[Removed user]

15 November 2019 at 16:15:23 #824461

I am taking my 13 and 15 yo kids to Switzerland next summer for 2-3 weeks, roughly Aug 10-28. Dates are flexible. Does anyone have suggestions for getting the best rates on flights? It seems they are all over the place, and some sites do not show taxes and fees until after you book, so it’s hard to compare. Thank you!

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[pvonk]

15 November 2019 at 17:36:38 #925115

Well, I don’t think this site provides support for foreign travel. It’s once you get to Switzerland that you find fantastic resources here. But I do want to add this piece of advice (I’m sure you already thought about it). Count on not doing much the first one to two days in Switzerland, since jet lag will be an issue. Where do you go after Zurich?

[Removed user]

15 November 2019 at 17:57:15 #925116

Try Google flights, skyscanner or hopper. The best I’ve found is Skyscanner. Once you pick a flight, it’ll send you to one of the brokers that’s offering the deal. With google flights, it has a date grid that you can click on and it will show you what the price is for other dates around yours.

The best I’ve found using your dates is $908 ($2724 for 3) with only one stop in each direction. There are cheaper ones if you don’t mind more stops. If you’re flexible in your dates, you may find better prices.

Hope this helps.

[Arno]

15 November 2019 at 17:59:18 #925117

Hi EvaLuna,

Welcome to MySwissAlps! Did you try the links at http://www.myswissalps.com/tr avel/toswitzerland/pla ne/tickets? They include skyscanner.net that Harveyshot mentioned as well.

[Removed user]

15 November 2019 at 19:08:19 #925118

Good point about the jet lag! Thanks. I realize this site is not about flights, but thought some of you might have advice…

[Removed user]

15 November 2019 at 19:09:33 #925119

Thanks for the skyscanner tip, Harveyshot.

[Removed user]

15 November 2019 at 22:06:19 #925120

You’re welcome. Keep in mind though, airfare prices change constantly from day to day and even hour to hour. I’ve seen them fluctuate $400 – $500 from one day to the next, up and down. If you find one you’re happy with, book it!

[Slowpoke]

16 November 2019 at 10:42:03 #925121

Hi Harveyshot –

I’ve not yet had this problem myself, but many European airlines enforce a rule of very low weight limits for carry-on baggage. I recall 10 kg in some cases. They are also strict about dimensions. Each airline’s website mentions weight limits, and on code-shared flights, the local partner airline sets the rules, even if the flight is named as being with an airline from the USA and codeshared ( flown by) a local airline. My Swiss friends who fly internationally intra-Europe note that Swiss and Lufthansa enforce those limits. For that reason, I prefer to fly a US-based airline out of Switzerland when returning to the USA. I’ll mention that sometimes I return via Amsterdam on KLM ( Delta code-share), and have not run into weight limit problems. My backpack has a couple of cameras and lenses in it, as well as miscellaneous stuff to support me if my large checked bag gets lost, so it can easily exceed 10 kg. I don’t recall the exact numbers, but I have definitely exceeded their weight limits. I was not stopped…bu my backpack is not very large. I suspect that appearances matter.I certainly would not try to carry-on some of the larger bags I see in the USA, and exceed weight limits at the same time.

So, at least in theory, there can be a problem with some airlines. I don’t know if it is a real concern, but I am very cautious about things that can catch me by surprise when traveling, and I’d spend some time looking at carry-on limits for various airlines. I don’t want to put my cameras in checked luggage.

Slowpoke