and they said that is the final cost, which is insane. I'm definitley gonna buy this. Thanks guys!

[SGRHewitt]

$500 to anywhere but England(in Europe) is about right in offpeak... Although April/May is when prices start to skyrocket for the summer season. Definitely a deal though.

[SGRHewitt]

Well let me rephrase that... Basically anywhere in America to Frankfurt Germany as it seems... Not necessarily to anywhere in Europe.

[joe7f]

Just as I was going to say that 500 bucks even during the offseason was optimistic, I found a Tampa to Frankfurt flight for 399 taxes included.

--Joey

[SGRHewitt]

Originally Posted by joe7f

Just as I was going to say that 500 bucks even during the offseason was optimistic, I found a Tampa to Frankfurt flight for 399 taxes included.

--Joey

I'm guessing these deals to Frankfurt are so great because of the greater value of the GBPound, and the taxes the UK charges for arrivals/departures(also in GBP)... I remember getting a ryan air flight last year, they had just instituted the tax, it raised the flight from 30 dollars total, to 60 or 90(isn't it 15gbp each way?).

Nice find... What date was that for Tampa to FRA?

[joe7f]

2/21 - 3/6 on Kayak

--Joey

[pinknic38]

Frankfurt is the cheapest to fly into EVER. If you are trying to fly into Frankfurt and can't find a reasonable price, I found that when I wasplanning my Europe trip that flying into Zurich, Switzerland wasn't that much more expensive like 75-100 bucks (this is out of Columbus, anyway), and it's only a 4ish hour train ride to Frankfurt if that's where you need to be.

[Rathma]

Bought the ticket for 494 bones. Frankfurt was a place I kept checking for cheap tickets but I don't think i'll go to Germany anyway.

I was considering Benelux > France > Switzerland and possibly Italy if I can fit it in. But who knows, I was also keen on Vienna and Ljubljana or whatever it's called. It'll be tough to see what makes the final cut.

[joe7f]

Congrats! Buying a ticket is a rush!

21 days should be enough to cover France and Benelux quite thoroughly. If you don't think you will be back in Italy anytime soon, I suggest doing a shorter tour of France and adding a few stops in Italy.

For example

4 - Netherlands (probably mostly in A'dam)
3 - Belgium (I suggest Brugge)
4 - Paris
<<flight to Venice or Milan>>
2 - Venice
3 - Florence/Pisa
4 - Rome

--Joey

[Rathma]

I definitley won't be in amsterdam for that long. Hostels are surprisingly expensive. Actually for cities in general I am only interested in covering the must-see sights and trying to escape to the countryside as fast as I can. France especially, they have some wonderful places to the southwest.

Also I was looking into a bike trip for switzerland, they look like fun. Not with a tour, but just renting a bike and riding to some hostels along the way.

[SGRHewitt]

423 with tax for Indianapolis to Brussels, Frankfurt back to Indy.... For my spring break Sat March 8 to Sunday March 16. Cheaptickets claims "this is the last day to buy at this price"... Anyone know what that means?

Now trying to talk myself out of it, because I'm about three clicks away from doing it haha.

[pinknic38]

doooooooooooooo it

[SGRHewitt]

Ack! Cheap tickets/Orbitz were advertising the wrong prices... the tickets went up about another 130. Going to hold off I guess, although 560 is good, especially since Indianapolis sucks for International flights). Grr!!!