Price of Airfare from U.S. to Amsterdam?

abcdabcd · Post by **abcdabcd** » Mon 1st Mar 2010 09:53 pm

I've been planning my trip in August 2010 for a while now and regularly checking airfare's even though there's still time until August. I'm not seeing rates less than $1k (not including taxes/fees) for a roundtrip ticket from U.S. (DFW to AMS). I've been checking every site there is.

I realize August is in the high season. Do you think as the time gets closer I'll be able to get a lower rate than $1k in August? If not, I have a chance right now of getting a roundtrip ticket for about $900 including taxes/fees and wondering if I should go ahead and get it or wait to see if I can get a better deal.

Thanks

cantona7 · Post by **cantona7** » Mon 1st Mar 2010 10:29 pm

befriend someone in the airline business! i pay about $450 r/t if i fly standby on an employee pass. i think you can find better than 1000 r/t though. try kayak.com

Balou · Post by **Balou** » Tue 2nd Mar 2010 12:26 am

You might want to look at flights to Dusseldorf, Germany. I paid $510 RT last summer and then took the ICE Train to A'dam. It was about $450 cheaper than flying direct.

Peace,
Balou

cantona7 · Post by **cantona7** » Tue 2nd Mar 2010 01:07 am

balou1999 wrote:You might want to look at flights to Dusseldorf, Germany. I paid $510 RT last summer and then took the ICE Train to A'dam. It was about $450 cheaper than flying direct.

Peace,
Balou

i agree. paris and brussels seem like other options maybe?

abcdabcd · Post by **abcdabcd** » Tue 2nd Mar 2010 02:31 am

Appreciate the suggestions. I checked the other cities, and have checked Kayak and numerous other sites but, not finding any deals less than $1k (tax included). Maybe I should go with the $900 deal I found but, not sure.

cantona7 · Post by **cantona7** » Tue 2nd Mar 2010 02:34 am

where are u flying out of. i'll see what i can find. but the rule of thumb is the earlier you book the cheaper it is. as the plane fills up when it gets closer the prices drop. not many empty seats to amsterdam in the summer months or to europe for that matter.

MPSRuo · Post by **MPSRuo** » Tue 2nd Mar 2010 04:52 am

just bought my ticket for may 5th, orlando to dublin for $612 all taxes and fees inc. Ticket Dublin --> Amsterdam was 35 euros. Best deal I found this year.

Last year I got a Miami to Amsterdam direct for $594, oh well. Keep searching, use www.kayak.com , eticket.com, orbitz.

If you dont have specific dates, your flexible, use kayak's buzz feature (in the MORE button on the left side of the website). pick a from and a to, pick a month

abcdabcd · Post by **abcdabcd** » Tue 2nd Mar 2010 06:53 am

cantona7 wrote:where are u flying out of. i'll see what i can find. but the rule of thumb is the earlier you book the cheaper it is. as the plane fills up when it gets closer the prices drop. not many empty seats to amsterdam in the summer months or to europe for that matter.

Flying out of DFW (Dallas, Fort Worth).

Balou · Post by **Balou** » Tue 2nd Mar 2010 08:12 am

DFW is my home airport also, although I usually fly out of Dallas-Love. It is early for any of the summer sales to have started. I booked the flight for my July '08 trip in May, I would wait. Go to http://www.bing.com/travel/ and see what the Farecast says for your travel dates. I find that they are usually pretty close with there predictions.

Peace,
Balou

abcdabcd · Post by **abcdabcd** » Tue 2nd Mar 2010 05:42 pm

balou1999 wrote:DFW is my home airport also, although I usually fly out of Dallas-Love. It is early for any of the summer sales to have started. I booked the flight for my July '08 trip in May, I would wait. Go to http://www.bing.com/travel/ and see what the Farecast says for your travel dates. I find that they are usually pretty close with there predictions.

Peace,
Balou

How much did you pay for your airfare in '08? I checked Bing and it says to wait, fares are steadily dropping but, then again it's showing prices around $1300+ now so even if the rate drops 20-25% it's still $1k+.

I might be able to get another deal in a few days for a roundtrip ticket in August for under $850 (taxes/fees included). If I get this deal, I'll probably pick it up since I doubt even if I wait I'll be able to get a deal for less than that. Unless if anybody still thinks I should wait and could get a lower deal, then I'll consider waiting.

DazedandConfusedinOR · Wed 3rd Mar 2010 08:02 am

If you find airfare under $900 for August go for it. Summer is the worst time to go to Europe in terms of airfare. You can't really compare 2010 prices to 2008. Pretty much every long haul carrier is facing tough times so airfares have risen considerably since a couple of years ago.

I just paid $760 RT from PDX to AMS and that's for a March trip. Actually I bought my ticket in November! Sometimes Kayak, Orbitz, Vayama, Momondo, etc don't have the best prices. I would check individual airlines as well as they often have specials. I bought my ticket directly through Aer Lingus because they were having a special.

Good luck in your search, but if you can get it in August for around $900 I would go for it.

Five · Post by **Five** » Wed 3rd Mar 2010 09:04 am

balou1999 wrote:You might want to look at flights to Dusseldorf, Germany. I paid $510 RT last summer and then took the ICE Train to A'dam. It was about $450 cheaper than flying direct.

Peace,
Balou

This is the exact thing I will be doing for my trip in May, got my tickets nonstop to Dusseldorf and back for $570 from JFK back in December. I used kayak.com to find the lower prices but ended up getting the deal through Expedia. I wish you the best of luck in your search, I'm sure it will work out.

DazedandConfusedinOR · Wed 3rd Mar 2010 09:28 am

Flying from JFK is a lot different than flying from DFW. Figure on adding another $200 at least for flying from DFW. Plus, then you have to get from Duddeldorf to Amsterdam. Those specials you see for 19 euro ICE trains have all kinds of restrictions. Figure another $50 to get to Amsterdam. Plus, May is shoulder season. Airfare is considerably less than going in August. Not trying to rain on your parade, but like I said, if you get airfare under $900 snatch it up.

Uncle Ron · Post by **Uncle Ron** » Wed 3rd Mar 2010 04:28 pm

Some good insight and advice.
Smart money says buy now if you find a price that is under $1k, as mentioned.
You could also buy a ticket with an insurance option. If the price goes down, you will be reimbursed the difference.
There are however a couple of points that are deal-breakers for some:
- Up-front cost of the coverage.
- No return, ie... the airfare stayed the same or went up.
- The return was less than the initial cost.

Hope you find a reasonable airfare.
Peace.

DazedandConfusedinOR · Wed 3rd Mar 2010 04:31 pm

Ha, I just noticed I typed "Duddeldorf!"