best airfare sites/strategies for NYC/BCN travel?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

DS wants to fly to Barcelona and then Ibiza. Over Labor Day Weekend (has obviously learned nothing about advance planning from me). Is there a best time of day for bargain (or at least lower than now) fares? What are the best site(s) to look for air? I know he'll prob need to book BCN/Ibiza separately and we've done that before but the NYC/BCN leg is spendy (we don't have FF miles to use) and I'm having trouble navigating the numerous options (of course I am his default travel agent). All suggestions appreciated!

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

We took Norwegian Air home from Barcelona (to Newark) and thought it was quite nice and affordable. There's a surcharge for one checked bag, a meal, and a snack, and that was worth it. They only fly back and forth a couple of days a week.

We went to Malaga with TAP Air Portugal, with a stop in Lisbon. The transfer in Lisbon was difficult. Except for not having to retrieve our bags and drag them around, it was a mess, long lines and a long time to get through. And then for the second flight, they put everyone on a bus and squished us in (so we all had to wait for the entire planeload of people to get on the bus) and then drove us to the plane, quite a distance away. Everyone was friendly, so it wasn't that bad, but it was a good thing we had almost three hours for the transfer.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Second Norwegian Air. Great airline. Service as promised. I took them to Paris. Very very pleased. As Wacky said, worth the extra fee to get to pick a seat, get food and check a bag.

Previous poster Lawren2 took them to London and was please.

[LisaH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LisaH]

Another budget airline WOW (Icelandic) is similar to Norwegian Air. Worth check it out. I would also keep checking Google flights and Kayak. We looked into the budget airlines for our Baltic cruise in May/Jun but in the end, after adding up all the fees, there was not much savings so we went with United/Lufthansa. Maybe the savings are more significant flying out of East Coast?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Another budget airline WOW (Icelandic) is similar to Norwegian Air. Worth check it out. I would also keep checking Google flights and Kayak. We looked into the budget airlines for our Baltic cruise in May/Jun but in the end, after adding up all the fees, there was not much savings so we went with United/Lufthansa. Maybe the savings are more significant flying out of East Coast?

I haven't been able to get kayak to load. Will try Google. I tried a few other consolidated listing sites but the low fares weren't actually available when I clicked through. Right now I'm trying to get the cost down. If DS is a little more uncomfortable than he'd have been if he planned ahead, well....

I tried WOW but cost was very high.

Wacky and Grayfal -- Thanks for the Norwegian mention - the fares seem within the range of the others. Still higher than his budget but I'll keep checking that one for him. And the food/seat/bag package is $90, fyi. I realize prob worth it but maybe he can pack a sandwich and sit in a middle seat

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Avery, don't you sometimes wonder when our kids will start doing their own travel planning.............or when we'll let them?

[mpizza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mpizza]

Avery, don't you sometimes wonder when our kids will start doing their own travel planning.............or when we'll let them?

LOL - co-dependent habits are hard to break!

DD is in Hawaii celebrating her 10-year anniversary courtesy of an II sighting as we speak.

Maria

[mpizza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mpizza]

DS wants to fly to Barcelona and then Ibiza. Over Labor Day Weekend (has obviously learned nothing about advance planning from me). Is there a best time of day for bargain (or at least lower than now) fares? What are the best site(s) to look for air? I know he'll prob need to book BCN/Ibiza separately and we've done that before but the NYC/BCN leg is spendy (we don't have FF miles to use) and I'm having trouble navigating the numerous options (of course I am his default travel agent). All suggestions appreciated!

The only tips I have are clear your cookies - sometimes the browser remembers a fare - and search one ticket at a time.

Maria

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

LOL - co-dependent habits are hard to break!

DD is in Hawaii celebrating her 10-year anniversary courtesy of an II sighting as we speak.

Maria

Actually both of my daughters are perfectly able to make their own travel arrangements, and have. I'm the only who keeps wanting to jump in and "help".

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Actually both of my daughters are perfectly able to make their own travel arrangements, and have. I'm the only who keeps wanting to jump in and "help".

They are exceptional!
I think DS is just used to me taking care of it, and I hate to see him do it less than efficiently... and he knows what a PIA it is...
the ONE THING I keep asking for is ADVANCE NOTICE. Why can't they at least do that??? Yes yes I'm enabling, I know.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

They are exceptional!

I know.

Elizabeth planned her trip to and from Thailand, the seven weeks she spent in Europe, the trip to NYC (just to mention a few) and yet I still think she needs "help".

However she is looking into a conference in Boston in December (for her Master's program) and I've already found her a great deal on a hotel, checked out flights and she keeps saying "But Mom, I'm just starting to look into this". I did book the room, as I told her I don't book anything that I have to pre-pay or that can't be cancelled.