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You may find it substantially less expensive to book In and out of madrid. Then take the train to Pamplona overnight there and take the bus the next day to SJPdP. You will want at least one to two nights rest after such a flight, anyway. Take The train back to Madrid from Sarria. Figure 100-150 Euros for both trains, the earlier you book the cheaper the ticket..tickets usuallyopen up circa 3 months prior to travel.Hi everyone,
I am planning the Camino Frances for mid-June through the end of July 2024. I just started looking at plane fares last night. Chicago to Biarritz, and then SDC to Chicago for the return trip. It was about $2500 total. Since I'm still 8+ months out, is it likely that those prices will go down? Or will they go up? What is the best time to purchase?
@AR1965 , one of the things I love about this forum is that many will strive to answer unanswerable questions. The variables in air travel costs over anything longer than a month are incalculable. Why do you think so many airlines go bust or lobby for government subsidies, or try to sell you flight cancellation insurance with your ticket?
We have this debate quite frequently!My top hint is to do your searching in and incognito window so that your computer continues to spit up best prices instead of increasing the prices as you keep searching the same thing (that truly does happen).
Can only quote my anecdotal evidence from this particular trip. In the midst of my searching I was given a new(-to-me) notebook and decided to do searches on our computer without using incognito windows and incognito searches on my new device every other day or so. The new device continued to throw up cheap options that the computer did not after a couple of weeks. Over this time I tried searches for Auckland - Madrid, Auckland - Barcelona, and Auckland - Kuala Lumpur. Incidentally, I was using Kayak, which is not quoted in the Washington Post article so it is feasible they may function differently to Skyscanner.We have this debate quite frequently!
I doubt that it is true, based on my personal experience and casual google research. Of course, my personal anecdotal evidence may be countered by another's opposite anecdotal evidence, so I am always looking out for an independent credible source that supports the theory that searching incognito and deleting cookies is effective in keeping airfares down. Can anyone provide such an independent credible source?
Here is a Washington Post article that debunks the myth. Here are three old threads: here, here, and here, that include some other links.
Find an app that tracks purchasing trends. In previous years those apps told me to buy in Jan, then Dec and this year, now. I used Hopper. It has been reliable before. I am skeptical but it is saying now is cheapest option.Hi everyone,
I am planning the Camino Frances for mid-June through the end of July 2024. I just started looking at plane fares last night. Chicago to Biarritz, and then SDC to Chicago for the return trip. It was about $2500 total. Since I'm still 8+ months out, is it likely that those prices will go down? Or will they go up? What is the best time to purchase?
I am just conjecturing here, but these aggregators may find and present their options differently from the airlines themselves. The aggregators search many airlines and many connections, and then show you a selection. I almost only use the direct airline sites and occasionally Expedia. I often pick a good flight in, say, November, print out the fare information, and then recheck the fare frequently for months. The prices do change - gradually going up except when there is an advertised sale.I was using Kayak, which is not quoted in the Washington Post article so it is feasible they may function differently to Skyscanner
An aggregator might throw up many cheap options as it finds combinations and permutations from from many airlines and with various conditions. The cheap options are probably more volatile, and harder to compare head-to-head on two different devices over time. There may be a special cheap fare intended to fill a less popular flight where the sales are slow, and that special fare last only long enough to get that plane to the target level of sales.The new device continued to throw up cheap options
I was specifically following particular fares at a certain time on the same dates on Etihad, Lufthansa and China Southern. I also took note of other options that appeared - and in the case of Turkish Airlines, a good enough price came up and I took it. I had been leaning towards flying Etihad, but heard of a very poor experience someone on the forum had had with them, and when I quizzed family members who had used Turkish Airlines many times when they were based in Istanbul for seven years, they could only speak highly of them.I am just conjecturing here, but these aggregators may find and present their options differently from the airlines themselves. The aggregators search many airlines and many connections, and then show you a selection. I almost only use the direct airline sites and occasionally Expedia. I often pick a good flight in, say, November, print out the fare information, and then recheck the fare frequently for months. The prices do change - gradually going up except when there is an advertised sale.
An aggregator might throw up many cheap options as it finds combinations and permutations from from many airlines and with various conditions. The cheap options are probably more volatile, and harder to compare head-to-head on two different devices over time. There may be a special cheap fare intended to fill a less popular flight where the sales are slow, and that special fare last only long enough to get that plane to the target level of sales.
If you compare the actual airline fares (same class and fare type) for a specific flight or combination, does one device give you a different price than the other? It does not for me, but then I tend to choose major airlines on standard routes where the prices seem quite stable.
Can I ask why you booked via a third party and not the airline itself?I was specifically following particular fares at a certain time on the same dates on Etihad, Lufthansa and China Southern. I also took note of other options that appeared - and in the case of Turkish Airlines, a good enough price came up and I took it. I had been leaning towards flying Etihad, but heard of a very poor experience someone on the forum had had with them, and when I quizzed family members who had used Turkish Airlines many times when they were based in Istanbul for seven years, they could only speak highly of them.
Incidentally, I did book through a third party (BYOjet) - it was the only third party provider that scored highly on trustpilot out of the options for this ticket (I would not touch AuntBetty which it's 1.8 star rating and 79% of reviews being only 1 or 2 star!!)
