$1400 is a pretty normal price for this itinerary — since you want to travel in peak season. (In winter, it might be $700-$900, for example). If you shop around you might find it slightly less, maybe $1150-$1300 if you’re flexible. Sales are rare for summer, and when they do happen, usually not very good.

There’s not a huge difference in economy classes among airlines, but the general feeling toward certain airline brands tend to prove true—in my experiences—that European airlines are usually a half-notch better in terms of onboard comfort and services, for example. If the flights will actually be operated by Swiss, and will have the same or shorter total duration, then I’d probably pay the extra $100 in this case. However, I’d prefer nonstop flights above everything, and I’m not sure there will be any MAD-LAX flights next summer, but probably will be a ROM-LAX.

Be sure to shop consolidators and multi-city flight searches such as Cfares, Kayak, Fly, Flights, Airdeals, and 1800flyEurope. There are more listed in our new user thread pinned to top of this forum. Are you a full-time student and/or under 26 by chance? If so, check the “student” ticket sites in that link as well.

A quick check of Fly.com found $1336 on Swiss as the cheapest option, and with decent durations ~ 15 hours outbound and ~16 hours return. Shopping it some more I found $1264 using the links and strategies from our new user thread.

$1400 is a great deal for that kind of travel

That’s right, $1400 is fine. I hope you’ll have a lot of fun during your vacation. For people who are so fond of traveling have you heard the news about the reduce air fair to South Carolina. When a high-volume, low-cost airline like Southwest Airlines extends avenues into new areas of the country, the competitors can’t afford to stand pat. The power Southwest Airlines has to generate fear in the competition of being undersold is called the “Southwest Effect” by USA Today<. The competition was so shaken by Southwest’s new routes into SC that they dropped their own rates by 30 percent or more – sometimes much more. I read about it here: Southwest Airlines visits S.C., reduces airfares. I personally want to check it out.

Thanks Hervert, but unfortunately Southwest Airlines does not serve Europe — and that’s the main focus of this forum. Perhaps your info about Southwest would better fit in our Rest of the World forum. Check it out.

As Don said, that’s a pretty normal fare. I wouldn’t rush to book it unless you don’t mind spending that much and want to book and be done with it. This far out I’d wait a while and see if any summer sales show up in the next few months.

thanx…been staying on top of it and checking out priceson a weekly basis. I appreciate all the input