This week we did a spot check of airfares from select USA cities to Europe. We compared what the airfare would have cost if you purchased it on May 25, 2009 for July travel 2009, with airfares this year to Europe for July 2010. Out final conclusion is one word "UGLY".
On almost every single route to Europe we saw a major fare hike sometimes as much as double last year.
Fuel surcharges also increased on the average $100 to most European destinations. The last fuel surcharge hike occurred on May 5, 2010. Fuel surcharges to London remained about the same. Travel to any German city doubled from $160 to $320 per ticket.
Dublin which had unbelievable low fuel surcharges last year of $14 is now $184. This has sky rocketed but still is the lowest fuel surcharge to Europe today.
Take a look at our charts we did below, we found similar results throughout Europe. Please note the airfares listed below are base airfares. They do no include fuel surcharges, landing fees, and entry fee taxes.
Take a look at what we paid for a base airfare in May 2009 to travel in July 2009 compared to this year traveling in July 2010.
Now we are seeing airfares, beginning in September 2010, drop between $300 to $500 a person. So you may want to consider fall travel versus summer.
| Departure/Destination Cities |
Base
Airfare On May 24, 2009 For July 2009 Travel |
Base
Airfare On May 24, 2010 For July 2010 Travel |
Price Difference Between July 2009 & July 2010 Travel |
Base
Airfare On May 24, 2010 For Sept. 2010 Travel |
Savings
If You Travel In Sept. 2010 Versus July 2010 |
|
| Los Angeles to Paris | $538 | $949 | $411 | $607 | $342 | |
| Dallas to Dublin | $294 | $824 | $530 | $441 | $383 | |
| San Francisco to Madrid | $280 | $724 | $444 | $551 | $173 | |
| New York City to Frankfurt | $248 | $700 | $452 | $324 | $376 | |
| Atlanta to Brussels | $458 | $939 | $481 | $450 | $489 | |
| Detroit to Manchester | $398 | $908 | $510 | $576 | $332 | |
| Denver to Amsterdam | $382 | $1,031 | $649 | $625 | $406 | |
| Chicago to London | $338 | $858 | $520 | $512 | $346 | |
| Washington DC to Athens | $404 | $970 | $566 | $526 | $444 |
