Peak Season Return to Europe

[Fr33faller]

Hi All,

I have spent a fair bit of time trawling through airfare searches for a return trip PER-FRA in Dec/Jan (using matrix/google flights/momondo/skyscanner/and a number of OTAs). Due to the timing of it being peak season flights are getting more expensive. I have limited time off work so would like to maximise the length of the trip however this factor restricts my flexibility in searching. Any tips on going about it?

I am considering using Flightfox, does anyone on here have experience using it recently? Thoughts on whether it is likely to be helpful (given that it is after all a fairly straightforward itinerary, just during a peak season)?

Appreciate your help,

Cheers

 

[Fr33faller]

OK, so I made this post last night in the midst of feeling a bit frustrated due to the lack of an outcome after a large number of hours spent searching for the right flight at the right price.

I have done this journey half a dozen times during the past couple of years, and generally paid $1700-2200 return for very convenient flights (minimal connection time and good departure and arrival timing). Up until last night the best I could come up with was ~$2100 for a less than ideal flight or upwards of $2600 for a convenient one.

For anybody interested, the solution which I found this morning was a one way booking on VA: PER-DPS, followed by a semi-return booking with EY: DPS-CGK-AUH-FRA, FRA-TXL-AUH-PER. Sounds like a nightmare right? Except the departure times are good, the two EY journeys total 22-23 hours travel time each (so not too bad), flying with EY means I'll get VA FF perks, and it came to $1600 all up with ~18k FF points earned along the way.

I would still be very interested to hear how people have gone using flightfox in recent times. I have never used it myself but have looked into it in the past and read a few reviews about it, though none relating to peoples recent experiences. I'm sure it has been and still is developing so reading reviews and peoples experiences of using it in 2012 might not sum it up as it is today.

Cheers

 

[casanovawa]

Don't think I've ever used flightfox, tend to use Skyscanner or ITA Matrix can be useful as well...

Not a such a great time to be booking for flights so close in...

 

[browski]

Could you give your specific (preferred) dates?

 

[Fr33faller]

Hey browski,

The dates needed to be inside a window of 13Dec-11Jan (due to time away from work). As I mentioned above I found and booked an itinerary which I am pretty happy with, by using a one way fare to DPS followed by an ROJ back to PER.

 

[browski]

Hey browski,

The dates needed to be inside a window of 13Dec-11Jan (due to time away from work). As I mentioned above I found and booked an itinerary which I am pretty happy with, by using a one way fare to DPS followed by an ROJ back to PER.

Cool, just be aware that the DPS-CGK leg will be on Garuda.

 

[Fr33faller]

Cool, just be aware that the DPS-CGK leg will be on Garuda.

Yeah, DPS-CGK is an EY codeshare operated by GA, is that a bad thing? I haven't flown GA before... The FRA-TXL leg is alse an EY codeshare operated by AB.

 

[browski]

Yeah, DPS-CGK is an EY codeshare operated by GA, is that a bad thing?

In reality "not a bad thing". However, just by you posting that queston, this thread will probably grow by 10 pages.

 

[Fr33faller]

Am I missing some recent news about GA? Or is the DPS-CGK on GA a notoriously bad leg to travel? Or do people's opinions on here just differ vastly between one another? Although I did ask that question you've got me wondering why you pointed out that it was operated by GA and not EY, I feel like I'm missing something here...?

 

[support]

As per the rules for threads in this forum, this thread is now closed.