Europe bound this summer? No doubt you've experienced sticker shock when shopping around for deals.
By searching just outside of the box you could shave hundreds of dollars off of your total ticket price.
Let's say you're wanting to visit London, England soon. Price the trip from Atlanta and you'll find rates of nearly $1,300. However, if you begin and end your trip from Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C., rates plummet to $730, inclusive of all taxes, fees and surcharges.
To qualify for this savings, start trips to London on or before June 30. Rates are $25 more each way when traveling Thursday-Sunday. Plan to stay at least one weekend and return within 11 months.
Here's two other examples of exceptional savings when you start and end trips from Chattanooga.
Start a trip from CHA to Dublin, Ireland to qualify for a round-trip rate of $730, inclusive of all taxes, fees and surcharges. If you originate and return to Atlanta, round-trip rates are $1,732!
Or, travel to Rome, Italy from CHA for round-trip rates of $890 (inclusive of all taxes, fees and surcharges) versus $1,653 from Atlanta.
These two deals require a departure on or before June 30. Add $25 each way for Friday or Saturday outbound travel or Friday-Sunday returns. Stay one weekend to one month.
All three of these offers must be purchased by midnight, tonight, May 13.
Delta offers these sale rates on flights that route through Atlanta. For instance, you'll drive to Chattanooga to board a flight to Atlanta where you will change aircraft for a nonstop flight across the Atlantic.
Warning: You must show up for those Chattanooga and Greenville flights. If you do not, you are considered a no-show status and computers will automatically cancel all remaining flights. There are no refunds or credits allowed.
There is no excuse in the world that will get you to Europe if you fail to show for all flight segments. A flat tire excuse, a traffic jam excuse, a sick grandmother excuse will not work in your favor. Just get in the car and enjoy the drive -- and the savings!
It's about a 118 mile drive from the greater Atlanta area to Chattanooga; about 170 miles from Atlanta to Greenville-Spartanburg.
Sale airfares are always subject to change. Every seat on every flight is not offered at the lowest rate. Since only a limited supply of seats is available, act quickly to make your purchase. I recommend starting the search for available seats at Kayak.com vs. calling an airline directly. You can also search for the sale at travel Web sites such as Expedia or Travelocity, etc.
Clara Bosonetto is a retired travel consultant.
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