Are the days of summer fare sales gone forever? I’m looking to get from Boston (BOS) to Bilbao (BIO) with my wife and two kids (8 and 6). We’d like to go in August (but can potentially go in July) for a total of roughly two weeks.

For the past few years, we’ve flown Aer Lingus through Dublin (DUB) and spent a few days in Dublin, visiting my in-laws.

The tickets on Aer Lingus from BOS-DUB and DUB-BIO total $1300 each. This is the ideal route, as it allows us the stop-over in Dublin. There’s going to be at least one stop, no matter the route. So we probably won’t go a different way unless there is significant savings.

ITA software is showing $1230 from BOS-BIO on Iberia, with a layover in Madrid (MAD).

Another possibility is to fly to MAD, rent a car (which we’ll be doing anyway) and drive to BIO. However, best price I see to MAD is $1180 on Iberia.

I’ve been looking for the past few months, and prices have barely budged. Should I buy and lock in at these prices (ouch!), or does anyone think that we’ll see a significant sale?

On the flip side, if I wait, is it possible that the prices can actually rise from where they are now?

Thanks…