# Flights to France this summer **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 27, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238 "2004-01-27T01:08:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zazie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Zazie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zazie)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/1 "2004-01-27T01:08:18Z")
I am sorry, I know this has been asked before (even by me!) but you never know when someone as the latest scoop. (and I am getting desperate) My husband and I need to fly to France (Lyon) from Boston for my sister’s wedding. She is getting married July 3rd, so I want to leave June 27th or 28th returning around July 11th. Basically, high season for prices. I flew many times before and every year it seems like the tickets get 100 bucks more than the previous year… It’s getting totally out of control. All the Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia, etc. are quoting me about $1000 per person! This is insane. I found a quote at $682 + tax on bestdiscount travel or something like that. So far, it’s the best I got… Anybody’s got a trick, an idea, a place where I could try to get a lower price??? Thanks in advance for any tips. ---
**Author:** ![Melandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Melandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melandry)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/2 "2004-01-27T01:29:23Z")
My one suggestion was to try flights to Paris and then take the train to Lyon because you’d be more likely to find sale fares to Paris. But from a quick check of Orbitz and Expedia (and Air France- wow! nothing under $2000!) it doesn’t look like Paris flights are running any cheaper. Sorry that wasn’t more helpful, but if you aren’t opposed to the idea of plane + train, Paris still would be a more likely destination to find a cheap fare for in any case. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/3 "2004-01-27T01:48:41Z")
We booked with British Airways back during their November sale, but even that (June departure, July return) was Denver\>London\>Paris for $700. (We are flying into Paris and out of Nice.) Easyjet (lesser degree, Ryanair) can be a helpful option. You just have to find a decent fare to London. Easyjet can be out of Gatwick, Ryanair is usually out of Stansted or Luton airports. If you could just get a halfway decent fare to London Gatwick, you could then travel to Lyon. From Boston there must be _something_ halfway reasonable, but it is high season travel. There is always Hotwire or Priceline, but you won’t know the flight details until _after_ you book. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/4 "2004-01-27T07:03:52Z")
I think I’m going to try “last-minute” fairs on Travelocity this summer to try to find some decent rates to Europe. Unfortunately, you probably need some definite dates. You might try calling a travel agent, hey, you never know. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/5 "2004-01-27T07:56:11Z")
As a last resort, try flights to London and train from there…would be about 5 hours by train. Unfortunately, $1000 doesn’t sound that atypical for the dates you’re trying…don’t forget that the value of the dollar will be counting against you if the airline isn’t American. ---
**Author:** ![Zazie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Zazie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zazie)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/6 "2004-01-27T16:46:20Z")
Thanks a lot to all who replied. I checked the train option and with the cost and the bother of changing transportation, it is not worth it. If I would ever find an incredible price then I would take it, but as it is now, it’s not worth the hassle. I guess I will have to search a bit more and then suck it up! At least I know that’s what the prices are and that I am not getting ripped of, well, no more than any other traveler that is… Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Blueapple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Blueapple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blueapple)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/7 "2004-01-31T01:39:17Z")
Expect to pay that amount from the US to Western Europe anytime between June and September. If I were you, I’d wait a month or two and see if anyone cuts their prices. If you don’t want to buy via the traditional route, pick up a major Sunday paper and look in the travel section. You should see lots of ads for consolidators. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/8 "2004-01-31T13:28:52Z")
Virgin Atlantic shows BOS\>London Heathrow at $717 after taxes on the dates you want. You could then fly Easyjet from London Stansted to Lyon for between 7 and 12 British pounds (12 and 21 USD), depending on which flights you pick. Of course, you have to get from Heathrow to Stansted, but it’s doable. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/9 "2004-01-31T13:44:42Z")
British Airways came in at $890 after taxes, BOS\>Heathrow\>Lyon. I guess you could sit tight and wait for another wave of airfare sales like there was in November, but I just have this feeling that the fares are set for the season. ---
**Author:** ![Zazie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Zazie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zazie)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/10 "2004-01-31T16:40:29Z")
You guys rock! I can’t believe you actually went through the trouble of looking for some flights! Thank you. I just did my taxes and I might be able to afford a bit more, and as I said, we have to go anyway… so I am getting use to the idea of paying at least $800 a ticket… arghhh… 800… maybe not used to it quit yet … My sister better be happy 😉 Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/11 "2004-01-31T17:56:07Z")
> [@Zazie](#): > > Anybody’s got a trick, an idea, a place where I could try to get a lower price???.. Check out the boards at [eurotrip.com](http://eurotrip.com) for tips. Also, I would buy flight insurance because of possible delays/cancellations. See [BBC NEWS | UK | 'Al-Qaeda threat' grounds flights](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3447715.stm) British Airways and Ar France have been cancelling flights between Europe and the U.S. due to fears that al-Qaeda may be targeting them. Hope you have a good, safe trip. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/12 "2004-01-31T18:32:20Z")
> [@Violet](#): > > Check out the boards at [eurotrip.com](http://eurotrip.com) for tips > . That’s actually been my main source of information. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/13 "2004-01-31T22:41:32Z")
> [@Caprese](#): > > That’s actually been my main source of information. Then you have checked each airline site? You might have to do it every day. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/14 "2004-01-31T23:02:08Z")
> [@Violet](#): > > Then you have checked each airline site? You might have to do it every day. I myself am covered; I got a good deal on my tickets during the November British Airways sale. Been looking for a one way fare for my kid to come home from France. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/15 "2004-01-31T23:09:43Z")
Don at Cheap Flights gave me some good Euro airfare sites, it is up to _my kid_ to check the sites every day. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zazie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Zazie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zazie)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/16 "2004-01-31T23:58:17Z")
But [Eurotips.com](http://Eurotips.com) doesn’t have airlines, right? Or am I blind? ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/17 "2004-02-01T00:42:57Z")
> [@Zazie](#): > > But [Eurotips.com](http://Eurotips.com) doesn’t have airlines, right? Or am I blind? You are correct, sort of. I think they recently began an airfare search engine, but it is incomplete. I just go to the Cheap Flights forum. You can monitor sales, gather airfare site info, etc. The Cheap Flights forum is an excellent way of keeping track of good deals from the USA to Europe, and also can be a good resource for travelers from the UK and Europe. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2004, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/18 "2004-02-01T06:33:11Z")
My family has always had the best luck flying into and out of Amsterdam rather than any other city in Western Europe. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2004, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/19 "2004-02-01T12:42:01Z")
> [@ITR champion](#): > > My family has always had the best luck flying into and out of Amsterdam rather than any other city in Western Europe. Used to be true…but the last couple of years other airlines have gotten a lot more competitive. Plus, Amsterdam means you’re probably on an antique NorthWest DC10 with no legroom, whereas British Airways have large comfy seats and individual TVs and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2004, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238/20 "2004-02-01T12:50:31Z")
lol **Gorillaman**. Agreed. Seems to me there is no longer much rhyme or reason over getting the cheapest fare, you just have to keeps slogging away daily, poring over airfare sites. However, the best thing that ever happened to Denver was getting that nonstop to London on British Airways. **Zazie** Don’t know if this will do you any good, but here is a new French airline (flies Nantes to New York) plus a couple of Euro airfare sites. The French airline, Ocean Airways, begins flying in June. [Ocean Airways](http://www.ocean-airways.com/intro_swf.html) [EBookers](http://www.ebookers.fr/index.html) [ETN](http://www.etn.nl/discoun2.htm) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flights-to-france-this-summer/226238.md?page=2)