Send to a friend
Print this tip
Email Sign Up (Free)
Add to del.icio.usThe backyard barbeque is barely warmed up, yet one airline is already trying to tempt you with some year-end holiday fares. Continental wins the 2008 award for early kickoff of turkey-season travel, with round-trip Business Class fares to Europe starting at just $1,020 (plus taxes) for November travel; $1,220 in December/January.
But informed travelers know the gravy lies ahead...
You see, Mass Market Carriers (MMCs) routinely launch fare sales ahead of the competition in order to snag the jumpy traveler, who doesn't wait for the prime value. Fare matching is usually forthcoming by a Premium Service Carrier (PSC) or two.
The problem(s) with Continental: It's behind the premium service quality curve on the trans-Atlantic, and offers an inconsistent comfort experience. (If you're not careful, you could find yourself in any one of three VERY different seats on flights to Europe.)
The airline's fast-forward to the holidays (fare sales usually aren't for travel five months out) is a great way to generate cash during hard times. Too far in advance, though, and an airline needs to be careful it's not mortgaging too much of its future. That's becoming a greater temptation, nowadays.
The best part about Continental and its deal is that it gets the attention of competitors with similar temptations and an excess of inventory for the premium cabins during low-season. The benefit to travelers is that the competitors often have better seats, mileage programs, routings, and lucrative upgrade opportunities to First Class.
My Advice: Unless you're a Continental loyalist (remember you can earn CO miles when traveling on other carriers), don't get hooked by the first airline's lure -- wait for the followers to cast their lines. Availability is wide open at the moment.
> Thanksgiving Travel: Outbound permitted: Nov. 23 through Nov. 29. Return: Nov. 27 through Nov. 28 OR Dec. 2 through Dec. 4.
> Christmas and New Year's Travel: Outbound: Dec. 20 though Jan. 2, 2009. Return: Dec. 25 through Jan. 9, 2009.
More unique analysis on how to get the best value for holiday travel to Europe is coming in First Class Flyer.
P.S. If for some reason you have already purchased a Continental ticket, know that you can cancel it for a $300 fee with the ability to use it for future travel when you discover a better value.
I am not sure I can agree with you on this one. Based on what happened when you advised the same for summer travel, I might be tempted to purchase now instead of later. Prices never did come down for summer, in fact they went up the longer we all waited. Gas prices are going to force prices to increase, whether we all like it or not. The goverments reluctance to step in confirms this and either they will raise prices to cover the gas prices or go out of business. I say take the deals now and hope that they are in business during the holidays.
While I often suggest waiting for fares to decrease, in the piece above I suggest waiting for BETTER VALUES which will come when others match the fares. In other words, there are two kinds of patience: The first is based on price alone (fares to go down), and the second (in this case) is based on waiting for other airlines presenting better value opportunities, with one or more of the following, for example: a) much more comfortable seats, b) mileage programs which better suit your personal mileage earning and burning strategies, c) better routing for your preferred itinerary, and my personal favorite: d) the opportunity to upgrade to First Class on heavily discounted Business Class fares! (Travelers who took our advice and did not jump at Continental’s fares for summer travel were sitting pretty with the better values that later followed.)
Matt, I'm debating biting at this for a New Years trip to Amsterdam from NYC. It looks like CO is about $2k round trip in BF vs. over double for KLM (only other skyteam with direct from NYC--the main driver for this trip is to hit elite on CO for 2009). The other option, of course, is coach, which is about $1k on CO. (Only) double the cost for BF seems worth it (agree?), but I wonder if waiting to see what KLM does is worth it.
Hey I am looking for a first class fare to London departing on Nov26th and returning December 14th. Any ideas? I have about 200,000 CO miles
Have something to say?
Add your insider tip! Your personal experiences are an important part of the FlightBliss knowledge base on flight ratings, the quality of airlines, seats, schedules, mileage programs and fares. Post your comment on this FlightBliss Tip below.