WHEN do airfares to Europe - June 2004 get lower in price

I am thinking of going to Europe from Los Angeles in June 2004 for 3 weeks to
either Copenhagen or London. Current search for airfares indicate London is
about $578 and Copenhagen $1348. A consolidator said the summer fares are not
out yet.
When do you expect the fares to come down?
Why is the London fare already low while the Cop. is not?
Is it a reliable method to buy the fare from a consolidator vs the airline?
How can RyanAir have such low air fares (their web sight showed fares as low as
5 - 10 pounds) but could not get any additional information because their web
site kept locking up?
I would appreciate any other advise about planning for this trip.
Thanks, Rick
Thanks

"Stromer2" wrote in message
...
I am thinking of going to Europe from Los Angeles in June 2004 for 3
weeks to
either Copenhagen or London. Current search for airfares indicate
London is
about $578 and Copenhagen $1348. A consolidator said the summer fares
are not
out yet.
When do you expect the fares to come down?

You can fly LAX-LHR for US $480 including taxes on Continental (it is
Virgin Atlantic metal). Fares go up or or around 15 June so I got the
example fare by using outward date of 14 June. I found the fare via the
AA website (www.aa.com) which will do a comprehensive fare search. I
don't expect fares this low to be available much longer.

Why is the London fare already low while the Cop. is not?

The AA website is quoting LAX-CPH as US $1324, which is much as you
state. There isn't a lot of competition on that route and, clearly, no
low fares have been released.

Is it a reliable method to buy the fare from a consolidator vs the
airline?

As long as the Consolidator is reputable, you should have no problems. I
assume that in the USA paying by Credit Card gives you some protection..

How can RyanAir have such low air fares (their web sight showed fares
as low as
5 - 10 pounds) but could not get any additional information because
their web
site kept locking up?

RyanAir have low fares because they are a low fare, no service, outfit
which flies to and from mainly secondary airports. The prices they quote
are then plus tax, service charges, booking fees etc. It would be best
for you to avoid them.

I would appreciate any other advise about planning for this trip.
Thanks, Rick
Thanks


JohnT

"Stromer2" wrote in message
...
I am thinking of going to Europe from Los Angeles in June 2004 for 3 weeks
to
either Copenhagen or London. Current search for airfares indicate London
is
about $578 and Copenhagen $1348. A consolidator said the summer fares are
not
out yet.

The price for London isnt too bad but that for Copenhagen is ridiculous.
If all else fails fly to London first and from there to Copenhagen.

When do you expect the fares to come down?

Consolidated fares should appear in January

Why is the London fare already low while the Cop. is not?

Competition, the transatlantic market to London has a lot of airlines
flying the route.

Is it a reliable method to buy the fare from a consolidator vs the
airline?

Yes ,just make sure they are approved by either ASTA or IATA.

Keith

How can RyanAir have such low air fares (their web sight showed fares as
low as
5 - 10 pounds) but could not get any additional information because their
web
site kept locking up?

They are a no frills airline, this means tightly packed seats, no food
service,
non changeable tickets, no interline agreements (you cant check baggage
through
to another flight, not even another Ryanair one) and no guarantees about
leaving or arriving on time.

Personally I prefer Easyjet but if you are thinking of travelling
through London to Copenhage pay the extra for BA or SAS

If nothing else using Ryanair or Easy jet means switching to another
airport which realistically can take several hours.

Keith

"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...

"Stromer2" wrote in message
...

How can RyanAir have such low air fares (their web sight showed fares as
low as
5 - 10 pounds) but could not get any additional information because their
web
site kept locking up?

They are a no frills airline, this means tightly packed seats,

IME, no different from any other European cattle class

no food service,

Full service on BMI European flights now consists of a chocolate bar
or packet of nuts (and a drink)

non changeable tickets,

Ryanair tickets are perfectly changable, allbeit for a fee but that's more
than you get from a full price airline with most classes of fare

no interline agreements (you cant check baggage through
to another flight, not even another Ryanair one)

agreed.

and no guarantees about leaving or arriving on time.

My weekend trip home with LH was 30 minutes late in both directions.
the two previous return RA flights were all five minutes early.

Actually the big deal about RA is the out of the way airports that they
fly to. If micky-mouse-middle-of-nowhere airport is where you really
want to go to(from) then they are IME great, but if you actually want
to get to the city that RA pretend to serve (which I guess most do)
then they are not so.


Personally I prefer Easyjet but if you are thinking of travelling
through London to Copenhage pay the extra for BA or SAS

If nothing else using Ryanair or Easy jet means switching to another
airport which realistically can take several hours.

tim


Keith

If I wanted to fly from LAX to Copenhagen, this is one of the things I would do:

I would get a couple of the big name American guide books for Copenhagen. They
list reliable consolidators in the Getting There chapters. Then call the
consolidators they recommend. This has worked well for me in the past, although
not on the route you mention.

But it seems worth a shot. You could get the books from the library, but be sure
to get current editions, because the recommend consolidators can change.

Debra

Stromer2 wrote:

I am thinking of going to Europe from Los Angeles in June 2004 for 3 weeks to
either Copenhagen or London. Current search for airfares indicate London is
about $578 and Copenhagen $1348. A consolidator said the summer fares are not
out yet.
When do you expect the fares to come down?
Why is the London fare already low while the Cop. is not?
Is it a reliable method to buy the fare from a consolidator vs the airline?
How can RyanAir have such low air fares (their web sight showed fares as low as
5 - 10 pounds) but could not get any additional information because their web
site kept locking up?
I would appreciate any other advise about planning for this trip.
Thanks, Rick
Thanks