Just a heads up for anyone in or near Philadelphia who might be looking for airfare to Madrid. I'm beginning to plan my next vacation and found airfare from PHL to MAD (non-stop) on US Airways for $320 plus taxes (ends up at about $390 I believe). Looks like the fare is good beginning in November and running through February 2003, with the regular holiday blackout dates.

jmc

GREAT! Thanks for the tip. Can you tell us if you found that by regular fare request or is it a promotion? I just looked over their site, but didn't find it immediately.

I'm pretty sure it is a promotion. I found it through www.travelocity.com. I have PHL to MAD and PHL to BCN marked in my account for notification when fares drop below a certain price, and I got a notice in my inbox yesterday. I'm not sure how to find it going directly through www.usairways.com (I assume if you put Nov-Feb dates in it would come up, but haven't tested that assumption); I do receive weekend/holiday flight specials by automated mail from USAir, but haven't heard of the offer from the airline itself.

Also, for anyone in the DC Metro/NOVA area, for about the same price you can fly out of BWI. Basically you are just taking a shuttle to Philadelphia and boarding the transatlantic flight. As an aside, lately I have been flying out of PHL rather than BWI because of the construction mess and almost always full long term parking lots at BWI. Even with construction ongoing at PHL, it is tends to be less of a mess than BWI.

Now that I've given my 2 cents about local airports, I'll fade back into lurk mode

jmc

Another update -- for flights from BWI or PHL to MAD, the fare of $419 is available through September 11th. Departures and returns between September 15 and October 18.

Here's the website:
http://www.usairways.com/promotions/esavers/offer_mad.htm

I signed up with travelocity, but I'm not getting that $320 fare from philly. ARGH! I'm really interested in that one, because I'm pretty sure the flight I have to get from florida to Philly will be inexpensive... we'll see...

The $320 has expired (I think it had to be purchased by 8/21) and the new fare is $420

I realized that it was an older posting when I checked back later! I don't know how I missed it while it was up! Argh! Maybe I'll get lucky and at some point before christmas it'll go down after they skyrocket!

If past sales can still be used to predict future, given the flux that USAirways is in right now, they'll probably drop the fare again (probably to the $320-350 range) in November, for dates in January and February. I've gone to Spain via PHL in February for the last couple of years on the November sale fare.

jmc

USAirways sent notice of a promotional fare:
$279-$309 RT to Madrid or Rome from BWI, PHL, DCA.

Details follow. I haven't checked out the website, but I assume the sale is advertised there.

jmc

************************************************************
1. THIS WEEK'S INTERNATIONAL E-SAVERS
************************************************************

You may depart on Sundays to Wednesdays, between January 26 and February 19, 2003. Return travel is Tuesdays to Fridays, between February 4 and February 28, 2003. Travel is not permitted to Rome and Madrid on February 12. Travel is not permitted from Rome and Madrid on February 18. Saturday night stay is required. Tickets must be purchased by January 8, 2003.

For travel, make your reservations online at
http://www.usairways.com/promotions/esavers/offer_fcomad.htm
These special fares can also be purchased by calling 1-888-359-3728. Tickets must be purchased at the time of reservation. For more information on Rome, please visit
http://www.usairways.com/travel/destinations/europe/fco.htm
For more information on Madrid, please visit
http://www.usairways.com/travel/destinations/europe/mad.htm

ROUNDTRIP
FROM: TO: FARE:
-------------------------------------------------------------
Baltimore, MD Rome, Italy $309
Baltimore, MD Madrid, Spain $299

Philadelphia, PA Rome, Italy $289
Philadelphia, PA Madrid, Spain $279

Washington National, DC Rome, Italy $309
Washington National, DC Madrid, Spain $299

Fares shown are based on roundtrip Coach travel on US Airways/US Airways Express, during the period specified above. Depending upon your travel needs, alternative routings may be available at the same fares, with part of the service on regional aircraft operated by US Airways Express carriers Allegheny, Air Midwest, Chautauqua, Colgan, Mesa, Midway, Piedmont, PSA, Shuttle America or Trans States.

Madridman, Columbus, OH is included in the low fare, with $319 to Madrid. Here's the link:

http://www.usairways.com/promotions/esavers/offer_fcomad.htm

It's only $299 from Boston (taxes, etc, bring it up to about 360), so I'm thinking of treating myself to an extended weekend.....hmmm, might have to start looking for a quality hostal....