I guess at the end of the day, there's no harm in searching incognito!
I can think of quite a few more pleasant ways to pass time!There's nothing more pleasant and worthwhile than finding ways to prevent fleecing by greedy airlines.
But understand the additional risk (loss of ticket if you miss the connections) you introduce if you book on separate tickets.Micromanage your trip, don't do a quantum booking ORD to where ever or SdC back to ORD.
Avoid using third party. I did not get a refund from a guaranteed refund, and the trouble I had with two third party vendors was not worth the price - in fact, it was very costly.Hi everyone,
I am planning the Camino Frances for mid-June through the end of July 2024. I just started looking at plane fares last night. Chicago to Biarritz, and then SDC to Chicago for the return trip. It was about $2500 total. Since I'm still 8+ months out, is it likely that those prices will go down? Or will they go up? What is the best time to purchase?
You can launch any web browser in incognito mode. It removes the tracking of your web surfing behaviour that advertisers and website owners rely on.What are incognito searches that so many mention?
A cynic would reply "How long is a piece of string." But this serious question needs a serious reply. From New ZealandHi everyone,
I am planning the Camino Frances for mid-June through the end of July 2024. I just started looking at plane fares last night. Chicago to Biarritz, and then SDC to Chicago for the return trip. It was about $2500 total. Since I'm still 8+ months out, is it likely that those prices will go down? Or will they go up? What is the best time to purchase?
I heard a lot of good things about Turkish Airlines. My partial problem is that they fly from JFK and I try to avoid that Airport like a locusts plague! The drive drives me nuts!I have flown Turkish airlines to Istanbul twice in the past and was quite impressed with their service and food. My only complaint has been on their overnight flights they raise the temperature in the cabin too high...I was miserable and never have experienced this on any other airline. I assume it is done to help lull people to sleep, but far too hot and doesn't work for me and my family.
I usually use Kayak, but after cancelling many flights during 2020 with problems getting refunds (not vouchers) from third party sellers, I now only book through the airlines themselves.
Absolutely! Saved a couple of hundred dollars which amounts to a quite few nights' accommodation.Can I ask why you booked via a third party and not the airline itself?
Okay, I think you misunderstood my post. All I was trying to say is don't go for the quantum booking. Sites like Rome2Rio don't deal with nuances of travel destinations. So carefully pick one city to one city, then look at the connections, you can still book with one source but review the timing (i.e. a 12 hour layover?) and other means of transportation, i.e. a train or a bus.I can think of quite a few more pleasant ways to pass time!
But understand the additional risk (loss of ticket if you miss the connections) you introduce if you book on separate tickets.
How about using air miles? AA and United Airlines have great flights using miles.Hi everyone,
I am planning the Camino Frances for mid-June through the end of July 2024. I just started looking at plane fares last night. Chicago to Biarritz, and then SDC to Chicago for the return trip. It was about $2500 total. Since I'm still 8+ months out, is it likely that those prices will go down? Or will they go up? What is the best time to purchase?
It’s too early. If you notice, all tickets around that time are the same - I think they just post some standard rate. I have found 2-3 months to be best. Sometimes I even get them 2-3 weeks ahead and usually get the best deal, but that can be a risk.Hi everyone,
I am planning the Camino Frances for mid-June through the end of July 2024. I just started looking at plane fares last night. Chicago to Biarritz, and then SDC to Chicago for the return trip. It was about $2500 total. Since I'm still 8+ months out, is it likely that those prices will go down? Or will they go up? What is the best time to purchase?
One other thing. You may want to check on Google flights. Put Chicago for departure city and Europe (no specific city) for destination. You can put dates in and use the map view to see the cheapest place to fly. We do this often, then normally fly a cheap European airline (like Ryan Air) to our final destination.Hi everyone,
I am planning the Camino Frances for mid-June through the end of July 2024. I just started looking at plane fares last night. Chicago to Biarritz, and then SDC to Chicago for the return trip. It was about $2500 total. Since I'm still 8+ months out, is it likely that those prices will go down? Or will they go up? What is the best time to purchase?
Maybe a risk, but I booked Madrid from Chicago on a whim on Sept.15th for an Oct. 5th departure and it was the lowest I have ever paid...why a risk?Sometimes I even get them 2-3 weeks ahead and usually get the best deal, but that can be a risk.
Well, because if you wait until 3 weeks before your planned flight, there is no guarantee that you will get a good price. You might be out of luck and have to pay a high price (assuming you want to go on that particular date)!why a risk?
I was flexible, so it seems to have worked for me this time.Well, because if you wait until 3 weeks before your planned flight, there is no guarantee that you will get a good price. You might be out of luck and have to pay a high price (assuming you want to go on that particular date)!
Lydia- I have purchased tickets to Spain for less money than my sister has to spend to fly from Michigan to Colorado to visit her daughter. There are often better prices on international travel than on domestic which is why we head to the east side of the Atlantic, and hopefully Ireland this summer. (Suggestions for Irish Camino walking are welcome here!)I have so much admiration for all of you west of the Atlantic and the amount of money you are prepared to spend in order to do the Camino de Santiago. Buen Camino to you all. Lydia
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