Who doesn't dream of spending vacation time in Europe?
According to AAA, 6,000,000 Americans traveled to Europe in 2008. And according to recent AAA travel surveys, more Americans are not willing to wait for the economy to improve before setting across the pond. European vacation purchases this year are already 21 percent higher compared to the first and second quarters of 2011.
If it's Europe or bust for you, get ready to pay a hefty price.
Airlines have anticipated the pent-up demand for seats, yet have reduce service through the summer as much as 10 percent from 2010 and 2011. With too many travelers to fill too few seats, the airlines can easily pack an aircraft while charging passengers premium prices.
Here's proof of that.
United Airlines recently published rates to Europe for travel during the coldest winter months of 2013. Prepare to be shocked and awed at what's in store.
Here are sample round-trip rates for travel started on or after Jan. 14 through March 3:
- $848.30 Barcelona or Madrid, Spain
- $902.40 London, England
- $906.20 Brussels, Belgium
- $909.40 Dublin, Ireland
- $930.90 Manchester, England
- $941.60 Copenhagen, Denmark; Oslo, Norway or Stockholm, Sweden
- $983.70 Paris, France
- $985.70 Rome or Palermo, Sicily
- $1,014.90 Bordeaux, Marseilles, Nice or Toulouse, France
- $1,019.80 Prague, Czech Republic
- $1,022.10 Budapest, Hungary
- $1,024.20 Venice, Italy
- $1,053.70 Berlin, Frankfurt or Munich, Germany
- $1,128.70 Athens, Greece
- $1,038.14 Moscow or Leningrad-St. Petersburg, Russia
- $1,047.70 Amsterdam, Netherlands
(An FYI here: My round-trip ticket to Venice, Italy/ returning from Florence in March of this year was $680, inclusive of all taxes and fees -- or about $350 less than the 2013 winter season.)
Rates are $30 more each way when departing Friday or Saturday or returning Friday-Sunday (the $30 one-way supplement applies on Thursday-Sunday travel to/from London). Stays of up to 30 days are permitted.
Winter season rates to Europe typically are offered from Nov. 1 to the end of March -- with rates rising considerably for Dec. 15-23 departures.
So we may be seeing a shift of the airlines offering three to four levels of pricing throughout the course of one season. For instance, for travel to Europe from December 24-January 13 or from March 4-28, prices are on average $150-$200 higher than those shown above.
As to summer 2012 rates to Europe? Destinations across Germany and Italy average $1,625 on mid-May through late August departures.
So are you still planning to go this year or early 2013? Use these rates as a reference when shopping for the best prices. Also, consider a bundled vacation with either a hotel stay or a car rental. Opaque airfare in a package deal is often less than retail. Shop the vacation desks of your airline, travel websites such as Expedia or Travelocity or vacation websites such as Go-Today.com.
This current sale could very well indicate the trend of airfares to Europe ... and that means up.
Buy tickets on this United/Lufthansa offer through July 31.
Sale airfares are always subject to change. Every seat on every flight is not offered at the lowest rate.
I recommend starting the search for international sale rates at Mobissimo.com.
Clara Bosonetto is a retired travel consultant.
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