[Airline tickets] Flying to Spain, need help!

[TheChort]

I'm looking to go to Spain for a study abroad trip.

Details:
From Los Angeles To Madrid
Leave - Apr 11
Return - Jun 26

I've checked: priceline, expedia, hotwire, orbitz, travelocity, cheaptickets, and 1800flyeurope

The cheapest was 1800flyeurope with $750
I'm hoping to find something closer to $400-500

Any suggestions?

 

[TheChort]

...

 

[brxndxn]

I looked everywhere for a month and even planned ahead to get my ticket to Madrid from Tampa 3 years ago.. It cost me $800 for the cheapest one I could find. $750 sounds about what you can hope for to me.

 

[TheChort]

I've heard around that people have been getting really cheap tickets to europe lately. Like $300-400.

I want in on that action!

 

[royaldank]

Originally posted by: TheChort
I've heard around that people have been getting really cheap tickets to europe lately. Like $300-400.

I want in on that action!

Keep watching the airline's websites. They often run sales on select fares which are limited time sales. Unlike domestic fares, waiting until a week or two out isn't a bad thing. They try and unload seats then to just fill up the plane. If you can secure something with a possible refund, grab that now and keep searching.

 

[nebratu]

if you're a student at a university (which I'm guessing you are since you are studying abroad) try studentuniverse.com

 

[Savij]

http://dir.travelzoo.com/Air.asp?intCategory=12&id=136922

Travelzoo seems to have good deals on trips to various locations in europe

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: TheChort
I've heard around that people have been getting really cheap tickets to europe lately. Like $300-400.

I want in on that action!

Probably because they have to make the trip before Mar 31. Nov to about the 15th of Dec and mid Jan through end of Mar are the cheap seasons. Late Aug is the highest season.

Try moving your arrival/departure dates around if you can, usually Fri-Sat tend to be more expensive than early in the week.

 

[TheChort]

I tried studentuniverse.com, but it doesnt seem to have too many options. Half the dates I put in showed up with no tickets available.

travelzoo seems to have some really great deals, but I guess I just have to get lucky and check it at the right time.

Thanks for the help guys (or gals)

 

[Savij]

There is a link of that travelzoo page that takes you to: http://www.lowestravel.com/specials

I did a quick search on there and found a few tickets starting at ~$630 for the dates you specified.

 

[gsellis]

Think of breaking it up. LAX ATL or LAX JFK as one ticket. You can find under $200 for that. Your return date is what is making it a little more expensive. You may be able to find a deal for around $350 and there have been some deals around $300 recently.

Check Clark Howard Clark's travel tips are out of Atlanta. You can go MAD from Atlanta for a deal at times. If you find a deal, buy it. Then hook up on a LAX ATL round trip.

Got your passport done yet? It takes some time or money if you don't.

 

[vegetation]

Your departure and arrival dates fall on a weekend schedule, that's your problem. Adjust it so you can depart or arrive on a weekday (Mon-Thurs) schedule and you should see vastly better rates. If your dates are unchangeable then you just have to suck it up and pay the high cost of a weekend schedule.