What's up with ITA Flight Search?

I noticed something strange when I tried to search international fares yesterday -- many of them were pricing out in the several thousand dollar range, when <$900 fares had recently been the norm for those routes.

I figured it was just a quirk of searching on a weekend, but now I'm not so sure.

Take this search for flights to Gothenburg, Sweden. ITA Flight Search is quoting a low of $1495 up to a high of $7686.

Now compare with this chart of prices from Google Flights, showing a low of $793 and a high of $1109.

Is this Google's way of pushing people to use Google Flights instead of Matrix?

Thinking about Spring Break?

There's good availability for $325 fares to Jamaica in April.

Or you could try Bermuda for <$350.

Or check out old San Juan, Puerto Rico for <$350.

Dreaming of Somewhere Warm...

Oh the weather outside is frightful. So I'm dreaming of a beach that's delightful.

St. Croix and St. Thomas both have <$500 fares for trips in the next thirty days.

Or you can head to Puerto Rico, with fares to San Juan for <$350.

If Jamaica is more your speed, there's plenty of available <$350 fares to Kingston (flights to Montego Bay are running slightly higher).

Or how about <$400 to Trinidad and Tobago?

How about South America?

Argentina

The Flight Deal is reporting $663 RT from DCA to Buenos Aires.

Peru

Or you can hit up Lima for $671.

Brazil

Flights to Rio are currently pricing out at <$900 for March and April travel, as are flights to Sao Paulo.

How About Istanbul in March?

Steal this Trip has some additional airfare deals for the Washington area, including $557 RT from DCA to Istanbul on Air Canada.

More Asian Escapes...

Airfare Watchdog has found $720 RT flights to Ho Chi Min City from IAD. Sticking with DCA will cost you $900 RT.

Dreaming of Asia in the Spring?

Spring Break is coming up. Looking for a getaway to someplace other than Europe or the Caribbean? It's not too late! There are still some good deals to be had to Asia for April travel.

China

ITA* is currently pricing out flights from DCA to Beijing at $755 for April travel.

This isn't the lowest I've seen, but it's still a pretty good deal. Sample routing below:

Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu are currently pricing out at over $900, so it would be worth flying into Beijing and using Ctrip to buy airfare for travel to those cities.

Hong Kong

DCA to Hong Kong is currently pricing out just over $900 for April travel. Not bad, but not as good a deal as the Beijing route.

Taiwan

There are currently a (very) few sub-$900 fares to be had to Taipei.

Vietnam

If Vietnam is more your speed, airfare to Ho Chi Min City is currently pricing out at a low of $753 for certain April travel.

Hanoi is currently pricing out at about $900.

Frequent Flyer Deals 

While this isn't offered out of DCA and is limited to flights between now and March 20, American Airlines is offering double miles on flights to Asia from select cities, or within Asia on Japan Airlines.


*The Flight Deal has a handy primer on how to use the ITA Matrix Software.