Farecast.com Sees Europe Summer Fares Up in Double Digits

Farecast.com, a travel search site, issued its 2008 summer forecast for domestic and international travelers. Forecast data reveals that peak summer fares to Europe are 10 percent higher than 2007 and that traveling to Europe during peak season will cost on average 250 percent of off-season average fares.

Travelers who go to Europe during the shoulder seasons –May and September- can save $350 or more per ticket. Farecast.com recommends that travelers should first look to travel during Europe’s shoulder seasons. Choosing the right day of the week to fly can also significantly impact fares.

The most expensive day to depart is Saturday, while the least expensive days are Tuesday and Wednesday. For domestic flights, travelers who are willing to wait until late August or early September can find values. Domestically, Sunday is the most expensive day to fly, while Tuesday and Wednesday remain the least expensive.

For peak summer travel to Europe (early June through late July), buying early or late is the best strategy to get the lowest price on airfare. Booking travel in February, March or earlier will provide travelers the most options and significant savings.

For travel to Europe in July or August, consumers could wait as little as one or two months before departure and hold out for mid-summer sales. In 2007, this strategy worked well for travel to London (LHR), but was riskier for popular destinations such as Paris (CDG) or Rome (FCO).

For domestic and European trips in late-August or September, consumers can wait for end-of-summer sales which happened throughout July last year for domestic travel, and at the end of July for European travel. Consumers who must travel during peak times can still save more than $200 per ticket by choosing the right destination.