We are planning to got to Madrid on June 12 take a tour on the 13th and return to Madrid
on the 22. Fly to Barcelona for a week and then return to Madrid for a week departing
Jul 6. The fares are running about $1000 just to Madrid! I need 3 so I need HELP!

For those who don't need a lot of baggage pounds and can leave from JFK, check out
being a courier. see www.aircourier.org
it costs about $60 to join, but I'm paying
only $250 R/T JFK-MAD.

I took a quick look at the Air courier website and I am still a little scared. Is this really above-board? I'm looking to travel to Spain in June 2001 and airfares are pretty high. I'd be interested in any other suggestions you might have.

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Unfortunately, I have a feeling this summer will break all the past few years price records as being high (gas/fuel costs as they are). What a shame. It's usually VERY hard to find anything less than $800 from NYC to Madrid (round trip) and a more realistic average to be around $1,000. For this reason, I'm pretty sure I'll never be in Spain during the summertime. I always go in the spring for no more than $600.

Saludos, MadridMan

This will be my first trip to Spain and I'm hoping to spend about one month. It's payback for completing my graduate work. Because of the pesky job-search thing, I was planning for June, but would May be better price-wise? Or even the fall or Christmas season of 2001? The heat isn't really the draw for me, I'm more into the cultural aspect of my trip. Any advice would be great.

The air courier thing is on the up-and-up. You just have to be available on shorter notice in many instances.

The past few summers I've been flying from LAX to London (non-stop) and purchasing a separate ticket London-Madrid-London. It has always been cheaper than flying LAX-Madrid and I've been able to visit friends in London too! I know it's not for everyone but I just thought I'd share.

I do what nevado does as well, but from Philadelphia. British Airways has better fares via London than USAir has direct. It's worth looking into specials to other European cities and then going on to Madrid.

Kiupui, you'll find better deals if you avoid the summer months. That may be worth it just to avoid hordes of tourists, also.

One of my pet peeves with the airlines is how they raise the fares if you stay over a month. I like to spend as much of the summer as possible in Spain. Grrrrrrrr....

So, after reading the previous responses, would it be better to fly in to London and then on to Madrid/Barcelona or fly to Paris and then take the train to Spain?

I flew from San Francisco to Paris, saw Paris for 4 days then took the night train to Madrid. It is 13 hours and about $105 dollars. Airfare to Paris was only about $530. I flew in the beginning of June. Also since I stayed longer than one month, they did charge me an additional 150 dollars, but if it allowed me to stay in Europe two months longer, it was well worth it. Take Care.....

Also consider flying into Lisbon, Portugal and taking the overnight train into Madrid. Lisbon is quite a nice place and the overnight train is comfortable and not too expensive (~$100.00?). It always seems that the flight to Lisbon is a little cheaper than the flight to Madrid (or Barcelona).

Actually, the overnight train from Lisbon to Madrid is only 55 dollars......

We have been planning a trip to Spain & Portugal for June 2001. Last year in April there was a lot of airfare sales and RT from San Francisco was under $400 to Lisbon and under $450 to Madrid.

This year there has been a price war since November for trips to places in Europe for travel dates through March.

Has anyone tracked this before? Is it possible that there will be another price war starting in April again?

The prices are low because of the off season. Yes, the SFO to Madrid flight by March is 450, but that does not include the 70$ in taxes. By summer, with many American college students going to Europe, the airlines can charge much more. If your set on going for the summer, not worry about the price, just get your ticket early. Last year, it was outrageous just to get a flight into Europe. Let alone, trying to find some great deal. Good luck. I will be in Spain in a couple of weeks. SFO to Madrid 520$ w/taxes Delta airlines. I believe the offer ended Jan 23. Take care....

I found from a ticket consolidator in San Francisco (Air Ticket Masters) a flight from San Francisco into Barcelona openjaws and then out of Oporto to San Franicsco for $699.00.

Is this good?

Or does anyone think I can find a better deal if I wait?

If it is for the summertime(June-Sept) then yes, it is a good deal.

Thru the end of May you can get an airfare on Spanish Heritage Tours for an unbelivable fare of 299.00 roundtrip. It is a charter. This airfare is good out of New York or Chicago to Madrid or Malaga or possibly Barcelona out of New York. Good Luck..

[This message has been edited by MadridMan (edited 02-13-2001).]

Sabena is offering free companion fare from several locations in the US to destinations worldwide if you use a Mastercard to pay.
http://www.sabena.com/booking/specialoffers/usa/us_c.shtml

also try http://www.hotwire.com
They quoted a r/t Buffalo- Madrid at 780 for late may-mid june...

After doing a lot of research - probably too much, I got the best deal from a consolidator in San Francisco - Scandia Travel 415-552-5300.

We are flying in June on Lufthansa from San Francisco to Barcelona (via Munich) and returning from Lisbon (via Munich) for $757 taxes included. Child's ticket was $582.

Eddie,

As air fares are pretty expensive during the summer, isn't it possible to organise charter flights to Spain during that time?.

Isn't a charter flight like hiring a plane?. Maybe Madridman should start a new business: "Madridman's tours" and take lots of people from the US to Madrid .

Antonio

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