This is just absurd

[Exterous]

I thought $550 round trip to Austria over NYE was a good deal but now we're going to Amsterdam for $316 RT as well. Deals keep popping up for all over the place. $355 to Rome, $377 to Malta, Ecuador $250. The stupidly cheap airfares to Europe are driving me crazy - I just do not have enough vacation time to take advantage of all these deals.

We both need jobs where we could just take a month or two off. Hell its approaching the price where I'd do it just for a 3 day weekend

 

[Newbian]

One percenter problems.

 

[DesiPower]

because no one wants to visit Europe anymore. It's literally infested with south Asian and middle eastern people. There are more Asian vendors and shops and restaurants than ones run by the natives, there is no charm left in Europe anymore.

 

[IronWing]

^^

 

[Red Squirrel]

Competitive airlines can make a huge difference. When it was only Air Canada here, it was about $1,200 to go to Toronto (that is basically the hub so you're going there to go anywhere else). When Porter came in, suddenly it was under $200.

 

[pete6032]

There's a thread for this type of problem .

 

[Exterous]

One percenter problems.

I might be a one percenter by airlines miles but whats the point in using them if airfare is going to be this cheap

 

[Exterous]

Competitive airlines can make a huge difference. When it was only Air Canada here, it was about $1,200 to go to Toronto (that is basically the hub so you're going there to go anywhere else). When Porter came in, suddenly it was under $200.

There has been a disappointing consolidation of airlines in the US but at least international competition is increasing.

 

[Humpy]

How does one find said deals?

 

[highland145]

Isn't she a teacher? Are you going off with your other significant other?

 

[Mai72]

because no one wants to visit Europe anymore. It's literally infested with south Asian and middle eastern people. There are more Asian vendors and shops and restaurants than ones run by the natives, there is no charm left in Europe anymore.

Eh. That's a little racist.

No?

 

[rcpratt]

Where are you flying out of? DTW seems to be so expensive. We were planning on driving to Toronto next summer to catch a flight to Europe because it's so much cheaper.

 

[zinfamous]

I might be a one percenter by airlines miles but whats the point in using them if airfare is going to be this cheap

It makes it easier to accumulate miles to push you into the 0.1%er miles status?

 

[KMFJD]

How does one find said deals?

Yes, where would you find these deals? I've got skyscanner looking for a number of flights i want to take but rarely do i see deals like that...

 

[deustroop]

because no one wants to visit Europe anymore. It's literally infested with south Asian and middle eastern people. There are more Asian vendors and shops and restaurants than ones run by the natives, there is no charm left in Europe anymore.

Yeah I agree to some extent regarding Western Europe (tho I wouldn't say "infested" , I use the word "overrun") and the same applies here as well . There are other factors too like price competition as the Squirrel says, the time of year and the likelihood of continued terrorism which the middle eastern contingent has brought.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

because no one wants to visit Europe anymore. It's literally infested with south Asian and middle eastern people. There are more Asian vendors and shops and restaurants than ones run by the natives, there is no charm left in Europe anymore.

Yeah, the smart travelers skip Paris and Rome and head to Ferguson Missouri, Detroit or Damascus now.

 

[Exterous]

Isn't she a teacher? Are you going off with your other significant other?

She is but its hard for her to get time off at her school during the year

Where are you flying out of? DTW seems to be so extensive. We were planning on driving to Toronto next summer to catch a flight to Europe because it's so much cheaper.

The $316 was from DTW - which made me more excited since I frequently make a positioning flight to BOS or ORD separate from the international ticket (and there are some risks involved in doing that). Still, I've seen some other good DTW prices like $350 to New Zealand and $375 to Japan. Occasionally YQG (Windsor) has some cheap tickets too. Saw a few $500 tickets to Barcelona and Rome from there this fall (usually a connection in Toronto). Nice small airport with cheap parking. You'll confuse the CBP agents as to why you are driving to Canada to fly out of Windsor as opposed to DTW though

 

[Exterous]

It makes it easier to accumulate miles to push you into the 0.1%er miles status?

True - my accounts will grow a bit since we have no redemption plans with prices like this but with most going to revenue based instead of miles flown they won't grow nearly as fast as they would have even last year.

How does one find said deals?

Yes, where would you find these deals?

fly4free.com and momondo.com have been doing well for me this fall. Quick word of warning is that the cheapest flights are usually through 3rd party agents. Haven't had any issues so far but there can be complications if you run into flight issues since the airline may require you to deal with that company instead of addressing it directly with the airline. Once I see the airline involved I'll go to the airline's website and see what the price is booking through them. If its close or even a little bit more I'll book with the airline for piece of mind. If its not I'll book through the third party. For example - I paid $50 more for my Austria trip to book on United's website. For the Amsterdamn trip United was $250 more so I went with the third party. At that price if something happens oh well

Oh and US booking sites are all required to let you cancel within 24 hours so you could always book the 3rd party price if you're worried about it selling out and then check the airline's website. If the airline's website is the same price just cancel the 3rd party within those 24 hours

 

[feralkid]

because no one wants to visit Europe anymore. It's literally infested with south Asian and middle eastern people. There are more Asian vendors and shops and restaurants than ones run by the natives, there is no charm left in Europe anymore.

Laughably false.
I'd almost wish for it to be true, if only to keep ugly Americans like you away.