For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Hey all,
So I was going to walk the entire Camino a few years back but circumstances changed but still have longed to do it and will now take 2 weeks off work {instead of quitting and taking a nice long break was the original plan). I will go from St. Jean to Burgos in May 2018. I have started looking at flights and in just two weeks time prices have jumped up around $300-$400. It is 10 months out but my question is if there is a 'sweet spot' so to speak on when to buy flights? I realize world events, unexpected supply/demand fluctuations, etc. can play into it but disregarding all that what is the best time and how far out have people found to buy on the cheap(est)?
If it helps I will be flying into Paris from Colorado and will be returning from Madrid back to Denver.
There is a sweet spot for airlines SELLING tickets. They have decades of data to mine, and their yield management programs look at past sales and future open seats, and set prices accordingly. It would be theoretically possible for 300 passengers to buy tickets at 300 different prices, but as a practical matter that does not happen. Any internet search will result in some theories about the best time to buy, but it is all second guessing the sophisticated yield management programs at each airline. When tickets are first available, they will be at their peak. As the departure approaches, they probably will rise to that peak. In between it will be a sine wave as they seek to get all the traffic will bear. About all you can hope for in air travel these days is that they won't drag you out of your seat and knock your teeth out...my question is if there is a 'sweet spot' so to speak on when to buy flights?
Hi, Brian and welcome to the forum,Hey all,
So I was going to walk the entire Camino a few years back but circumstances changed but still have longed to do it and will now take 2 weeks off work {instead of quitting and taking a nice long break was the original plan). I will go from St. Jean to Burgos in May 2018. I have started looking at flights and in just two weeks time prices have jumped up around $300-$400. It is 10 months out but my question is if there is a 'sweet spot' so to speak on when to buy flights? I realize world events, unexpected supply/demand fluctuations, etc. can play into it but disregarding all that what is the best time and how far out have people found to buy on the cheap(est)?
If it helps I will be flying into Paris from Colorado and will be returning from Madrid back to Denver.
Hello! Roundtrip plus a flight from Paris to Biarritz I was hoping to get under $1700 in total. Maybe $1300 for roundtrip multicity and another $200 or so for the Paris/Biarritz flight would seem possible (definitely not at the moment however and prices have spiked). Nothing is make or break but if I could save a few hundred bucks or so by waiting or 'trying to time' things then I am all for it.Hi, Brian and welcome to the forum,
What amount would still be acceptable for your budget?
I happened to get a ticket on American RT from Chicago to Paris for this Sept Camino for $400. And Delta was offering the same. It was black Friday, the day after the US Thanksgiving. And it was non-stop. I don't think it could go lower. Just an FYI.Hello! Roundtrip plus a flight from Paris to Biarritz I was hoping to get under $1700 in total. Maybe $1300 for roundtrip multicity and another $200 or so for the Paris/Biarritz flight would seem possible (definitely not at the moment however and prices have spiked). Nothing is make or break but if I could save a few hundred bucks or so by waiting or 'trying to time' things then I am all for it.
I did a quick search for Denver - Paris - Biarritz + Madrid - Denver. With strictly 2 weeks time frame and just for flying out in the first week of May 2018.Hello! Roundtrip plus a flight from Paris to Biarritz I was hoping to get under $1700 in total. Maybe $1300 for roundtrip multicity and another $200 or so for the Paris/Biarritz flight would seem possible (definitely not at the moment however and prices have spiked). Nothing is make or break but if I could save a few hundred bucks or so by waiting or 'trying to time' things then I am all for it.
I appreciate you taking the time to do some research. I keep forgetting about the Orly airport as an option as well in Paris. Well, at least I am starting to look and think about things early enough so am sure I will come up with something reasonably priced. If not, the Camino beckons regardless.I did a quick search for Denver - Paris - Biarritz + Madrid - Denver. With strictly 2 weeks time frame and just for flying out in the first week of May 2018.
Without ticket to Biarritz the lowest fares are on 1st, 7th and 8th of May at 881 € = 1.010 USD. Landing is at CDG (Charles de Gaulle) but from there I couldn't find any direct flight to Biarritz under 206€ = 236 USD, so that would sum up at 1250 USD approx.
But there are flights from CDG to BIQ although through Lisbon which takes approx.4 hours altogether. And the lowest fares are 86€ = 99 USD so that would be 1.110 USD. You would still have time to get to Bayonne and SJPdP that afternoon.
When I included Biarritz to the search the lowest is on May 1st at 944 € = 1080 USD but with transfer from CDG to Orly (ORY).
I searched some more and think I found the cheapest option at 931 € = 1.068 USD
See the screen shot: https://prnt.sc/fwsbq0
DEN - ORY with only 1 hour stop in Reykjavik (both flights operated by Icelandair): https://prnt.sc/fwsd0v
ORY - BIQ with only one and a half hour to change planes which might be too tight I think but maybe others have more experience with ORY airport: https://prnt.sc/fwse2i
MAD - DEN is a bit of a drag with two stops in Lisbon (13 hours) and Newark: https://prnt.sc/fwsf35
So I'd say there are plenty of options to play around. It just takes fair amount of time but can also save some money.
Happy planning
PS (Forgot to mentioned that I was using www.skyscanner.com)
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?