I attend the Joe Mooney Summer School of Music in Ireland each year but will not be able to do so this year due to a prior commitment. I looked into attending WCSS this year and, in particuar, availability of flights. I fly Delta for numerous reasons. I was astounded at the cost of a fare this year. For comparison, here is what I have paid over the past several years for a roung trip coach ticket from Nashville purchased in March for travel in July :
2001 $650
2002 $890
2003 $1050
2004 $1452 quoted (a jolly big No thanks!)
June 1 seems to be the magic date when air fairs skyrocket for the summer tourist season. Clearly there needs to be more winter piping schools to make the trip affordable.
I flew to Ireland in February for one of the Planxty concerts and a week of frollicking around in the West for $550. Not too bad.
I’ve always taken notice of cheap fares from Ireland to elsewhere. I think Aer lingus is infinitely better managed than is Delta. Biggest problem with my situation is that Delta is about to tank. I suppose they increase the fares to the point that people stop buying tickets to figure out the pricing according to what the market will bear and at the same time collect more dollars.
Reasonable fares to Ireland can usually be had from Baltimore, Boston, and Chicago, sometimes NYC, if one is willing to be adventurous in ones attempt to get to those cities. For example, I could get to Ireland in July from Nashville thru Chicago if I were willing to take one airline to Chicago midway airport, take train across the city to Chicago O’Hare airport, and then fly to Ireland…and repeat the performance in reverse on the way back. Fare is $900 combined. But…I’d miss two extra days of feelin’ glands for dollars at work so it’d cost me more in the long run!
