Incredibly low fares to cities like Dublin (pictured) on sale for mid summer trips (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
When I first saw images of the Brussels bombings, I had a feeling demand for summer trips to Europe would take a hit.
We are starting to see evidence of that now. Today, United and announced a very good fare sale for deep-summer trips– those during the “peak of the peak” summer season in July and August. SAS is running quite a good sale, too.
Typically airlines run fare sales for early (pre-June 15) or late (post August 15) and leave the middle of the summer alone. In past years, mid-summer fares to Europe climbed to nearly $2,000 roundtrip for those waiting until May or June to make reservations.
But not this year. To amp up demand, United is offering some super-low deals for mid summer trips between July 4 and August 22. These fares will only be on sale through April 22, and I’m sure many will disappear before then.
Since airlines usually march in lockstep, I expect other carriers to match SAS or United or come out with deep summer European fare sales of their own.
Related: Worst summer yet for trips to Europe? Or the best?
These super low SAS fares are ROUND TRIP from SFO! Seriously cheap for mid summer- CLICK for more info
Some examples of really good deals for economy class trips on United include:
Dublin/Shannon, Ireland- Roundtrip ares from east coast cities and Chicago $700-$900. It’s surprising to see anything to Europe below $1,000 during peak summer. From LA or San Francisco, fares to Ireland are in the $1,100 ranges. Cheap! If you go in April or May, you’ll find fares to Dublin as low as $929 from SFO on Aer Lingus.
Paris, London, Frankfurt roundtrip from Los Angeles or San Francisco in the $1,400 range.
Stockholm from Seattle is just $926— very surprising to see a sub $1,000 round trip from the west coast during peak summer season.
Frankfurt from Philly just $805 roundtrip. Are you kidding me? During peak summer? That’s cheap.
Lisbon, Paris, Zurich, Frankfurt roundtrips from Newark are all in the $900 range.
Here’s a link to United’s fare sale page. Be sure and check other airlines for matches between now and April 22 when the sale ends.
Fine print from United:
Are these good deals enough to convince you to head over the pond this summer? Please leave your comments below.
P.S.: Don’t forget about this fantastic deal SFO to Auckland– just $898 round trip– very rare to see NZ for less than $1,000!
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Detroit Metro (DTW) is right in Delta’s wheelhouse. If they don’t defend it, Hartsfield may be next.
Back in March, I paid $1800 for Virgin Atlantic’s premium economy on SFO-LHR-SFO, which is business class in all but name and luggage priority. The Brussels bombings were the day I flew home from Heathrow. Their 787 service is wonderful.
thanks Brian… you might be right, but I don’t think we’ve seen any fare sales for mid summer yet. Perhaps that 1200 was for an early or late summer sale that we have seen.
Yes… that’s been up for a few days now. Appears to be just from Detroit but I’m not sure. Delta does not seem to be matching this…yet.
I’m not sure this is a great deal on United. Two months ago Los Angeles to London was in the $1200 range, now it’s in the $1500 range. How was this a great sale?
Wish they would give a nice deal on business class, waiting to buy my ticket to London for July hopping that I can get a business class fare under $3 grand, may not happen.
Would be nice. Alas, Delta is advertising “STARTING AT $1,529” for European deals on its home page.