Travel Q&A: Will Europe airfares go down?

Will Europe fares go down?

Q: My wife and I are taking a 21-day accompanied tour of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales this August. Last year, we got an $800 round-trip fare to Rome. Flights to London this year range from $1,160 for a one-stop flight to $1,600 for nonstop. After our Rome experience, we are not anxious to get on another flight for 15 hours to get to Europe.

Can we expect airfares to drop significantly in August, the peak of summer?

— J & K, Poulsbo

A: Unfortunately, flights to Europe are much more expensive this year. Airlines have cut capacity by reducing the number of flights and summertime demand has picked up as the economy recovers. That combination means fewer empty seats — and higher fares.

It's unlikely that Europe prices will decline significantly, especially in the August high season, but airfares are volatile. So keep checking online. You can sign up for low-fare alerts at travel Web sites such as Expedia.com or Airfare watchdog.com or get predictions on airfares through Farecast.com. Nonstop is the most hassle-free way to go — and may be worth the extra money unless you find a great deal in a connecting flight.

Once you've seen what the fares are doing over a week or two, you'll have a better sense of prices — and then can nab what seems best to you.

Kristin Jackson, Seattle Times travel staff

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